Dear Alba, Thank you for promoting my fan club.
As this list is predominantly (or possibly completely) Catholic, I have resisted the urge to comment on the current threads. Having been rapped on the knuckles before, I am a little more leery of using this forum to air my thoughts. But the last line of your message caught my attention (unless you were referring to my Mississauga neighbour and fellow Saligaokar, Dr. Colin Saldanha http://thecanadianimmigrant.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=914 ) I was happy to see the roofing over the church completed (miracles notwithstanding... the roof of the house of God should not have rotted in such an earthly manner ;-) and the outpouring of support from all over the world was indeed commendable. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Pennies from Heaven' by Aileen Carneiro. Mae de Deus has indeed given comfort to many in the village, my family included (both my parents have left it's portals 'feet-first') and continues to be a source of pride not just to the people of Saligao but to Goa & India. It's splendour against the green backdrop of coconut trees across the verdant fields is truly breath-taking. However, when I see postings of how Goa is changing and watch Rajan Parrikar's photo essays like "Rape of Goa" http://www.konkantube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=70fd093ee8a9bf8ae7d0 I wonder how our hindu ancestors must have viewed the Portuguese invaders who took over their lands, divided it up and gave the prime areas to new converts who now consider themselves the moral majority in many Bardez villages, with their white-washed edifices for spiritual comfort. Having been on that side of the fence, and actually having been on the building committee for a popular church in Mississauga ( http://stfrancisxavierchurch.ca/about/parish-logo/ ) I know the trials and tribulations associated with building and maintaining a sanctuary of worship. However, the Catholic Church is less than accommodating of other faiths, let alone other Christian denominations. On a recent visit to bury my Dad last year, I saw first hand the animosity towards 'the believers' who have established a home in Saligao and are actually living their faith through their actions. http://childrescue.net/project_info.php?project=vh http://childrescue.net/blog/sections/projects/victory-house/ I now read the postings to this forum more objectively and have learned that the easiest way to upset anyone is to challenge their most deep seated beliefs. I have no reason to do that to any of you, my fellow villagers, friends and relatives on this list. If this, or any of my messages in the past have been offensive, I am sorry. As an atheist, I support the views expounded by Dilip that the secular nature of this forum be respected. But as a Saligaokar, I recognize that there will always be a tendency to use it for village interests of the majority, which includes church issues. Let us continue to respect each other. Sincerely, Kevin Saldanha Mississauga, ON. On Sun, Jun 8, 2008 at 4:11 PM, Alan Fernandes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear Dillip, > > I read about Goa and Saligao and take interest in the matters, being > related to Saligao as a daughter-in-law. Dillip, I agree with most of your > views on development and others, but not at all with what you had to say > about the church and its postings on Saligaonet. You must understand that > Goans (catholics) and the church are synonmymous and one cannot think of > themselves without the church. Each one in the village knows more about the > other because it is the church that brings them together, of which you must > have also been a part of, years ago in your chilhood. In case you do not > like anything posted here in this regard, you have the option to ignore it > or delete it, but you simply cannot stop anyone from posting here about the > church. Maybe you could consider joining up with the likes of Dr. Saldanha. > > Alba Fernandes > > ------------------------------ > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: saligao-net@googlegroups.com > Subject: [SALIGAONET] enough of this please > Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2008 18:49:18 +0400 > > > > I feared this religious thing would take over the web site when our dearly > beloved first began touting the church roof on the web site. I indicated at > that point that the church was quite entitled to its own web site and that > this site should remain secular. We are now getting letters from Austin > directly addressed to parishioners (most saligao folk are therefore > excluded), we have individuals proclaiming miracles (something only Rome > says it can do, by the way) and we shower each other with blessings and good > tidings. What a load of rubbish, Fred. > > Rename your site the 'Catholic Site for Saligao', and those of us blessed > with with a less extremist view of religion will not be hoodwinked into > reading this crap daily. > > I remain firmly of the opinion that sites like this - named misleadingly > and touting trite religious views - are divisive, an insult to the > intelligence and should be either shut down or named in a way that makes > their exclusivity plain for all to see. At least when one visits a trite > Taliban web site one knows roughly what to expect. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > ------------------------------ > Connect to the next generation of MSN Messenger Get it now! > <http://imagine-msn.com/messenger/launch80/default.aspx?locale=en-us&source=wlmailtagline> > > > -- http://2008goanconvention.com http://www.multiculturalcanada.ca/ecp/content/goans.html --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ This message comes via the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To post to this group, send email to saligao-net@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net?hl=en Please post regularly to keep the e-village active! -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
