I really want to know from Frederick why:
1. He bees the quiet in response to Cecil's Column?
2. Why at the time of Venita's column he did not feel inclined to make similar
statements as he has made about me? Instead he felt inclined to disseminate
that column all across the globe announcing to the world at large that Goans
have poor language skills.
3. Why he agrees with Jerry Pinto who has essentially said the same thing as me
- that without purpose and content you cannot alter the form of language.?
Frederick distinctly says that he agrees with Jerry.
Now, Goanetters may think I am being very childish here in insisting a response
from Frederick. But so be it. I am very hurt by all this To be continually
accused of elitism and as being detached from the realities of Goa has taken
its toll on me.
Before Frederick decided to derail the debate by bringing W.Drayton, Texas,
NRIs who tell Goans how to do things and the usual "come back and do something"
argument, I had an important point to make - a point more important than what
Jerry Pinto (who Frederick obsequiously genuflects to...at least one Goan trait
is not being eroded).
The point was this: English is a language that needs support in Goa. We cannot
assume that this language will be learnt to the standard that is required of it
to be not only functional but a living, breathing language of commerce,
science, art, literature and philosophy. We assume that this will happen
automatically. This is a false assumption. Even English speaking countries like
the UK and US are aware that language deteriorates without support. All of
their primary education is geared not towards learning sciences, history or
geography but towards really studying the language itself.
Without a concerted effort in strengthening the language, we are indeed doing
ourselves a great disfavour by making our children study and talk in a language
which suffers from paucity of vocabulary and grammar in Goa.
We Goans seem incapable of debating idea. We are only good at turning debates
into personal battles.
Frederick has known me a very long time and at a deeper level that most people
on this forum would know me (save for Eddie Fernandes) and at the very least he
should give me the benefit of the doubt that motives are not always
superficial nor morally compromised. That perhaps just for once, I too am
capable of assessing the situation in Goa and offering suggestions. Frederick
puts videos out of racism in London. Well what Frederick is engaging in, is
also discrimination. He uses stereotypes to evaluate the validity of people's
positions. This is exactly what racism does.
And if Cecil thinks I am being dramatic. So be it. I am dramatic and that's
what makes me the person I am and I'd be a hell lot less interesting if I
wasn't. So like it or lump it. I bees what I bees and am proud of it.
Best,
Selma
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