Rajan Parrikar wrote: > Furthermore, this work is ongoing, & we expect to enlist young, > energetic Panjim folks to the cause. It is remarkable how much > influence an opportunistic American can wield in Goa if he wants to, > when he wants to.
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:22:01 -0800 (PST) From: Samir Kelekar <samir_kele...@yahoo.com> Which cause ? Iraq or Afghanistan ? Sure, in expectation of US citizenship, some able-bodied young Goans would be willing to join up to become "bakaras". Mario responds: No, Iraq and Afghanistan are being dealt with by other Americans. Rajan was talking about Goa. Wouldn't it be great if he could motivate some able-bodied young Goans to start behaving like Americans to actually think of something other than themselves and DO something about the problems taking place in Goa? In addition to the problems in Goa, Rajan is now faced with protecting his flanks against some angry local Goans with guilty consciences. This same guilty conscience provokes some Indians to be hostile to countries like the US which has repeatedly gone to the assistance of oppressed citizens in other countries. Since WW-II, it has not been an Indian thing to help any foreign country other than as occasional police-wallahs with the UN which hasn't resolved a single significant international conflict so far. They tried to help in Sri Lanka but were forced to run away. Tens of thousands of innocent Indian citizens have been killed by jihadis. The rest breathe a sigh of relief and everything returns to normal in a few days, except for the families and friends of the stricken of course whose lives are scarred forever. I am also at a loss as to why someone who has actually created jobs in Karnataka which could have been created in Goa, would be demanding to know why similar jobs are not being created in Goa, then lashing out in incoherent fury and desperately trying to sabotage the work that some American and British and Gulf Goans are trying to do for Goa. Samir writes: Surely, it will show the "I can" attitude of Goans. Mario observes: If local Goans had an American "I can" attitude Goa would hardly be in such a mess now, would it? Let's not forget that Goa was turned over to the Goans in 1987. This all evolved right under their noses and we may be seeing some guilty consciences out there. Other than Floriano and Venita's analyses and suggestions, we have not seen a single local Goan step up to the plate to lead the effort to save Goa. The ones pushing for something to be done are all current residents of the Gulf, Britain or the US. Samir wrote: Viva Uncle Sam! Viva America!!! Mario observes: Darn right. Those with more than half a brain know that Britain, western and eastern Europe, Japan, S. Korea, Phillippines all owe their freedom and safety to Uncle Sam. Kosovo owes its independance to Uncle George. India's nuclear program was made respectable by Uncle George over the objections of the world. Uncle George also provided BILLIONS for the HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria fighting programs in much of Africa. Iraq and Afghanistan will owe their freedom and democracy to Uncle George, not the gawkers and fence-sitters cheering for the effort to fail. In Goa, Uncle Rajan, Aunty Carmen and Uncle Arwin seem to be leading the charge. If I burst their bubble from time to time it is only to get them to avoid chasing red bangadas and to focus on the primary problem. I can imagine how hard it has to be for them going back and forth at their own expense to try and wake up sussegad Goans who get angry at being disturbed from their siesta. Now, in addition to the political corruption in Goa, they have some local adversaries trying to gain some traction and notoriety at their expense. In the meantime the corrupt politicians and businessmen in Goa must be enjoying the spectacle of a couple of local Goan activists attacking their foreign counterparts.
