On Feb 23, 2013, at 5:31 PM, Mervyn Lobo <mervynal...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
1: My personal observation is that the residents of Goa tolerate spitting and the red spit is offensive only to tourists, like myself. 2: Strangely enough, cities in N. America use consultants in India to solve their garbage and littering problems. 3: There is the second option, photographs. Everyone has a cell phone today. A website showing pictures of people spiting, parking illegally, etc., can do wonders too. RESPONSE: My dear Mervyn, I truly hate to disagree with you, not only because you are a good man but also because you really mean well. However, I wonder if you have ever "lived" in Goa. It is worth traveling 'incognito' and like the average 'Joe'. That is when one sees ...as Tom Conti's character did in 'Saving Grace'. A few years ago (and I accept that things may have changed since then) I was on a bus from Margao to Velim. I intentionally took the long route bus which traveled via Cuncolim. A chap got on to the, by now, crowded bus at a place called Dramapur. He was puffing away to glory despite the No Smoking sign in the bus. A woman with a child in her lap requested him (in Goan Hindi) to stop smoking as "the child was asthmatic". The chap went ballistic and so did 3 other of the 'ghantis' (forgive the term) who were already on the bus. He cussed her out in some form of Hindi and even asked her what she would do if he did not stop? Where does one turn to, Mervyn? The Police? The bus driver or the 'kilinder'? Talking about websites and pictures, have you not seen the the zillion pictures posted by JoeGoaUK? You believe these folks or 'the powers that be' care? These are the "shareholders" in the voters' bank, Mervyn! Who cares about Goans in Goa anymore? You are right, Goans have accepted the Paan and other filth as a way of life. You believe they have a choice besides resorting to violence? and do they not patronise the filthy eat places and filthier stalls selling all kinds of stuff on the roadside? BTW have you visited Petticoat Lane in East London (UK) or Gerrard St in your neck of the woods aka Toronto? best jc
