The Accidental Activist - To Die For
Venita Coelho has raised a crucial issue in crucial times for Goa and Indiain general. It is indeed time for a showing of hands of people who are willing to fight for what is still left in Goa, before it is too late. The spirit that brought people together to fight the Regional Plan should rise again and lead people further in this struggle and should be relentless! It should not die out as soon as it is felt that the danger is over and as soon as they win one battle. There are many more battles we must win! But on-going unity and cooperation among people is extremely important and crucial! While we have the sad bunch of poor quality politicians that rule Goa, the danger will never be over! So another question I would like to add to Venita’s questions is: why do Goans insist on voting over and over again for the same politicians that are corrupt, ignorant, incompetent and without an ounce of integrity in their bones? Why is it that not a finger was raised during last elections to have an alternative to Congress and BJP in Goa? It is certainly not because there has not been an alternative. There is for example the Goa Su-Raj party that has been in existence since 2000. Why is it that concerned Goans with a conscience and awareness about the catastrophic future of Goa, do not back a party of Good Governance? Why ?!!!! Joining the naxalites is not an option for the great majority of Goans. To brand someone like Seby and others mentioned in Venita’s article as Naxals, shows that the government and police are running out of legitimate excuses to stop people with courage, commitment and a conscience to express themselves through their good work and actions. If that is what is meant by being a naxalite, than I am also a Naxal ! It would be interesting to see how many thousands of Naxals can be locked in Goa’s police stations! Can you imagine if all of us, thousands of us declared that we are naxalites what would the government do? I don't believe we have to die to put things right in Goa. Not yet! All we need to do is back-up an alternative to the political parties and politicians that come into power in Goa election after election. We need to develop and encourage and back-up with our votes a new school and brand of politicians with education, integrity and courage to control the mining, the construction, the gambling lobbies and the mafias that rule Goa at the moment. Carmen Miranda
