[Goanet] Christians/Hindu names and the right of free speech
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:01:00 +0530 (IST) From: Bernice Pereira bernicepere...@yahoo.com What is all this noise being created about Christians bearing Hindu names.? A rose by any name would smell the same.? Whether someone is named Tom, Dick or Harry or Rajendra, Hitendra or Gopal what difference would it make to the individuals themselves. Does not Goa have enough of problems which can be addressed through this excellent forum of Goanet, instead of wasting valuable space over inconsequential issues? Mario responds: As the first one on Goanet to chastize Jorge for confusing names with religion, I agree with the first part of the comment above. But with all due respect, I must take issue with the last sentence based on my passionate belief in free speech. What may be a waste of time or inconsequential to one person, may be of serious heartfelt importance to another - even if what they write may be absurd in everyone else's eyes. In an open forum, who gets to judge what is of interest to someone else? What we do have is the right to respond, or not, and this topic drew considerable response, i.e. several people did not feel it was a waste of their time to respond. Yes Goa has enough problems that need to be addressed, and there are plenty of posts on Goanet regarding those problems, on all sides of every issue. However, since this is an open international forum for content of interest to Goan communities worldwide as per the Goanet Rules, members may opine on anything they choose to. Some members read every post. Others decide whether to read a post by the subject line, or the name of the poster. They can respond, or not, in any civil way they choose to, expressing irritation or exasperation if they choose to, as long as they avoid abusive language and/or personal abuse and/or deliberate slander and calumny while doing so. Some of these discussions go on ad nauseum. The moderators are required to step in and close a thread when this gets out of hand. In countries like India and the USA patriots have given their lives for the principle of free speech. Some of our members live under oppressive regimes where free speech is prohibited. Goanet may be one of the few ways they can express themselves. As the lone voice on Goanet for reason, truth and peace, I suggest we let them. A philosophy I recommend for the consideration of everyone is, I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. This pithy quote has been widely attributed to the French philosopher, Francois-Marie Arouet, a.k.a. Voltaire, but others claim it was written by an admirer of Voltaire, Evelyn Beatrice Hall, to summarize Voltaire's philosophy. So, I say, if Jorge, or anyone else for that matter, wants to lob another verbal bombshell on us all, may he be free to do so, and may others be free to ignore, acquiesce, or fire back if they choose to:-))
[Goanet] Christians/Hindu names
What is all this noise being created about Christians bearing Hindu names. A rose by any name would smell the same. Whether someone is named Tom, Dick or Harry or Rajendra, Hitendra or Gopal what difference would it make to the individuals themselves. Does not Goa have enough of problems which can be addressed through this excellent forum of Goanet, instead of wasting valuable space over inconsequential issues. Bernice Pereira Try the new Yahoo! India Homepage. Click here. http://in.yahoo.com/trynew
[Goanet] Christians, Hindu names ... and controversy (Selma Carvalho's Goanet highlights)
Goanet highlights by Selma Carvalho In recent weeks there has been a backlash against activists in Goa. Here Venita Coelho espouses their cause. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183550.html Are Christians with Hindu-names cowards? Jorge Dias, came in for strident opposition when he aired his views that those who hold onto their Hindu names are afraid to live up to the sacrifices called upon by Christianity. Much as I disagree with Jorge, there is something to be said about Goans who retained their Hindu names and took on Portuguese surnames. While the working class happily took on names of Portuguese trees, foxes, flowers and whatever else the Portuguese were throwing at us, it was the Brahmins who retained their duality thereby holding onto their caste links. Relinquishing their religion was one thing, relinquishing their caste was quite another. It meant relinquishing their power-hold and that proved more difficult to do than to renounce God. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183512.html A response to this assertion from Naguesh Bhatcar. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183540.html Tony D'Sa wonders about the future of Goanet itself as a tool for creating social capital. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183530.html Did former CM of Goa and now slated to lead the BJP at the national level really call the Prime-Minister-in-awaiting, L K Advani a rancid, ageing pickle? Vinay Natekar tells us why Parrikar may be right. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183527.html The tourist-state of Goa has longed been plagued by garbage problems. One young environmentalist who has long taken up this cause is Clinton Vaz. He was collecting samples from the River Sal, when men his age only dream of getting a Honda motorbike. Here he talks about his dreams of a 'zero-waste' Goa. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183522.html Was being a tiatrist a Catholic Goan artistic profession? JoeGoaUK busts this myth by presenting us with a non-Catholic tiartrist. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183509.html JoeGoaUK brings us a touch of Goan nostalgia with this classic Konkani black and white movie song, Svettor kor. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183459.html Selma Carvalho looks at Goan traditions being preserved in cyberspace, this time that of the good old balcão fight. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183451.html Dominic Fernandes continues to fascinate us with the minutia of Goa life in a bygone era, here with Part 4 of the Forgotten Tribe, Mhar. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183422.html Turning his attention away from out-migration, Valmiki Faleiro now gives us a historical preview of in-migration in his series, G'bye Goa. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183414.html Pandu Lampiao tells us why behind those benign smiles, Goans may actually be quite racist. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183389.html Goa, FA Secretary, Savio Messias pays a touching tribute to his close friend Noel da Mima Leitao, in 'Noel we will miss you.' http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183312.html GaspersWorld brings us an interview with a rising Goan star, Katty de Navelin. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183269.html An in-depth analysis of the Denationalization of Goans, a phrase first made popular by T.B Cunha by Nishtha Desai. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183245.html And finally JoeGoaUK continues his photo-documentary of Goa by bringing us breathtaking pictures of its rich Baroque architecture. http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-September/183270.html SEND IN your comments on these and any other issues to goa...@goanet.org Visit the Goanet website at http://www.goanet.org Tonnes of Goanet archives at: http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/
