------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------- Let me quote some phrases from Konkani and explain some facts: Truth is bitter and hard to digest. You cannot stop the cockcrow by hiding the cock in dark. Truth always finds its way up. Criticizer of loved ones are immediately placed in front of firing canon. I eat meat but I don't tie bones round my neck to show others that I eat meat; I believe in God but I don't visit temple nor do I pray every day in my puja ghar; I am proud to be born Saraswat but I don't wear thread round my shoulder though my thread ceremony was done by my parents with celebration! I accept even the bitter truth of my religion no matter how bad it is. I believe that every human being must feel proud of their own religion and also defend the religion from baseless allegations if there be!!
Having said all these I feel sorry for some personalities for using their rich experiences, knowledge and wisdom in negative ways elevating BP and sugar contents of self and others by writing disturbing, unjustified, nonsense!!. I also know that dog's tail cannot be made straight by inserting the tail in a hollow straight pipe nor with advance surgery! Does this mean one should tolerate any nonsense? No......definitely not!!! Now let me move on to THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS which were raised by Mr. Thinker as per his habit which are appended here below. My response to all his "Thoughts" starting from 1 - 6 are as follows:- Thought No 1: Mr. Thinker starts with posing question "Were these 'migrants' legally on the electoral roll or not?. If they were legally on the electoral roll, there is no legal basis for the beef. Full Stop" Mr. Thinker says FULL STOP but still continues further saying "IF they have been put there illegaly ...it is a different matter. The legality or illegality of any matter is ONLY decided in the Courts. Mr. Thinker proceeds further quoting "Dr Barad notes that when Margao had a BJP MLA, 'many names of Catholics and Muslims were influentially deleted while many Hindu names were inserted over a period past 12 - 13 years" and poses questions as per his thoughts "Assuming that Dr Barad has first hand knowledge of the charge he makes and correctly anticipates my questions......so I ask: (1) If Dr. Barad was an adult at the time these events were happening, Which authority did he report this to? (2) Did these things NOT happen when Manohar Parrikar was the CM of Goa? (3) re Panjim?" Questions 1,2 and 3 exposes Mr. Thinker's confused mind! He himself says legality or illegality of any matter is ONLY to be decided in the courts with strong emphasis on word ONLY and how can he expect me to take up this issue to logical conclusion? More over he also quotes incidences that occurred during Bandodkar and Taie's time. While he conveniently forgets what Rane did during all his time in power. But than I was not a voter but for sure Mr. Thinker was an adult, highly educated person and purporting to possess lots of intelligence in legal matters too. Hence I take liberty to through the same question in his court saying "What did he do as a responsible citizen to prevent Bandodkar and Taie from doing such illegal things?" Mr. Gentlemen easily points fingers to others forgetting that while doing so three of his fingers are pointing to himself! Don't you think if you were to control Bandodkar & Taie than probably such gross irregularities to the extent of around 12,000 plus missing voters in Goa during this election of 2007 would have not taken place! Truth is today's youths are paying price for Susegadpon of our elderly Goans who take pride ONLY in posing questions like WHO, WHEN, WHAT, WHY, HOW, ect.! Thought No 2: Mr. Thinker opines saying "Goa Suraj cannot win, UGDP is unreliable, honest and upright Goans like Arvind Bhatikar, Francisco Colaco and Tony Correia Afonso are not running, Oh my Lord ...Churchill, and the track record of the BJP is communal ....what choice do "we" have but to for this corrupt Congress just to keep the communal BJP guys out?" Winnability of a party, reliability of a party, honesty and uprightness of Paper Tigers are nothings but colors which Mr. Thinker uses to paint them from hear say rather than experiencing personally. All these attributes are like a pickle one likes other dislike the same pickle.......that's all. Just because one have no choice that does not mean one has to embrace only corrupt congress. If one has no choice then why don't one chose other party? Why chose only congress party? Does not such choosing without defensible justification itself proves the other way round i.e. like saying "whatever it is ....at the end of the day........my party is Congress party!" Justification provided holds no water for accepting congress and hating other parties. Truth is....formally United Goans Party (UGP) was considered as Catholics party and after UGP merged into congress, congress became Catholics party in Goa. Thought No 3: In connection with Goa's famous VCD the writer writes "It was fine (as far as I am concerned) for showing on Pay per View channels or in Cinema theatres. People who choose to spend their money have every right to see any movie they wish to pay for. I am opposed to any form of censorship. Propaganda at the expense of public funds ..is another Matter". What a stupid argument! Not expected from a learned Thinker. As a responsible citizen how can one opine like this? As for me I find no difference between showing pay per view channel or in cinema theatres or in schools or in public places? If this be the thinking logic of such personalities BJP who had to withdraw the VCD will be too pleased to show it in cinema theaters and on channels even now - will that be okay with Goans and for Goa. No Mr. Thinker such screening of VCD is not okay either. Thought No 4: Less say is better to this response which concludes saying "The bone of contention started with the book author's own website" The fact is every Tom.....Harry has enjoyed reading the book and in watching the