Perhaps, Canadian Goans should consider getting together, forming a company, collecting some money, going to the bank, purchasing a place, and having their get-together at a Goan place. Think about it, the number of Goans I saw at the old 'Africa hot' Bombadier spot (?) for a Viva Goa function, could easily have collectively done what the Sardars or the Lankans did, light years ago.
Instead, all one gets to see is this constant in-fighting, bickering and washing of the 'linens of envy' in public. No wonder, we are not taken seriously as a community. I suppose Nehru was right when he said that Goans are only good to be 'cooks and butlers' .......(I hasten to add) of and to others. For, in general, we neither show the desire to own, nor do we support Goans who venture into ownership. We also (I believe) do not have enough thick skin to withstand the attacks from the riff-raffs in the peanut gallery. Some years ago, I read on GoaNet, a blistering attack on a [G] Toronto Goan restaurant 'Pride of Goa' by an alleged journalist who specialises in sans-research extempore attacks. I am not so sure if the owner just lost heart and gave up. As I walked around at the Viva Goa fair, I saw a number of stalls run by Goan writers based in Toronto. Among them were Ben Antao and Siliviano Barbosa (two Goans who have ventured into writing and publishing books). Granted that many of us do not read, but exactly HOW did we support and encourage these Goan writers? Instead of aiming our verbal expertise on politicians and political animals, we turn cannibalistic and destroy anyone who wants to contribute positively in the form of a Goan presence in society. And then we become miserable and complain that we don't get this and that. Brilliant, are we not?. jc ----------------------------------------- [a] Mervyn Lobo wrote: Maybe it's just me but every time I go to a village feast in Toronto, I am offered the drinks I want, I get to eat some good food, dance, donate to the cause, win raffle prizes and return home. Happy. The person sitting on the table next to me : 1) does not get the drinks he wants 2) does not get the Goan food 3) wins no prizes 4) returns home miserable and reports so on the web. [b] Earlier, Roland Francis wrote: Goan village functions are held in halls owned mostly by Punjabis and Sri Lankans. No banquet halls in Canada whether Italian, Punjabi or Sri Lankan, cook sorpotel or make sannas, period.