Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:00:37 +0400 From: "Arwin Mesquita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Many Goan's seek controlled migration/land sale restrictions, IN A CIVILIZED MANNER, to preserve our Identity/Home. Was this same for Germany, Uganda & Serbia i.e. their identities continue to exist!! What can Goan's fall back on, if Goa gets irrelevant! I sympathise with people yearning for a home land e.g. The Kurds etc. > Mario responds: > Once again I am seeing this fundamental misunderstanding of the political status of Goa. I do not understand why. You simply cannot rationally compare a state within India, which is what Goa is, to countries like Germany, Uganda, Serbia, etc. > Serbians who wanted to "maintain their identity" and got frustrated and committed ethnic cleansing in order to do so are being prosecuted and convicted of genocide and war crimes for killing innocent Muslim Kosovan civilians. > Goa cannot become irrelevant, but Goans who think it is of paramount importance to "maintain their identity" by some imaginary standard and by government fiat might become irrelevant because many are still migrating and being replaced by non-Goans. Some [Gasp!] are marrying across caste barriers and even marrying non-Goans [Double Gasp!] > However, inspite of a comical post I read some weeks ago by one of our bretheren in the Gulf which said that he had heard that it was difficult to find a Goan in Goa, there are plenty of native Goans still in Goa and this is likely to continue though their percentage may decline. > Besides, who in a free society decides what exactly it means to have CIVILIZED "migration/land sale restrictions"? Are you going to define a Goan by birth, by the birth of one parent, or both, by being a zhonkar, by a percentage of ethnicity if they come from mixed ethnic families? How? Are YOU going to put together a fund to compensate a Goan family who needs the money from selling their property to the highest Indian bidder? > Arwin wrote: > Why complicate Identity? Just because we did not bother to document it, does not mean it's not definable. I got re-assured on the same, at the last Global Goan Convention in Goa, which showcased a rich mosaic of Goa's Unique Culture/Identity spread across caste/creed/religion. The most beautiful thing is that it's a blend, between east & west. > Mario responds: > As far as I can see this imaginary Goan identity is in the eye of the beholder, precisely because it is a "mosaic", and a blend between east and west. > Arwin wrote: > The view could be a new world order, so then, India should open borders to all countries;.... > Mario responds: > Once again we see the inappropriate comparison between a state and other countries. There are many other economic and political reasons for a sovereign state to control its borders from foreign citizens which simply do not and cannot apply to a state which wants to control its state borders from its fellow citizens. > Arwin wrote: > No community can accept a major demographic change in at least a relatively small period!! > Mario asks: > Goa has now been part of India now for 47 years - enough time, in my opinion, to get used to it. > There are appropriate ways in which to protect the ambience and natural beauty of Goa without curbing or inhibiting or interrupting economic development - one of which I have outlined. Unfortunately, it all begins with electing MLAs with vision and foresight and common sense and honesty, all of which are rare commodities among Goan MLAs from what I understand. >