Mr. Souza, you missed the point I was trying to make. Yes, it is true that
in your precious little newspaper article a perfectly unknown (not
anonymous, of course) citizen makes some criticism. So what, once again?
It's a free country, there are more than 10 million of us, each with an
opinion. You are a Portuguese now, haven't you realized that the Portuguese
are world champions at criticising themselves and their country?
But the question remains: Is it legitimate to pick an obscure newspaper
article written by someone that nobody knows, and draw any kind of
conclusion from it regarding the state of our heritage and conservation
efforts? Of course there are problems with some monuments and heritage
sites. But on the whole, we have a proven record in that area, and
considerable capacity to help other countries in this field. What we are
doing around the world is a testimony to that.
You can continue to mislead Goanetters with your petty fait-divers, aimed
at throwing mud at Portugal (your own country, by the way, who would believe
that!!!), but one thing is certain: the moment any of your readers sets foot
in Portugal all those efforts at brainwashing them will be rendered useless.
I have witnessed several times the real shock and awe that Goans arriving
here for the first time feel. Nothing that they see in Lisbon and in the
rest of the country seems to match the picture of Portugal and its people
that they were fed upon by some local (and now global) manipulators.
It is a dramatic moment of truth. I just wish a lot more Goans (and by that
I mean those in Goa) would be able to come here and see for themselves.
Rui Manuel Collaço
Lisbon
From: Teotonio R. de Souza [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Goanet]Re:Conservation of Portuguese Heritage
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 11:16:12 +0100 (Horário de verão de Greenwich)
My reference to the article in Lisbon daily Diário de Noticias of 24 Aug.
would be relevant, despite Rui Colaço considering it a selective reading.
Full picture may emerge from many fragments. All that we post or produce
can
only be fagmentary and a selection based on one's own criteria, or agenda
as Rui Colaço likes to call it. It is obvious that he has his! No one can
provide full picture of anything. Even the so-called *objectivity of
history* is a myth. Real objective history could result (if it will ever
result) from the subjective expriences / narratives of every single
individual.
For those who could not access the link, follows the text. I shall
translate the last paragraph: «This researcher comes to the conclusion that
our history has seen all along a lack of organization and planning. Her
criticism is: We have a quaint sensibility regarding the heritage. In
reality, there is no single policy of conservation and restoration of
monuments. If there are restoration projects, there is no concern for
archeological excavations. The trend is to capture fast and mass tourism.»
--
Jangadas de pedra à deriva
by Silvia Costa, Cascais [not anonymous as claimed by Rui Colaço]
Fortificar e restaurar à pressa, face ao iminente ataque do inimigo, foi
uma
das características da incipiente organização militar do reino, nos séculos
XV e XVI. Seiscentos anos depois, já não se constroem torres, fortes nem
fortalezas, pelo contrário, deixam-se ruir. Pontualmente, algum deste
património é restaurado, mas com o fim de retirar dele o máximo proveito
económico.
As fortificações hoje conservadas pertencem ao Exército e à Marinha,
suportam faróis ou centros de instrução. Outras transformaram-se em hotéis,
restaurantes, palacetes, discotecas, como o Forte Velho, em S. João do
Estoril, ou em colónias de férias, como os fortes de Santo António do
Estoril e de Catalazete. Na Linha de Cascais, que somou no passado 36
fortificações entre fortes, fortalezas e baterias, foram restaurados para
fins museológicos apenas o Forte de Oitavos, em Cascais, e de S. Bruno, em
Oeiras.
A grande maioria destas construções, uma vez desactivada, foi incorporada
no
Ministério da Fazenda Pública e, no século XIX, posta em hasta pública. Na
posse de particulares, «acabaram por servir de base à construção de
restaurantes e hotéis. No Guincho foram arrasadas, em 1959 e 1964, as
baterias da Galé e Alta, que deram origem ao Muchaxo e ao Hotel do Guincho,
que, apesar de parecer um forte, nada conservou da arquitectura militar
original», refere a investigadora Margarida Ramalho. «Outras foram
transformadas em casas apalaçadas: Casa Seixas (sede da Capitania de
Cascais), casa da Duquesa de Palmela (Monte Estoril), Casa de S. Roque,
Chalet Barros (Estoril), Hospital Ortopédico José de Almeida, que nasceu em
cima do Forte de S. Domingos de Rana».
«A maior parte destas fortificações foi mais dissuasora que defensiva. Ou
tinham homens e não tinham pólvora, ou tinham pólvora e não tinham homens,
ou tinham pólvora e homens e tinham os canhões estragados», diz,