movie. They all say "We are list bothered about what is written in author's website as long as it does not appear in the book or the movie. So why force us to do research on author's intensions - that's twaddle" Thought No 5: Mr. Thinker poses questions saying: "Has Dr. Barad verified the references quoted by Mr. Bhembre? Has Mr Bhembre quoted them correctly? Is there a study of collateral references? AND has Mr Bhembre researched any documents about the Buddhists in Goa and what happened to them? IF not ....It is just another lopsided look at history designed only to hammer Catholics for the same nonsense that the Hindus and Muslims have also done". It's good to see Mr. Thinker turning lawyer with specialization in Historical facts but yet he forgets that history whether bad or good cannot be changed by any one. Hence history need to be digested whether one likes it or not. As far as authenticity of references quoted by Mr. Bhembre is concerned I think its for Mr. Thinker and like minded people to get them verified if they have any doubt in authenticity of achieves maintained in Portugal libraries and referenced in the books authored by L. Bhembre and Priolkar. If the distortion are traced the same could be aired for information to general public. In this context I feel like asking as to How will Mr. Thinker react if the readers raises similar question on the authenticity about the references cited in the numerous medical articles authored and published by some personalities? It's stupid to force someone into doing something in which one is not interest. Can anyone ask general pediatrician as to why he did not take up specialization in pediatric surgery? Can any one ask why a medical professional did not take up specialization in law? Rather than waiting for spoon feeding Why Mr. Thinker himself take up writing book on "Budhists in Goa" or "Muslims in Goa" or "Hindus in Goa"? Just because Mr. Bhembre has not written a book on these subjects it does not justify saying that Mr. Bhembre wanted to hammer only Catholics and or Muslims hence he wrote the said book! Such interpretations itself reveals the mentality of individual's thinking! Thought No 6: Regarding Filipe Neri. Please refer to what Mr. Thinker has advocated while explaining his thought No 1. Is not he contradicting his own stand while dealing with this issue. Mr. Thinker why not apply the same principle and allow law to decided? How can one call a person "murderer" or "forgerer" unless proved otherwise by law? I hope this is the fist principle one must learn before trying to become a lawyer. Now Food for Thought: "Never ever take up for politicians unless one is absolutely convinced about the factuality and this factuality or truth behind the incidence / act definitely cannot come to an individual who is residing continents apart from Goa. This is more true because the modus operandi of all 40 chores is to create confusions within public, make public fight with each other over issues while these 40 chores are busy enjoying Champaign together" Lastly I must say once again that "Raising unwanted questions and hi-fi philosophies just to keep ball rolling and bouncing as if if questions are not raised the GoaNet will stop functioning! To this I would rather say GoaNet actually is growing day by day due to support received from the owners and active participations of members but definitely not due to stupid questions". Lastly I would like to give one free advise. Mr. Thinker please don't declare winner in the Net as you often do and as you have declared me winner on many occasions. You are not empowered to do so. No one in the net wants award from you as it has no value. In fact members are seen awarding you with "surprises" on many occasions. The power of awarding winner or loser (which is not done so far accept on one occasion - a loser award was given to one individual!) in matters raised in GoaNet lies with GoaNeters and with the moderators of GoaNet. Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad Margao - Goa -----Original Message----- From: Jose Colaco [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 2:08 AM To: for GoaNet Cc: JoeGoaUk; Dr. U. G. Barad Subject: "Post Goa elections" - re: the points raised by Dr Barad - a response to JoeGoaUk JoeGoaUk wrote: Thank you Dr. U.G Barad for you thought provoking article. I am not usually into long posts .. but I read your message fully, I may even go thru it again. Thanks once gain for your time. Dear JoeGoaUk, Like you, I too thank Dr. U.G Barad for his article and his time. I will try address some of the points I see addressed with the usual caveat I make to Individuals who write anti-Catholic articles - Let us see if you are objective OR just an objector. I submit that if one is to debate matters logically, one must submit a balanced point of view. If you have NEVER written anything to criticise the wrongs that Hinduism wrought on the poor people of the subcontinent - You win. No point in discussing with someone who sees a speck in the eye of another but not the splinter in his own. Besides, I truly have no interest in dealing with "talking points". As you may well know, we have a well known Talking Points Rightie on GoaNet whom we have declared the winner. He does his victory laps in "Moira" (different from the delightful Goan village by the same name) Here are some of my thoughts. The above mentioned remain the terms of reference for any further response from me on the matter. [1] : The question: "Were these 'migrants' legally on the electoral roll or not?" was thought to reveal ignorance about the facts prevailing in Goa. The question is very simple .."Were these 'migrants' legally on the electoral roll or not?". If they were legally on the electoral roll, there is no legal basis for the beef. Full Stop. IF they have been put there illegaly ...it is a different matter. The legality or illegality of any matter is ONLY decided in the Courts. Dr Barad notes that when Margao had a BJP MLA, 'many names of Catholics and Muslims were influentially