I agree with the views of Soter D'Souza regarding the stupidity which is going on in Colva.
Soter D'Souza wrote,"The attack on the house and other property of a person from Colva accused of producing a controversial CD is to be condemned. Such means resorted to by so called followers of Jesus Christ, that too during Christmas, and supposedly provoked by lay church leaders is all the more deplorable. Are we any better than the Bajrang Dal, Ram Sena, Taliban and all such fanatical fringe elements that suppress freedom of expression through terror. The hurt sentiments are understandable but will violence achieve any solution?" Maybe this Calvert was wrong in what he said; maybe he was not. Frankly I do not know why some Colva people were incensed with the makers of the CD as I have not listened to it. But this does not matter. If something wrong was said, howsoever wrong it might have been, these people should have resorted to a civil remedy - the sensible act was that a law suit for defamation should have been filed. If at all there were fears that the justice system would take too much time, then at the very least these people should have resorted to a non-violent form of protest which did not disrupt other people's lives. Could not these people have gone and flooded this apparently erring panch with bouquets of roses? Sure, roses are expensive but they would not have cost more than the damage that they did. Did nobody watch 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' and does one have to totally lose one's sense of humour when one is angry? I seriously wonder whether such an attack could have been possible without the active collaboration of the parish priest concerned and the Church authorities. Why did that parish priest not physically go and stop the violence and the disruption to the lives of those who were not concerned with what was going on? OK, maybe it is human on the part of a seemingly wounded individual, no matter that he is a priest who is supposed to turn the other cheek when one is slapped to enjoy the fun. Especially when the expression of violence is in his favour and is against a fellow parishioner. But what was Archbishop Felipe Neri doing when all this was happening? I know that Archbishops do not have the physical power of the civil authorities. But one appeal by him may have quieted things down and also shown that he lives by Christian tenets. He should have had the courage to quote to his people from the Book of Romans 12: 19-21 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Even if the crowds did not respond at least he would have been making an important statement. By remaining silent he still chose to make a statement: he conveyed to the public that he is not in control of wild fanatical Christian rowdies; or at any rate does not want to control them. That was a very sad statement to make. The problem will arise when the boot is on the other foot: when his clergy or laity are attacked by whichever mob (and one does not need to be a fortune-teller to say that such attacks, which occur regularly in other states will one day become a reality in Goa too). Then what sort of moral authority will he have when trying to control such situations? I'm pretty sure he will be told to back off on the grounds that what is sauce to the goose is sauce to the gander. His own people will be given the same treatment that they gave others. Soter D'Souza correctly warns us of the danger of attempting to lynch those with whom one disagrees :- it gives ALL fundamentalists the justification to behave in exactly the same manner. If the Colvaban can do it then why can't the Taliban or the Ram Sena or the Sanatan or ... Augusto - -- Augusto Pinto 40, Novo Portugal, Moira, Bardez, Goa, India E [email protected] or [email protected] P 0832-2470336 M 9881126350
