Mervyn, flippant is quite weak a word for Gabe's completely uncalled for comments. It is in the line of more bekaar bakwas, idle nonsense to put it in its kindest translation.
Did Goans bow down to the British in East Africa? There's no doubt about it if by bowing down you mean obeying, following orders, discharging your duties in the manner expected of a loyal and faithful employee and a host of other similar behaviours. It was because of Gabe's parents doing this very thing that he himself was able to be recruited eventually into the RAF. He will tell you it was his own merit but that is the usual shallow answer he would be capable of. The train of events that led his parents or grandparents to "bow" to the British that led eventually to a brown man being taken in a white air force is something he would have relegated to "that didn't happen". There is nothing wrong with maintaining a later friendship with your former employer. It only goes to show a genuine friendship that existed beyond the boundaries of work although it would have started there. Ultimately it was you who were putting food on your family's table just as he too was for his family. If you didn't chose to maintain a friendship with him, that was your choice not some punk's on Goanet who in his days whether he liked it or not would have had to suck up to far more people than you would have needed to, without the dignity that you were afforded. Roland. Sent from Samsung Mobile -------- Original message -------- From: Mervyn Maciel <[email protected]> Date: 05-17-2014 5:54 AM (GMT-05:00) To: [email protected] Subject: [Goanet] The continuing saga over Selma Carvalho's highly acclaimed book I'm afraid, I just cannot let his flippant comments go unchallenged. Firstly, may I say that I was NOT "looking for acknowledgement from the very people who lorded over you". Sir John Johnson, who happens to be a personal friend of mine, was sent the book, NOT by me, but our now highly acclaimed author(Selma) in recognition of his contribution towards the Oral history programme. Several Goans who also asked for the book received a FREE copy, as would have Gabe had he asked for one or turned up and queued in an orderly fashion at the recent book launch in Beckenham. To now try to criticise a book that has been highly acclaimed in many circles by Goans and non-Goans alike, smacks more of sour grapes. Contrary to what Gabe implies, I have NEVER bowed to anyone, be it in Kenya or here, and don't intend to either! By suggesting that I am pandering "to the people who lorded over you", is Gabe now degrading the thousands of Goan civil servants who worked for the administration? It is their valiant hearts which put food on the table for their families, built schools and the churches. Is he now disrespecting their contribution? I sometimes wonder what makes him proud as an East African Goan? Much though the "colonisers" come in for criticism, I wonder why some critics chose to come and live in the land of the self same colonisers?? Mervyn Maciel
