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Remembering Aquino Braganca (b. 6 April 1924), who fought for freedom
of the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. An online tribute
http://aquinobraganca.wordpress.com/ (includes many historical
references, some photographs and documents)
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My response is interspersed as "FC".
Happy Easter
b/rgds
floriano
goasuraj
----- Original Message -----
From: "Freddy Fernandes" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 4:15 PM
Subject: [Goanet] Let's Prove That We Are Matured And Responsible
In response to:
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 21:31:42 +0530
From: "floriano" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Goanet] Let's Prove That We Are Matured And Responsible
Dear Floriano,
If maturity and responsibility are not synchronized then, things tend to
move in
opposite direction, with all due respect to your way of thinking I do
appreciate
your stand and would like to add further that what we see and aspire for
Goa is
well synchronized.
FC: I am with you on this aspect.
As for the terms "mature and responsible" they are multi dimensional and
depends
on how each one perceives it, each one could write volumes on it, and
still
there would be a difference in how each one sees it,. When I said that we
have
to prove, I meant to prove to ourselves, that we are matured and
responsible by
getting rid of both the communal BJP and the corrupt Congress, all this
while we
have been acting immature and irresponsible by electing the same
nonperforming
and totally corrupt people. This is where we have to show our maturity
and
responsibility, it's not okay to just say we are mature and responsible
and
collect all the muck and put it on ourselves. We most certainly have to
prove it
by electing the right people. Otherwise the two bit current corrupt
politicians
will be right to think that if we keep on electing useless people like
themselves, we shouldn't be given power in our hands.
FC: Maturity and Responsibility must lie with 'leaders' who are few and far
between. Sad part is that in Goa, we have had no mature and responsible
overall 'leadership' a leadership which is well synchronised to achieve the
'end results' for the common good and for the good of GOA and GOANs, may it
be political, may it be religious, may it cultural or whatever. Yes, we have
leaders of all sorts and all kinds. But they are not synchronised for one
'end result'. According to me, or my way of thinking, the end result cannot
be anything else but 'good, effective governance'.
Example: The Church in Goa , as a powerful leader of the people, not only of
the catholics but also of Hindus and Muslims (call it Goans) who look up to
It for setting precedents, is totally confused as to decide what it wants.
Every election time, it is seen supporting the Congress fearing the BJP's
communal agenda. But has it tried to find an alternative between the two
which it can feel at ease and by which it can send a very strong signal to
the Congress to behave itself?? Choosing 'lesser evil' will not do. The
Church must be able to call a 'spad a spade' , 'Evil an Evil'. If the
Church is seen comfortable with anything to do with 'Evil', than faith of
people like myself and many others in It to stand for 'good' and just cause
is lost. And that is the sad part of the story why Goa is in shits.
Regarding the Cidade de Goa ordinance, there is no smoke without fire, the
40-chor have most definitely benefited otherwise why should they take such
a
trouble and be ready to face the wroth of the people, does it make sense
otherwise ? In this way they have shown that they are over matured !!!!
FC: Vested interests are not known to give-in without a tough fight. This is
the classic case where 'money' talks and make people walk.
Selling for a higher price, that's each one's financial assessment or
economic
sense that prevails and there is nothing we can do about it, until and
unless we
have the special status. There will be very few people who will be foolish
enough not to sell to the highest bidder, immaterial of the place they
comes
from. There will be very few people, if at all they exist who will do
otherwise,
unless they don't really want to sell. I would not put that into a
maturity or
immaturity suffix as these actions can be controlled by good governance by
protecting it through special status for Goa.
FC: This is nothing but individual's 'staying power'. If I have a piece of
prominent property, I can quote what I want. That quote will be based on my
staying power. No one can dictate terms to me on that matter. And making a
choice whether to sell to the highest bidder or give it out free of cost is
my choice and mine alone. Now, legislation to buy collective protection is
something else which is indigenous to matured and non-self centered thinking
process, which BTW is missing in Goa's all round leadership and which is
extremely desirable.
As for the Expat Goans worried about Goan Identity, the "gas" as you
called it,
has indeed influenced a good many of us, it may look like just "gas" at
the
moment but there could also be a possibility of creating a huge combustion
with
just a slight spark. I am sure all these people who are responsible in
spreading
the "gas" should be encouraged and supported and guided if required by the
likes
of you and I am sure that a good many of the "gas" infected might be the
guys we
are looking for. A powerful NRG lobby can be very effective if molded well
and
that does require mass participation and should be democratically
functioning,
and should not be discarded in a jiffy.
