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Remembering Aquino Braganca (b. 6 April 1924), who fought for freedom
of the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. An online tribute
http://aquinobraganca.wordpress.com/ (includes many historical
references, some photographs and documents)
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Mario wrote:
> http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575565/gandhi.html
>
> Excerpt:
> In September 1932, while in jail, Gandhi undertook a fast
> unto death to improve the status of the Hindu Untouchables.
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 03:12:56 +0530
From: Frederick [FN] Noronha * ???????? ????????
(i) Just because the West canonises a 20th century political leader
(for whatever reason, including their own biases and political
preferences of those who control public opinion on a global scale)
doesn't make him lily white and above criticism.
Mario responds:
Frederick,
Are you, too, now trying to revise history by insinuating that Gandhiji did
nothing to confront the abomination of the caste system?
Frederick wrote:
His simplicity we and the rest of the planet can learn a lot from, never mind
your capitalist dogma of more-consumption-is-virtue, and Sarojini Naidu's dig
that it costs India a lot to keep Gandhi poor!
Mario responds:
It is simply empirical fact that capitalism has created more wealth and freedom
for more people for a longer period that any other system devised so far,
whereas your socialist dogma has done the opposite because of which it is now
virtually obsolete, rejected by all its previousl proponents other than the
oppressive economic basket cases like Cuba, N. Korea, Zimbabwe and Venezuela.
While it is currently being revived in the home of capitalism, this is likely
to be short lived because of the results it will not produce.
Frederisk wrote:
The excesses of Indian middle-class (and elite) overconsumpion are making
itself felt in tonnes of garbage, depletion of resources, and (your bugbear!)
global warming and what not.
Mario responds:
I guess, in your mind, you get to decide what "overconsumption" means?
I recall the socialist uptopia of post independence India I escaped from had
tonnes of garbage, misallocation of resources, massive corruption, wholesale
tax cheating, etc. not to mention massive economic malaise and far more poverty
than today.
BTW, we saw is a recent debate right here on Goanet that the causes of global
warming espoused by the mainstream scientific organizations are being subjected
to spirited opposition by a number of other scientists.
Frederick wrote:
While Gandhi was staunchly against untouchability as such, he
didn't have a problem (in fact, he supported) the caste system as a
whole. Check out these interesting links, since you talk about Google:
Mario responds:
How can anyone seriously argue that a person who went on hunger strikes on
behalf of the lowest Hindu caste had any sympathy for any of the negative and
discriminatory and debilitating aspects of the caste system?
Gandhi was brought up in Hinduism, in which caste is ingrained. His thinking
evolved as he grew and matured, so his conflict on the subject and his approach
must be looked at from this perspective. Ambedkar was brought up as a Harijan
- the term coined by Gandhi I believe, so his perspective was different.
Frederick wrote:
I would agree with you that we Goan Catholics tend to be defensive about
discussing/acknowledging caste and its negative impact on society. But even if
you're right on this, it doesn't justify your other arguments, which seem to be
based on your gut-level feeling rather than facts. I'm sure you'll feel I'm
wrong, so let me know why (not that I'll debate continually).
Mario responds:
"Even if I'm right" ?????????????? :-))
My "other arguments" in this thread were,
a) "Casteism is just as bad as racism,...", and
b) "Once again, I see some Christians trying to deflect attention from racism
in the Catholic Church, the subject of this thread, to some other person's
alleged transgressions - as if two wrongs make a right, even if true."
Which of these did you think was not right ??????
BTW, the Goan Christians who follow the pretense of being "upper caste" are
understandably defensive when confronted by someone like me because
a) such a system does not exist within their religion, and
b) for far too long they have been allowed to get away with taking advantage of
its negative aspects.
