Goanetters annual year-end meet is on Dec 27, 2010 (Monday) from 4-6 pm at Institute Piedade (near Hotel Mandovi, opp Bread & More) in Panjim. Do come along. RSVP via SMS 9822122436, [email protected] or 2409490 (after 2 pm).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Tony, It was not my intention to criticize the lifestyle in Goa, nor to make comments on the situation there. The post was in reply to Arwin who wanted to take away the option of migrating from Goans contemplating it, on the grounds that they would be responsible for Goa losing its identity. I believe like many others that changes in Goa must come from Goans living there. If someone has left Goa temporarily or permanently (like Arwin himself), they lose all right to tell the residents how things should be. Having said that, the angst of the Goa situation makes those in the Diaspora say things they should be silent about. The psychology of the Diaspora Goan is that the longer one lives out of India, the more the attributes of bribery, corruption, inefficiency and injustice become absolutes. To those in India they are merely relatives, as they have had to evolve through it all. Therefore it would be best that the Arwin Misquitas and Freddy Agnelo Fernandeses would be better off morphing into the George Sudharops of the Goan community. Do what you can for Goa in a postive way, and do not get bitter or try to improve Goa from afar. That can have a deleterious effect on one's health and it can do no good for Goa. The forces from India coupled with the class of politicians that Goa has been producing are far too strong for any home-made remedy. I am hopeful that that eventually a desire for change will come from the people of India and that will engulf Goa in its path just as the negative forces have done for now. Tony, I promise not to look at the underbelly of my ancestral homeland and instead find what is good in it. In the spirit of Christmas, I wish all my Goan brothers the best of their dreams and the love of their families. I am touched by the sincere Christmas wishes of my Hindu brothers of this forum. Unitedly, they have proclaimed that we are one Goan, sons of the same soil. That we do not need the Indian constitution to teach us that we must live together in peace and when the time comes, to take a single stand on the forces from wherever they come, that seek to divide us. To all Goanetters, I send the greetings of this season. Roland. Toronto. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Roland, Something is rotten in the State of Goa, yes it certainly is. But then are things really different in Bihar, UP, Delhi, or for that matter anywhere else in India? Tony de Sa. tonydesa at gmail dot com ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
