There are very good posts on this subject, some light in flavour (Cecil & Selma below), others rather dark in their demeanor (no names, you know who you are), but all the same, there is much to be said in favour, and against. Overall, I think we all agree there are many facets to this "foreigners only" debate, much depends on your taste for a fight over it, if its a personal choice, for a woman in her 40's who has probably had some very disappointing partner(s) who were of either her parents choosing or a broken heart / bank balance etc, for her maybe its time to make a quick get-away from Goa, and try her luck in another country. That is why she is choosing a foreigner? If a matrimonial request for a foreigner is anything to go by, then this may well be the case, she may be a business woman, with own house etc, but it does not mean she is intent to staying on, or maybe she is, but would prefer to choose a "foreigner" (she does not specify if its to be a Japanese sushi maker or a Swiss banker but I can hazard a guess its not to be a dalit, but guess which she may choose), but we know nothing of this lady's past, or her present situation but I am guessing her future lies elsewhere and is not really what we are discussing here. She has a choice of whom she wishes to spend the rest of her days with, & good luck to her, may she find her happiness in cooking rice, slicing raw fish for her sushi-making husband - its totally her choice who chooses as her mate, alternatively she may be in her counting house, counting all her money, cerainly not picking up human excrement with her hands! Its HER choice, our feeling of discrimination against the Goan is totally different here, we are concerned at the rape of Goa, the undebated SEZ, housing & employment needs, local parks & beaches where Poo, Piss & Panjim are debated & generally to why Goans have to put up with anti-Goan discrimination, be it treatment on public transport, or just bad service. Goa is not a small field with a few metres of sparse land around it, its a rich and diverse place, much is going on in all areas, but we cannot just leave areas fallow, to rot & be forgotten. Some areas DO need some life-giving employment & a reason to go on living. laughing & working. We cannot just sit back and say we should NOT build AT ALL. Housing IS needed, but its HOW & WHERE the planners & developers are taking this that is the issue. Some of Joe's & Fred's links have brought much to light over the past few days, shocking things going on, much of it under the table & very quick, no discussion or public notification. Any of this in the newspapers in advance? The declarations we have seen on these links, under the publics right to information, were any of these plans put to the public, for a public meeting in a local authority building where all the developments etc were put to discussion. Where there any protests on the planning applications? Is there such a thing as a protest against a developer & the planners who wish to purchase land and build upon it, or is it all rubber-stamped at Central Office, in Delhi or Mumbai? No need to spoil and destroy forested or tranquil areas that are beneficial to man & beast, there are ways of coping with the need for housing AND the environment. I am against building new apartment blocks in rural areas while there are plenty of brown-field sites that need regeneration, that is the key to it, build where once it was built but left to decay (not the historic old relics in the countryside, they are needed for the coming generations to enjoy, its the old rotting buildings that have been left by their owners, so to enhance in value only for them, left to decay for decades that need to be pulled down & turned into affordable housing). Maybe its just me, getting a bit grouchy in my old age, also probably too late in years & yearning for things to return to how they used to be (silly old man). Of course its also foolish if we stand still & just day-dream, we need a shot of reality every now & then, to make us turn around and throw stones & yes, cast aspersions on those who foul the gardens, the beaches & public areas, shout from (and in) the buses when insulted or discriminated against, giving disapproving looks to those vendors who sell bad food, and those who do not have licenses to do so, in the first place. Its not just a Goan problem, but here on Goanet, it is very much a Goan problem. What happens elsewhere usually happens eventually in Goa, as in England we watch what is happening in the USA, its guaranteed that within months or certainly within a year, it will either be available in England or is already happening here. Goa has a long way to go, it seems everyone knows this and is taking advantages of Goan hospitality, time to show a bit of Goan hostility for a change? Not used to it? Not much time, you have learn quickly! John Monteiro 11.11.07.....20.11hrs --------------------------------------- Cecil Pinto wrote:
Navhind Times has the following advert > in the Matrimonial > classifieds section. I quote verbatim: = Wanted Foreigner as a Lifemate for > RC Girl 1968. Born, Smart, Attractive, Well cultured, Qualified, > Businesswoman +own house. Contact: RAJARANI.............. Looks like it's not > just houses that are opening up only to foreigners. Cheers! ......Cecil -------------------------- Looks like Goan men are failing to deposit their dues and vacate in a timely fashion here as well :-)..........selma ---------------------------
