From: D'Souza Ravi Ivo <[email protected]> Subject: Letters to the editor - Mockery of Public Felicitations To: "Ashwin Tombat" <[email protected]>, "editor paper" < [email protected]>, "Goa Doot" <[email protected]>, "Goa Journalists" <[email protected]>, "Goa Today" <[email protected]>, "Goan Observer" <[email protected]>, "Goan Observer - UK" < [email protected]>, "Gomantak Times" <[email protected]>, "L Post - Navhind Times" <[email protected]>, "Mail @ Oheraldo" < [email protected]>, "Navhind Times" <[email protected]>, "news paper" <[email protected]>, "Sunaparant" <[email protected]>, "Times Group" <[email protected]>, "Times of India" < [email protected]> Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 12:50 AM
**** *Dear Sir,* I'll be glad if you may publish my article "*Mockery of Public Felicitations *" in your Letters to Editor section. Thanking you. Yours truly, D'Souza Ravi Ivo Via E-mail from Dubai. ** *Mockery of Public Felicitations:* In our early days we would hear of freedom fighters being felicitated and come teacher’s day, it was the turn of the teachers which they truly deserve. Now a days we hear too many political felicitations on individuals being made party president, appointed to certain posts, appointed to a corporation board, etc, etc and these high profile publicity does not make any sense without any notable contribution to the welfare of society like eradication of poverty, uplifting of downtrodden, improving health care, immunisation and education, and improving the living environment. Leaving aside the political parties with their usual trends, the building and apartment societys also have apparently joined the chorus. Majority of the people will surely agree that these events are organised by certain groups whose hidden agenda is to obtain numerous favours through these events and on the other side there are citizens who have to reluctantly join or boycott these celebrations enforced upon them by people lacking values and principles in life. Everyone knows that such felicitations are just waste of funds which could be used for much better constructive purpose. The public in Goa is so much fed up with these publicities given to such functions and individuals who don’t have much contribution to the development in Goa, that there is only negative perception and discontent in the living atmosphere. So instead of living with strong resentment over these felicitations, and feeling dejected and miserable, a better way of getting over these negative feelings is to overshadow them by being content in doing something much better like felicitating underprivileged students who have achieved academic success whether outstanding or not. This will not only use much of our energies in doing something useful and keeping us busy but will create a sense of courtesy and gratitude in the minds of these students so that when they too grow up and become successful individuals they will continue the trend to encourage and work for the underprivileged ones. One such event will set a precedent for others to follow and the benefeciaries will be Goans itself. This way we will always be proud that we have contributed for Goa and Goans which may not be a big one but will be surely be an outstanding one. * * * Read Selma Carvalho's warmly-received book *Into the Diaspora Wilderness*, a journey through Goan life in Africa, the Gulf, England and North America ... gripping and well-told real-life stories. See http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ Buy in Goa via Broadway Book Centre, Panjim. Ph 9822488564. * * *
