Cecil Pinto wrote:
> Will someone explain to me why International Goan Conventions have to
> be held anywhere other than in Goa? I mean which place is more
> convenient, central and appropriate? If the Toronto (or London or
> Sydney or whatever) Goans want to organise a Convention that's all
> very fine, but calling it an International Goan Convention when there
> are less than a hundred people present (for the 'serious' events, and
> less than a dozen for the workshops as Vicor Rangel Ribeiro has
> pointed out) and precious few of residents of Goa or even truly
> representative of the entire Goa resident and diasporic Goans (how
> many Gulf Goans were there?), is rather grandoise.
Cecil,
Every year when I see a new storm approaching the Caribbean, I start bugging my
wife to come with me on a trip to one of the islands that are directly in
the storms path. I cannot stomach "package" trips. My idea of a foreign trip is
to experience something that is not available where I reside.
After the last "International Goan Convention" in Goa, I told my wife that we
had to attend the next "International Goan Convention" in Goa. Her first
question was, "Why would an 'International Goan' want to return to Goa for a
convention?" However, when she later found out that delegates could
get arrested, she gave me a big "ok." She even mentioned that she could be
convinced to pay for a licenced lawyer if the need arose.
I explained to her that people go to conventions for different reasons. Some
want to make sure that their name features prominently. Others want to share
their knowledge. Yet others, attend because they want to make a change. It only
takes a few like minded people to achieve results.
I think you are well aware of this since Goans in Goa are showing the
"International Goans" what is possible when one stands up for his rights. There
were many at the conference in Toronto that were not aware of what is going on
in Goa today. A few have started networking. I will let you know when results
start coming in.
Mervyn3.0
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