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**** http://www.GOANET.org ****
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The Rape of Goa - A photo documentary
by
Rajan P. Parrikar
Venue: Menezes Braganza Art Gallery, Panjim, May 21-24, 2008
http://www.parrikar.org/misc/doc-notice.pdf
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Selma wrote:
A great many Goan sensibilities have been hurt with the title of "Goa
has become a toilet". Perhaps in retrospect it was a poor choice of a
title. However, it was an inadvertent mistake. Anyone who knows the
work Eddie does for Goa and Goans will not be so glib calling into
question his loyalty to Goa.
Cecil responds:
Eddie's 'loyalty' to Goa was never questioned. As usual our online
Joan of Arc rushes to defend when no defense was called for, or
required
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Selma:
But the main crux of the post has been lost and waylaid. It was to
raise ethical and legal questions about the confiscation of assets
once sold. These pertinent questions have caused more hurt to Goans.
Cecil:
I don't know about who 'waylaid' what, and who decides what is the
'crux', but I do recall asking Michelle to furnish all details about
her property transaction and if everything was in place I myself would
help her dispose off her property at a fair rate. Eddie claims he
knows them but I have not received any response to that query either
publicly or privately. I repeat what I said earlier that there is more
to the case than meets the eye. Regardless, this English couple got
conned by some builder and now are blaming the Government and all the
people of Goa for that. We don't seem to be looking at the hundreds of
other foreigners permanently living in Goa who have no such problems.
Eddie quoted Churchill and Narvekar and some others making vague
comments about confiscating foreigner's land. How come all the other
foreigers living in Goa did not panic and run away? Did I pack my bags
when Churchill said Goa should be merged with Karwar? Get real.
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Selma:
It somehow brings to mind the plight of Spain during the times of the
Inquisition. Here was the Spanish Empire, crumbling economically,
wrought with pestilence and disease with periodic outbreaks of
epidemics, the Catholic Church was holding everyone under the closest
of scrutiny, painters were dismissed if they had a brushstroke out of
place in religious art, witches were burned at the stake, heretics
could be tortured for years with trial, the monarchy was busy
persecuting Jews, Muslims and anyone else they
owned money too.
Cecil:
Let me guess. "History of the World - Part I" by Mel Brooks?
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Selma:
This is our Inquisition. Organizations like the HJS are making inroads
into Goa. Catholic Goans are increasingly embracing charismatic
movements. Make no mistake these charismatic movements are parallels
to Hindu fundamentalist movements. A great many people are being
disenfranchised for not being culturally the right fit for Goa.
Migrants are physically assaulted, threats are made to confiscate
property legally sold,
calls from special status for Goa and prohibition of sale to
non-Goans, meaning Indians. It is a time of political chaos and
economic uncertainty.
Cecil:
Wow! Unfortunately we keep hearing these dramatic cries of impending
calamity so often in Goan cyberspace that it's become a 'cry wolf'
situation. And everytime it's a now-or-never situation being trumpeted
by some overseas Goan - more often than not seeeking attention to
her/himself rather than wanting to be involved in doing something
concrete hands-on. Waxing eloquent in cyberspace is easy. Walking the
talk here is what counts.
Today, May 21st, is a 'time of political chaos and economic
uncertainty'. Watch how six months down the line the same dramatic
disaster warning will be repeated as it was six months before and six
years ago. And still the Goan boat does not sink. It's just that the
rats who deserted it seem to think it will - from their adopted havens
overseas. Maybe they take some perverse pleasure in painting a
doomsday scenario for Goans in Goa so that their decision to remain
away gets reinforced? Is that it?
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Selma:
It is precisely at this point that we must cling to our democratic
institutions and more important to our sense of decency and fair play.
Cecil:
Whatever. Tell me something I don't know, and drop the histrionics.
Cheers!
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