deleted while many Hindu names were inserted over a period past 12 - 13 years' Follow up questions: Assuming that Dr Barad has first hand knowledge of the charge he makes and correctly anticipates my questions ....so I ask: 1a: If Dr. Barad was an adult at the time these events were happening,Which authority did he report this to? 1b: Did these things NOT happen when Manohar Parrikar was the CM of Goa? Many Goans are quite aware of the modus operandi of politicians in Goa. Just in case Dr Barad is unaware, this nonsense started during the Zhalacch Pahije era of Bandodkar. No need to should Eureka now! At least one Goan college student remembers telling Bandodkar of this stuff on the Panjim Gymkhana cricket ground. The student's phrase if I can paraphrase was "If Hindu Goans work against Catholic Goans and vice-versa - nonGoans will destroy both of us". Wish we were older than our mid teens then. We could have gone and reported it to Prabhakar Sinari - though it does not look like Madhav Gadkari (editor Gomantak) survived too long in his attempts to challenge DB. 1c: re Panjim? (see reference 1) The point being made by me is this. ALL these issues should be dealt with BEFORE the elections - NOT after the results. For... once these folks are on the electoral role - they are registered voters. I absolutely agree with Dr Barad when he says:' "Goan are not against outsiders" What Goans are against is their illegally occupying lands belonging to private parties including communidades; Goans are against illegally acquiring voter's identity and ration cards; Goans are against step-motherly treatment given to native Goans as compared to migrants; etc.' This is something which we Goans have to thank Bandodkar, Tai and all successive CMs for (see reference 2) [2] Dr Barad states that 'Goan Catholics baselessly considers that Congress party is Catholics party while BJP party to be of Hindus' I submit that NO sensible Goan of any religious leaning will ever' consider that the Congress party is Catholics' party'. It is my opinion, and anyone knowing more can correct me but Most sensible Goans are basically caught between a rock and a hard place. Their view is thus: Goa Suraj cannot win, UGDP is unreliable, honest and upright Goans like Arvind Bhatikar, Francisco Colaco and Tony Correia Afonso are not running, Oh my Lord ...Churchill, and the track record of the BJP is communal ....what choice do "we" have but to for this corrupt Congress just to keep the communal BJP guys out? Having said that, I know many Goan Catholics (particularly "Brahmins" ) who have worked and voted for the BJP in the recent elections. Wonder how Dr. Barad can make the above quoted statement without qualifying it. [3] The infamous VideoCD I am happy to know that Dr. Barad saw the VideoCD as not a brilliant idea and was 'in-charge of the agitation to get the VCD scrapped'. I saw the VideoCD and found it to be a piece of crap which was too unbalanced to be transmitted on public television. It was fine (as far as I am concerned) for showing on Pay per View channels or in Cinema theatres. People who choose to spend their money have every right to see any movie they wish to pay for. I am opposed to any form of censorship. Propaganda at the expense of public funds ..is another matter. BTW: I saw the VideoCD-question asked of Mr Parrikar (CNN IBN courtesy JoeGoaUK). I found Parrikar's answer a total disgrace. I hope that next time around, Mr. Parrikar accepts responsibility for the VideoCD, expresses regrets, and that everyone moves on. In a cabinet driven government (Westminister), the responsibility, Mr. Parrikar, lies with the person whom the CM/PM fire from your cabinet ...or with the CM/PM. [4] re the Da Vinci Code Dr. Barad asks"How come Goa including Churchill Alemao reacted sharply over Da Vince Code movie even before seeing it when the movie clearly carried a message at the start of the movie saying it's a fiction movie indicative that it has nothing to do with the historical facts?" I do not wish to speak for Churchill Alemao. I will only offer my personal comments about 'Da Vinci Code': I have read the book and seen the movie. I enjoyed both immensely. The book is brilliantly written and holds attention. It is better than the movie. Having said that the movie is extremely well done. The acting is superb. BTW: Any Catholic who is trying to have this movie banned is effectively working as an agent of the movie producers. BTW: The bone of contention started with the book author's own website (see reference 3) [5] Portuguese Archives Dr Barad write: "Mr. L. Bhembre, father of Mr. Uday Bhembre, after spending couple of years in Portugal going through archives in Portugal libraries had authored a book on "Goa and facts" as documented in archives" Has Dr. Barad verified the references quoted by Mr. Bhembre? Has Mr Bhembre quoted them correctly? Is there a study of collateral references? AND has Mr Bhembre researched any documents about the Buddhists in Goa and what happened to them? IF not ....It is just another lopsided look at history designed only to hammer Catholics for the same nonsense that the Hindus and Muslims have also done. Anyone (including Mr Bhembre) who hammers ALL the religious machoistas who have used religion to oppress other people ...has my support. The hammering must be equitable. As we all know, one cannot come to the table for equity with unclean hands. [6] Filipe Neri signature forgery issue Dr. Barad writes:"Filip Neri himself has nothing to say against this issue .... When the concerned person is not interested in the issue, why people who does not know the head or tail about the factual things have to raise this issue I don't understand? Instead why not allow the law to take it's own course and devote our time to more important social issues!" Is Dr Barad stating that 'FORGERY in an effort to keep control of Governance' is NOT an important social issue? IF that is so, I end with my congratulations to Dr. Barad ...He wins!! (Before his victory speech, may we all please see reference 5) jc
