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Visit http://www.garcabranca.com for details/booking/confirmation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have only just seen Fred's comments on the tension between the Christian West and Muslims worldwide. He may not use my terminology, but I really do agree with his sentiments strongly that, collectively and even perhaps unconsciously, we have invented an unnecessary divide between the two groups. We have effectively created folk devils and moral panics and through these, both sides blame each other. This simply cannot take us towards mutual understanding for a better/peaceful world. To illustrate my point, some on Goanet may have just read from the Goan Voice (UK), an article by Fr Raymond J. De Souza: Madness shames Muslim World. To me, such an utter right-wing diatribe on the Muslim response to Benedict is illustrative of sheer added madness through the writing of a Goan Catholic priest in Canada who seems unable to see the wood for the trees in a seriously troubled world. Indeed, in terms of substance in Fr Raymond's article, in some ways it is as bad as all those Muslims keen on Sharia law in today's world, absurdities like fatwas and literally asking for Benedict's head. I'd like to suggest that, Fr Raymond should do some history homework to discover that, the West has messed up Middle East peoples (well illustrated through Edward Said's concept of Orientalism) for the best part of two centuries in recent times. Today's radicalised Muslims are the chickens coming home to roost and we need to understand this phenomena through an informed perspective because there are just too many dangers ahead. At heart, I passionately believe in dialogue and will never accept that this is not possible between antagonistic groups. One may not be able to talk face to face at times, but it is always possible to use intermediaries. Dialogue helps to lead us to understand the worries and concerns of different groups and is a way forward to get out of the cycle of conflict. It is definitely better than the pr-emptive vogue for militaristic solutions today but I want to add that I am no pacifist. There will be times when force may be necessary in some circumstances but would like to add that a seriously unfocused blanket 'war on terror' is not the way! In many ways, I see the tension today between the Christian West and Islam as rather manufactured in much the same way when communism and "reds under the bed" featured as a problem until the demise of the Soviet Union when it basically imploded under its own contradictions. All Muslims, Hindus, Christians or whatever have their rotten apples but are generally in brotherhood and sisterhood across religious parameters. We need to draw this aspect out today via the moderates across the spectrum instead of creating wholesale enemies unnecessarily. Above all, there are serious problems in the Middle East that need to be addressed honestly and with sincerity by both antagonistic sides as a prelude to a semblance of peace worldwide. Before I am accused of appeasement, I claim that my vision is a pragmatic one rather than an idealistic one. I also know that my views will be anathema to some on Goanet. However, I am not necessarily determined to persuade people to my way of thinking. I only seek that my points of view be heard. Cornel DaCosta, London, UK. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frederick "FN" Noronha" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" <goanet@lists.goanet.org> Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 7:05 AM Subject: Re: [Goanet] Pope Benny XVI Should Resign - Absolutely not. _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list Goanet@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org