Avelino, Since you seem determined to continue on this approach, let me spell it out for you as there may be others out there like you. We are talking about the caste system in this thread, not all of society's ills. The people's mindset, power and affluence may be in play here, but the demon in our case is discrimination based on caste, as opposed to a person's personal behavior, achievements and attitude.
1. I start with the conviction that the caste system is diabolical and has caused incredible heartache and family conflict among Catholic Goans, especially when a child in the family wants to marry someone "outside the caste". If you are unaware of this I really cannot help you. I have seen its destructiveness within and around my own extended family. 2. The long-term abolition is dependent on changing people's hearts and minds. Some people refer to this as "education" and prefer the gentle persuasive approach. I have no patience for that approach because this has gone on far too long, I am in the third quarter of my life, a cancer survivor, and I am anxious to change at least a few minds and plant a few seeds before I check out and try to talk St. Peter into letting me haunt a few people that need haunting. 3. Discussing the issue on open forums like Goanet makes people aware of the problem, sensitive to its destructiveness, and provides moral support to those who may be facing the problem currently, to know that there are people like me who detest this system as as unfair and eminently discriminatory as racism, and they can count on my moral and actual support. 4. When Catholic Goans bring up the topic in my presence I don't keep quiet on the grounds that it may upset them. I let them know in no uncertain terms that what they are doing is inherently wrong and at odds with Christianity. If I lose a friend over this I am quite prepared to dismiss that person as not the kind of friend I should be having. 5. I tend to use the "rant and rave" approach because it emphasizes my passion and seriousness, and I am hoping to embed deeply in their consciousness a deep-seated guilt that this system is all wrong in every which way and it is time to end it. --- "D'Souza, Avelino" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Mario, I wish you luck in your endeavor to get rid > of the caste system. I am still at a loss to comprehend how you will be confronting this mammoth task. > > Is it really the caste system which is diabolical or > the people's mindset, power and affluence? >