Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:18:38 +0530 From: Marshall Mendonza <mmendonz...@gmail.com>
Mario, you have completely missed the point in my posting. There is a world of difference between ' branded a naxalite' and 'being a naxalite'. Mario observes: You are right. There is a huge difference. If Jesus would be branded a naxalite, obviously that would be false. Your claim that he would have been is cynical and speculative and a straw man that adds nothing logical or factual to any rational debate. If Arun Ferreira, Himanshu Kumar or Dr Binayak Sen have never advocated nor condoned violence they are clearly not Naxalites. Marshall wrote: Liberation theologians agree with Marx's famous statement: "Hitherto philosophers have explained the world; our task is to change it." They argue that theologians are not meant to be theoreticians but practitioners engaged in the struggle to bring about society's transformation. In order to do this liberation theology employs a Marxist-style class analysis, which divides the culture between oppressors and oppressed. They do not claim to use Marxism as a philosophical world view or a comprehensive plan for political action. Human liberation may begin with the economic infrastructure, but it does not end there. Mario responds: In spite of all its pious sophistries - and yours - Marxism did more damage to average individuals and entire societies than any other recent social or political ideology. There was no rational reason for any Christians to associate themselves with a philosophy synonymous with unspeakable evil rather than achieving any good, except for a small number of ruling elites. Christian philosophies were more than enough to deal with the problems in South America, had they been consistently applied. Marshall wrote: All I can say is you and many other NRI?s are out of touch with reality regarding issues back home. Social unrest is the biggest challenge facing the Indian state today. More that Communalism. There is degradation of the environment due to mining and indiscriminate construction. People are being displaced from their homes due to acquisition of land for SEZ?s, MNC?s and big industrialists. People are being displaced because of developmental projects like dams, construction of expressways, etc. There are no rehabilitation schemes in place. Mario responds: It seems like it is you who is out of touch with reality - namely, that all this may be true but it is the fault of Indian citizens who allowed it to happen by misusing their common sense and voting and re-voting for incompetent and corrupt people.
