Dear Sunith, Usually I do not comment on situations prevailing in Goa, since although I wish well for my ancestral land, I do believe that it is those who are living there who must either accept or change what prevails.
We overseas Goans must help when it is asked for, or help when we see the need for it, without telling Goans who have a stake in living there, how to go about it. Having said that, Filomena Giese's original post was merely about observations on the situation prevailing in Goa albeit from smoky western lenses. I say 'smoky' because what we consider unacceptable due to our own experiences here, is either acceptable or not worth the efforts to change. for those living in those situations. However, sometimes from an outside and therefore unbiased outlook, we must tell it as we see it, whether people resident there feel defensive or not, as you are so obviously feeling. For example you quickly sidestep the issue of enforcement of existing legislation with telling us how civic attitudes are slowly being made to change from school levels upwards. Practically speaking, when you are in school, your outlook is sheltered and 'staged' by your authorities, for the good no doubt. However once you leave school and are thrust into the outside world, you get a feeling of helplessness and only an insignificant minority carry on the good battles they are taught. The rest do whatever they have to in order to make their way in the world, or compete with the Joneses. So I will make an exception to my general principle of non-interference in Goa affairs and say that It is finally authority that must be made to change first. I have always believed that India and Goa have good laws and lawmakers. Where the country and the state fails is in the enforcement, either because there is no will or because the minority of enforcers who are steadfast, upright and true to their jobs are emasculated by the corrupt majority. To my mind Sunil, Goa would do better by teaching children and adults by whatever means, advocacy rather than civic awareness. Advocacy for authority to function as they are mandated to do. Iinculcating civic awareness relies more on idealism which by itself is not a bad thing, but teaching it to slumdwellers eking out a iving, builders, crooks, and corrupt bureaucrats and politicians who are in the terrible majority takes a long long time. Time that a quickly depreciating Goa cannot afford. Sunith wrote about Filomena's post: Isn't it obvious that in a democratic setup, legislation is of limited use without civic awareness? This is especially true in India were legislation is not backed by effective law enforcement. Of course people in Panjim(on the whole) are more aware than the rest of Goa. It is not a question of "enlightenment" as you very wrongly and derogatorily put it _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list Goanet@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org