--- On Sat, 5/31/08, Rajan P. Parrikar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
These are no random
> outpourings of a misguided, naive soul.
> This is exactly the kind of spokesperson
> the builder would recruit to spread his
> message in the media and in public fora.
>
-------------------------------------
I think Rajan is tryin his hand at humour here. Surely the builders of Goa can
find better recruits than a hausfrau sitting in London to spread "their
message".
Everyday I promise myself I shall have no opinions about Goa. Afterall, Goa
does belong first and foremost to the people who live there. Half my life has
been spent abroad. Whatever progeny me and my siblings have managed to spawn
are all Americans by nationality. I barely have a stake in Goa's future. I am
alone on this forum atleast in my opposing views. I've lost cyber friends
nurtured over the past two years in my stance. It would be so easy to cave in
to the vox populi in this case, to gain some browny points and to be cheered by
all and sundry in a chorus of taleos.
Except ofcourse, I see the issue in a different light and my convictions are as
strong as anyone elses. I believe in a different school of economics. I believe
we should be moving forward as Rajiv Desai put it, not rowing in the same leaky
boat we did for the past forty years. I am not fatalistic about Goa's future. I
don't see it in dark, dismal shades of grey. A lot has happened to Goa in the
past 60 years, some of it has been tremendous progress despite the political
leadership we have had. I believe Goa can be at the forefront of an economic
revolution in India, a model state that combines commerce and trade alongwith
the preservation of our environmental integrity. But we have to be constantly
creating wealth and value inorder to sustain the very things we respect such as
the environment and our architectural heritage.
Yes, it is true that I've not spent one honest moment marching in Goan streets
fighting for Goa. But I rarely spend a moment not thinking of Goa. Goa is my
identity and my soul and, I have in my own modest way done what I can for Goa.
Everyone here is extrapolating into the future, some of us are going to be
vindicated by time and some of us vanquished.I've had my say and I leave it at
that for now.
selma
