Source: Goan Voice UK Newsletter of 7 Jul. 2013 at www.goanvoice.org.uk By Roland Francis.
Every time I visit our neighbour down south, I am amazed at the changes that are continuously taking place in that country. Not so much the changes in the immovable assets of buildings and infrastructure as much as the changes in population mix and the continuous influx of new nationalities. The previous immigration, mostly legal, of Jews, Poles, Italians and Irish displaced by famines, wars and genocide in the early to middle previous century has been replaced by legal as well as illegal immigration of Hispanics, Africans, East Asian, Arabs and Haitians who flee here for many reasons but mainly for a chance to grab a piece of the American Dream. With the huge deficits successive governments have been running for unnecessary wars, that dream has become somewhat jaded but the US is a resilient country and just when you think its glory days are past, it comes back with renewed vigour. Nothing exemplifies the world population shift like New York City where Spanish seems to have become more than a second language. All immigrants are tough, ambitious and determined. After the struggle of the first generation who are lesser educated, less fluent in English and thus working in dead end jobs, gives way to the next generation who are a whole lot better educated, integration becomes complete. Unlike in Canada, they become thoroughly Americans first and last and proud of it. In Canada, for better or worse, the culture and lack of flag waving allows them to retain their heritage. To those of us who take the narrow view of this riff raff citizenry, it all looks foolish. Why would any country risk that along with such immigrants will come elements that foster drug culture, terrorism and a host of other problems that could be kept away? There are two parts to the answer. One is that the US has such a large and porous border with its only southern neighbour Mexico that it is impossible to control it effectively. The other is that for every illegal who proves troublesome and costly, there will be a hundred who will contribute to the well being of the country, doing jobs that Americans have to be paid a minimum wage to do or are too qualified or don't want to do. Paid in cash, they pay their taxes based on false papers but in return are unable to reap the benefits when they require it because of their false IDs which were ignored when they paid in but not ignored when they were to be paid out. Imagine this happening to millions of illegals. The situation although unfortunate, serves both the country and them, with an eventual opportunity of becoming legal through a political amnesty. The New World consists of yet another element though it is a little less obvious at the present time. It is that of weather pattern change. The time is considered past for scepticism and debate on global warming. Proactive governments in developed countries are already in planning stages to deal with the new phenomena of frequent and destructive storms, tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, melting of icebergs and ice lands and consequent flooding. The amount that will have to be spent will be in the trillions but the recurring damage could be far more expensive. The new world is not just for America, or Europe or for other parts of the developed world. It will cover the entire globe but lesser developed countries will wake up later than they should, as is the custom. For us Goans, thinking continues to be compartmentalised. We still tend to talk of a Goan identity while even national identities with immigration and intermarriages are becoming more and more hazy, nebulous and elusive. People seem to be more occupied with grand homes than in stopping beach erosion and preserving their cultivated land. Few demand good government and a plan for capable disaster management whether for flooding, food shortages or long electricity outages. 'Bhailles' (outsiders) whether from the rest of India or long staying foreigners, are despised and milked rather than treated like stakeholders. They ought to be made to feel responsible along with Goans for improving the mess that is Goa today. There is a great wealth and not just of money that comes with them and it would be foolish not to use this. But chances are we won't do all this because despite our activists, we have never got the big picture. The old days' liquor is quicker has been replaced by wealth is health. ==================