FC: Don't take me wrong on the choice of words I have used. There is no
offence meant. What I mean to say here is that most often the intensions are
laudable and un-selfish. But these do not gell into cohesive result oriented
futuristic actions. I have always provoked people into action. This is part
of it. Mind you, Freddy, if Goans should decide to come together to float a
meaningful TRUST which is fool-proof, un-bendable, stiff as a ram rod,
designed towards achieving just one end result, like purchasing Goa's 'lying
waste' properties and doing with them what must be done on a pre-decided
basis, I think we will have solved the GOAN IDENTITY PROBLEM which is
vexing us Goans and giving a few some terrible nightmares, better explained
by Manohar Parrikar in his Parrikar Vs Parrikar video recorded interview "I
am getting cold shivers running down my spine', thing.
As for the part of the NGO's, in one of my earlier post I had mentioned
your
exact thoughts, "why do we need NGO's if our elected government is of the
people, by the people and for the people"
FC: I am a person who has a NGO mind. And I know axactly how a NGO must
function. NGO must be an extended arm of the government to take it where it
does not easily reach. That means both entities moving hand in hand. But in
Goa NGO means anti-government which btw cannot be helped as governance has
gone to 'dogs' and into the politician's pockets. I have, however, respected
your steadfast sentiments. Further, I do not need to tell you, I have formed
a political NGO, the 'goasuraj' which cannot be taken lightly as it is
formed through unpteen deliberations and interactions of thinking minds to
find a permanent solution to Goa's ills helped by non-compromisable written
down programme which is totally un-selfish and non-self centered. If this
does not work for Goa, nothing else will.
Before I conclude, I would like to say that I am a bit disappointed with
Soter
for his outburst against Mathany, talking about your good self, Soter and
a lot
us on this forum, we want the same things, we are all matured and
responsible
people, who want the same things, all that is good for Goa and Goans, but
there
is certainly a difference in how Soter sees it and how you and I see it,
you and
me have very clearly viewed our support for Mathany and made our reasons
clear
for our actions, where as Soter too wants the same things but
unfortunately not
stated his support clearly, we have seen two dead ends with a slight
opening on
the third and are willing to take that chance but unfortunately Soter sees
the
third side as the dead end and probably not sure if he wants to go to the
right
or to the left which most certainly does not appeal to us. Maturity and
responsibility are most certainly a diversity in itself.
FC: As I have said earlier, good intensions without a plan of action, is a
waste of time. Soter has always stood for good. But his actions are not
synchronised into attaining the end result. I had hoped that he would
contest elections, at least, during 2007 elections from Aldona to challenge
Narvekar and Fermeena Kaunte. We need people to walk the talk. Merely
talking and expecting someone else to walk what I talk is something
impossible to achieve. He refused saying that he has pledged to his
institution (Peaceful Society) that he will not contest elections. According
to me any institution which seeks these type of pledges are institution
which will never achieve what they mean to, in the first place. Soter has
been harping on, like everyone else in Goa, that government must implement
73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution on devolving powers to the
panchayats and municipalities. I, on the contrary, have been against this
because of the fact that Panchayats and Municipalities have become dens of
corruption which can teach the legislators how to manipulate funds left
right and center. I have been telling Soter that his Peaceful Society must
first get the Panchayat Raj Act totally streamlined making the Sarpanch
responsible for anything and everything. If found guilty, s/he should get
suspended with penalties. This is not forthcoming but on the contrary the
government is seeking to amend the Act to bypass the elected members of the
Panchayats by making the 'government servant', the secretary, the most
powerful person to decide for the Panchayat.
I share Soter's apprehensions over Matanhy, though. He (Matanhy) is, no
doubt, stronly influenced by the BJP. His non-actions during the BJP rule
have been responsible for people like Soter losing faith in him. (I am
talking about the Freedom Fight VCD). But Matanhy is the only choice that
South Goans can fall behind in this elections. Only he (Matanhy) must give
the people of Goa his assurance that he ( as a MP) will not vote with NDA
which is propagating the 'communal' agenda of the BJP, especially when L.K.
Advani is the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the BJP. When brass tacts comes
to brass tacts, even though Matanhy hates the guts of Congress, he will have
to make his choice of voting against Advani and for whoever represent the
UPA or the Third Front, even if it is Dr. Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi or
even Sonia Gandhi, because in times like these, even one vote could be
priceless.
BTW: This new thing called "Friends of the BJP", Goa Chapter, is headed by
a person who is very close to Matanhy's neice. If this has changed of late,
I am not to know.
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
