------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * ANNUAL GOANETTERS MEET * * * * * * * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goanetters in Goa and visiting meet Jan 6, 2009 at 3.30 pm at Hotel Mandovi (prior to the Goa Sudharop event, which you're also welcome to). Join in for a Dutch dinner -- if we can agree on a venue after the meet. RSVP (confirmations only) 9822122436 or 2409490 or [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Frederick Noronha wrote on Goanet: >>In situations where the State has sided with the forces communalism, it is >>precisely the >>perople whom you seek to de-legitimise who have played a key >>role in allowing the >>truth to emerge. >>But, of course, I would not like to get caught up in one of those endless, >>hair-splitting >>arguments, but instead focus on the substantiative issues >>raised. -------------------------------------------- My response: Frederick needs to be quite happy that his column is being critiqued, discussed and deliberated. My general observation is that whenever something like this happens, it tends to generate a wider interest and a larger readership. I have a strong hunch that those who have not read his column in the first place may have revisited it and done so now. I personally have no problems per se with this column and I do commend FN for bringing up a lot of valid points in it. I said it before in the GX Forum( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GoenchimXapotam/message/16264 ) and I would repeat once again that in my opinion this is one of FN's most objective pieces and I would give him a score of 8 out of 10 on this one. However, John Dayal's credibility in wide Hindu circles is a bit poor where he is seen as a religious/political campaigner having his own vested agenda and I felt that the acceptability of his column would have been wider had FN relied on facts from neutral sources. In any case, what has happened in Orissa is ghastly, horrendous and cowardly and the gravity of the crime would not in any way come down if subsequent investigations reveal discrepancies in facts and figures. I do not think anybody would try to mean or even remotely suggest this. I entirely endorse FN's contentions that we need to focus on the substantiative issues raised by him rather than be caught up in non-issues. Incidents like these put the very idea of India, a land of unity in diversity, to threat and shame and there is a need for an honest objective analysis that dissects the roles of all the players including the roles of political parties, religious leaders, Hindutva organizations, Maoists and Christian missionaries in this communal strife. Such an analysis devoid of political motives is necessary to prevent such horrendous crimes from being repeated in the future. Cheers Sandeep
