Gilbert, I have no idea what "academic model" you are referring to. Seems to me your continuing demand for statistical information is the academic approach. I have no interest in knowing what proportion of Goans belong to the various "varnas", etc. which is giving the problem far too much respect in my opinion. All I want is for Catholic Goans to stop discriminating against other Catholic Goans on the basis of congenital factors, which includes caste, and simultaneously expand this to all others as well. Two of my three ABCD kids have married Caucasians and the third is likely to do the same, so I don't have a personal dog in this fight. However, we still get inquiries from Goans within and outside the US asking about someone or other's caste. That, plus the actual experiences within my extended family and close friends are my only clue that the attitude still survives. Yes, my only experience of the Goan caste system has been during the matchmaking-for-marriage process. You are correct in saying that growing numbers of our next generation are marrying outside the community, not just in the diaspora but in India as well. This applies to non-Goans as well, the result of education westernization and modernization. However, if you are familiar with the huge Goan "picnics" taking place across North America over entire weekends, attended by thousands, many of the attendees are trying to find matches within the community for their kids. Whether caste plays any role here, I have no way of knowing. As in the community at large, it probably does among some people. I have no learned approaches to the problem other than to expose it and confront it when it rears it's ugly head, as I have done since I was a kid myself, and provide moral and actual support to anyone who is facing the problem within their own families. Good luck in your efforts. Mario.
--- Gilbert Lawrence <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Cornel and Mario, > > You guys and others can continue to stick to the > academic model which you have > built about Goans and continue to expand on the > discrimination in our society. > But I would agree with Cornel that, Goans (including > me) can certainly improve > on our intermingling skills beyond our small circle > of same-old-friends. > >