Tomorrow (Jan 17) day is the Martin Luther King holiday in the USA. Goans owe people like MLK and other civil rights fighters/organizations a great debt. MLK and others made tremendous sacrifices so equal opportunity is now available to all communities, an idea still fought for around the world against oppressive economic and political systems which exploit the poor and vanishing middle-class.
Goan prosperity in the USA owes much to the opportunities and freedoms created by the Civil Rights Act and the people (many African-Americans), some of whom gave their lives so others can be free. But have USA Goans stopped to reflect on our good fortune? Do USA Goans appreciate the African-American community or are they racist towards them? It is easy to be lost with I-Phones, text messaging, and emailing the world on mundane, unimportant matters. It is also easy to picnic and dance at the usual Goan functions these days - these things don't take any skills. On the other hand, what is a challenge is to see important points in our history, however blurred by time and our present prosperity and be grateful to those who got us here. And then to take on the burden of social justice for all. Thank you Martin Luther King. George
