Frederick wrote:
1. <one has to be careful not to get caught up in traps that could be used
in a situation
where religious polarisation is the main basis of fighting electoral battles
in today's
Goa.>
Santosh wrote:
2. <As far as I am concerned, one must mount a strong opposition to
revisionist propaganda>
Gilbert wrote :
3. <It started with St. Francis Xavier, and then with the Inquisition and
now the blanket
statements of Churches built over temples>
Santosh wrote:
4. <Hindutva on the other hand is a virus that has afflicted modern Indian
society. It has
to be eliminated using all non-violent and honest means>
Gilbert wrote:
5. <Please take this message to the appropriate audience. Counter-acting
Hindutva etc. can
only be effectively done by moderate and intellectual Hindus>
===================>
JC's response
You three gentlemen have made excellent points. It is quite evident that
those who are involved in political battles are using "Religious
Polarisation" for political purposes.
They are indeed using "Revisionist Propaganda" as a means to an end. That
end is political control. There is no doubt that they need to be "Peacefully
but consistently Opposed".
I believe that many among us see through the Sound Bytes that are repeated
by the Hindutva
"Propagandists". It's the same old refrain that is being repeated over and
over again. Sonia, Foreign, Catholic, SFX, Inquisition, Churches, Forced
Conversions etc.
Those among us who remember that good old Hindutva idealogue Ashok Chowgule
would surely
recollect his Constant Refrains of the late 1990s. He too had anti "
Catholic, SFX, Inquisition, Churches, Forced Conversions" refrains. Not much
of Sonia from him - but he specialised in anti-"Pope, Portuguese, Mother
Teresa" stuff.
You do remember how one deals with the Guy who lives in the glass house and
throws stones at
others - Don't you?
In the case of the Hindutva protagonists, the only way, I believe, one
counters them is by
alerting them to the following:
1. The Caste System is the original form of Racism
2. Some Catholic Churches were built on the ruins of Hindu Temples, But many
Hindu Temples were built on / or are modified Buddhist Temples.
3. Many "low caste" Hindus left the scourge of the Hindu "Caste System" by
converting to Buddhism, Islam and Christianity.
4.Aryan and Dravidian religions - you may call them one religion - but they
aren't. They
have been conveniently merged a la the NDA. And over the years, the margins
have been slowly
but surely blurred to give the Brahmins control.
5. During Aurangzeb's time, many Hindu temples were destroyed because they
were used for
perpetuating the Devdasi system - prostitution with religious sanction.
6. The Catholic Inquisition was horrible - Hindu Sati was worse!
After a few rounds of the above - the good Ashok Chowgule stopped spreading
anti-Catholic bile on many Goa related fora.
This is NOT to say that we should condone the Vile Inquisition or the
intolerant Moghal regime. Only to remind ALL & SUNDRY that we are all
sinners - and we ALL need to be more tolerant of each other & Help each
other.
We must accept that extremists from ALL religions (including Christianity)
have & continue to exhibit intolerance towards those who do NOT see eye to
eye with them. Therefore, not only should Hindutva be opposed - but also the
Rt. Wing intolerant stuff from ALL religions.
It is only then will we find more "moderate and intellectual Hindus" willing
to counter Hindutva virulence.
Life is a circle. What goes around, comes around. Things will get worse
before they get better. There was a time when Salazarism was it. That has
gone far away to keep company with the Intolerance of the Inquisitors, The
Satists, The Moghals, Peshwas, Kadambas, the Nazis and the rest.
The present is the time when Religious Nuts (like the Hindutva folks & the
Islamic and Christian extremists) are flexing their muscles. Much selective
truth and falsehood will be spread. It will remain with us for some time,
create a lot of strife and suffering, BUT it too shall come to pass.
If we are truly moderates and intellectuals, we will realise that quickly,
and go about our vocations and professions in as diligent a fashion as is
humanly possible.
good wishes to all
jose
_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
##########################################################################
# Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] #
# PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts #
# More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ #
# Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others #
##########################################################################
