Selma Carvalho writes: "Furthermore, if we as Goans are looking for a single Saviour to save Goa, then I'm afraid the Jews are busy and the last one made an appearance some 2000 years ago. Despite the fact that a lot of noise is generated on Goanet, and a feeling created that Goa is approaching impending Apocalypse unless a revolution is initiated toute suite, the fact is change comes slowly. So be patient and do your bit to Change Goa, rather than hoping for someone to Save Goa."
Well said Selma. Just as some people are trying to blame the GBA here, another member in another community that I am a part of tried to blame the entire Journalist Fraternity for our present woes in a similar kind of discussion happening there. My Response to him in that community: Be the Change you want to see in the World In his early days as President of our Nation, Our Country's foremost Scientist Dr Abdul Kalam gave a highly inspiring speech in Hyderabad. In his thought provoking address, Kalam spoke how we citizens would always sit back wanting to be pampered, expecting others to do everything for us whilst our own contribution would tend to be generally negative. We would complain that our Government is inefficient, that our laws are too old, and that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits. We would complain and complain but would not want to do anything about it. "So who's going to change the system?" Kalam rhetorically asked his audience "What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU". The crux of Kalam's message was that while the Country was being raped and abused, we preferred to lock ourselves along with our families in a safe cocoon instead of trying to make positive contributions. That instead of trying to change the system, we were hell-bent on playing the blame-game, waiting for a "Mr. Clean" to come along & work miracles for us with the majestic sweep of his hand. On this note, I remember "Rang De Basanti, a movie I enjoyed watching thoroughly, and I must have watched it at least 4 times. The dialogues from this movie continue to linger in my mind, one of them being: "Kaunsa Bhi Desh Accha nahin hota, use accha banana padta hai". Sometime back, I got into a chat with Aaron( Pereira) when I noticed a somewhat similar quote of Mahatma Gandhi's, "Be the change you want to see in this world", in his chat profile. So I presume Aaron would agree with this line of thinking. So would Pravin, Dr Oscar, Patricia, Ritu Prasad and so many others who are devoting so much of their time and efforts, trying to bring about a change in the system, trying to make Goa a better place for themselves and others too to live in! I would hate to point fingers at the Journalists for were I to do so there would be fingers pointing towards me as well. If they did not report the rape when it was happening, we did not too. After all, Goa is not just their mother but ours too! So instead of trying to blame the whole world for our mess, let's be inspired by the actions of our Activists, emulate them and join and support them in the best possible way we can. Each one of us must try and be like the cop in a uniform. Let's be the change we want to see in the world. Cheers Sandeep
