Well said Albert! It is not that the Marathi and S Konkani wallahs do not realise what U have said here. It is all dirty politics; jealousy and the mean thing of trying to keep others down. Goa and India has still to 'grow out of this narrow vision' mentality! Nascimento
________________________________ From: Albert Peres <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, 11 September 2013 10:28 AM Subject: Re: [Goanet] Churchill versus Laloo My position: The ability to read, write, and importantly comprehend, the English language is arguably the single most important skill for Goan to acquire if they wish to succeed in India or in any part of the world. For a young Goan it is a big deal. Take a random poll of GoaNet participants. What language did we use to acquire most of your education? What language do we use to keep your professional skills up to date? What language helps in travel to any city in the world? What language allows the privilege of earning a living in any part of the world? What is the language of international diplomacy, business, sciences, programing? Like it or not, English is the de facto official language of India and the world. English is the language of friendship, of art. It is the language of cross cultural communication. It is the language that opens doors. English may not be the mother tongue of Goa, but only a mastery of English will help articulate, communicate, engage the appropriate resources to resolve issues on the scale that Goa now faces. English, and not Konkini or Marathi, as much as we may hope and wish it to be, is the most successful medium to successfully preserve Goan Culture by transmitting our values to new generations and in communities around the world. This has been the case for the last 150 years. I do not knock Konkini or Marathi. Languages are wonderful human tools. Ideally everyone would have a native language for family, transmission of culture, personal orientation. English, however, is the acquirable tool that propels one, and Goa, beyond the village gates.
