As I had mentioned earlier, Marshall will now continue to abuse and slander me till the cows come home. The reason should be clear to everybody by now. Those of you who find this behavior of Marshall to be distressing, or who are embarrassed for him, I apologize on his behalf. I wish I could help him give up this habit some way.
But that aside, in the interest of a productive discussion about secularism and religious propaganda organizations I would like to express the following views. A devout Hindu in another Goan forum mentioned that the Catholic-Christian Secular Forum also engages in political propaganda in support of the Indian National Congress party. I note now that this is also similar to what the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti does on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In response to his assertion, I said that I am strongly opposed to any religious organization that mixesreligion with politics, and tries to impose its parochial religiousbeliefs on the general populace through political action. I do notcare, however, whether an individual citizen is a supporter of onepolitical party or another. I do not attach any negative significanceto the fact that he/she is a Congress or BJP supporter. I do not know, for example, if Marshall is a Congressman, a Marxist, a Maoist or a supporter ofsome other party, and I do not care. I also do not care about the factthat he is clearly not a secular individual. The fact that he is a religiouschauvinist has no adverse connotation for me. In the U.S. where I live, a significant number of the religious people, and perhaps the majority of the supporters of the Republican party, including some of its presidential candidates do not believe that the secular agenda and secular values are good for the society. Of course, I disagree, but I do not believe that they are bad people. Another individual who happens to be Catholic and conservative wrote the following about CSF in another Goan public forum: QUOTE The CSF which refers to itself as the Catholic Secular Forum and on the sameHome Page as the Catholic-Christian Secular Forum cannot be Catholic/Christianand Secular at the same time. Based on post Vatican II Catholicism they shouldfocus on their own faith and defense against the various physical attacks onthem by extremist Hindu zealots and not attack other religions with grossgeneralities, which would make them Catholic zealots. UNQUOTE Cheers, Santosh ----- Original Message ----- From: Marshall Mendonza <[email protected]> > > One can well understand Santosh's frustrations. After making > false allegations and casting slurs on the CSF with much brouhaha, he is > unable to produce a single article espousing hatred or violence against any > religion. So much for apologists who wear their skin-deep secularism on > their sleeves and who mislead people and distort innocuous reports by > giving them a communal flavour with malicious and mischievous intent. When > repeatedly challenged, they try to obfuscate issues and cast smears on > those exposing them. This is the hallmark of the sangh parivar. They do not > even have the grace or honesty to accept their wrongdoings when exposed. > They will try to brazenly talk their way out with false bravado. > > Regards, > > Marshall > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
