Charu wrote: Like any reasonable man in 2010, I am not unenthusiastic to embrace the Portuguese
as world citizen, but the political reality makes it impossible for me to do it unconditionally. I may not put conditions when India regains its lost place among the leaders of the world, for I believe that we are second to none. The Indian term is addwiteeya. -------------------------- RESPONSE: Dear Charu, If only all discussions on goanet and Goa would end with the warm embrace of conciliation :-) I think discussions about Portugal are academic not only to Goa but indeed to the world, being the emasculated power that they eventually became. We Goans must concentrate on our own future and this future must involve an evolution of our thinking and a tolerance for divergent viewpoints. The role models have been there all along in our society - some small time heroes and others big, but our Goan (both Catholic and Hindu) society has always been one of tolerance and progressive, liberal thought and it bothers me no end, that conservatism is making a comeback. take care, Selma ________________________________