*Comment about Bom Jesus Basilica among 7 wonders of Portuguese origin* *Fri Jun 12 09:13:19 PDT 2009*
As a non-Goan who's lived here on and off for 20 years, I'm very curiousabout Goa's history with the Inquisition. How is it that the gory history of Goa's past remains virtually unknown by outsiders or tourists? Joao writes: A sign of a civilized and mature people, in my view, is to let bygones be bygones. We have a recorded history of the Inquisition but it does not mean it has to have a place of pride on tourism billboards. People of various communities have, at one time or the other, been cruel to other weaker communities, as well as to people living within their own community. What is important is not to accuse and hold responsible the people who are alive today for crimes committed a long time ago. It will only open a can of worms, and make today a hell while we're fighting over the past! Life, after all, is to be lived in the present .... A wise man once said, an eye for and eye makes the whole world blind. Most of us have only one eye, let's not lose the other, too. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a beautiful building butI find it odd that visitors don't know what cruelties once took place in thevicinity of the Basilica. Would love to hear the thoughts of people on this list...Best,Sapna.