Re: [Goanet] Of Crabs and Goans
Hi Mario, Roland and others who may have commented on the perennial topic of the Goans and the crab mentality. Perhaps, I am one of the few who is highly sceptical of this supposed 'syndrome'. Increasingly, more and more people are involved in the process of democratisation and professionalisation within societies. Thus, the evaluation of a person's worth is undertaken by peers within professions, and also by the wider public that has phenomenal access to the media through the use of transparent yardsticks, and not by the layman with perhaps an uninformed and narrow agenda. Today, it is the wider knowledge-based and highly consumerist global community that determines a person's worth and not some in a tiny parochial community trying to 'pull others down' because of some absurd notion of envy in our open societies. These societies are predicated largely on individual endeavour, achievement and success and negligibly on former assumed or real background 'pedigree' any more. Of course, outside occupations and professions, there will be an opportunity to make judgements about personal integrity, judgement and worth but there is a diminished opportunity for one 'crab' to belittle another! This is especially true when a small community like the Goan community counts for less and less in the wider diverse world community of which we are all members. In short, the 'crab mentality' may have been around in the past. Today, it hardly matters at all outside parochial confines and could not be revived, with any effect, even if we tried hard to do so! Just some very quick thoughts. Cornel DaCosta --- Mario Goveia [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The crab mentality is like obscenity. It's hard to define precisely to an absolute legal standard because standards of morality vary from place to place, but most of us can recognize it when we see it.
Re: [Goanet] Of Crabs and Goans - Goemcheo Kulleo
Of Crabs and GoansGoemcheo Kulleo Below are the lyrics of the Konkani song Goemcho Kulleo sung by Felix Dias in 90's for Neves Oliveras Album 'Kuwaitche Dinar'. I am not sure if this story is true but this is the nature of Goans mostly outside Goa. Translations in English are provided with assistance from Venantius Pinto. The song is on audio cassette and you can listen here: http://ishare.rediff.com/filemusic-Goemcheo-Kulleo-id-404397.php Goemcheo Kulleo By Felix Dias Aslem khoim ek kulleamchem exhibition vhodlem, There was presumbaly a large exhibition of crabs, Akhea Bharatant oslem hem poilech pautti ghodlem This happend for the first time in the whole of Bharat Scientistank vhodle vhodle amontron tannim dadlem Reputed scientists were sent invitations Amerikak than dog Amerikan scientistank apoun adlem From America, two scientists were invited to attend Exhitbitionak kulleo khoimcheo, barik motteo Bombaichem In the exhibition were crabs, tiny and large ones from Bombay, Kerala Gujrat ani Madras sabar sabar ganvcheo, From Kerala, Gujrat, Madras among several other states Andaman Nicobar zuemcheo, Ganga Jamuna noimcheo From the Andaman Nicobar Islands, and the Ganga Jumuna rivers Tea bhair kulleo tannim addlelo goemcheo Besides those they brought crabs from Goa Kulleo teo ek ek korun, vochot mhunnon bhair sorun, To prevent the crabs, one at a time going away Ek ek ganvcheo dovrun, ek ek aidonant borun, were separated by state and each, kept in a vessel Kulleank teo boreo korun, bond ke'leo dampun dovrun The crabs were well displayed in their enclosures Soddun sogleank Goemchea kulleank dovorlelo ugteo korun Other than the rest, the Goan crabs, were displayed in the open Tea Amerikan scientist itlean nodor martat chouxilean The American scientists upon noticing this observed Chintunk poddtat vinchar kortat polloun Goemchea kulleank while in thought, pondering as to why it is only the Goan Crabs Heram kulleank dampun gatleat Goemcheo kiteak ugteo dovorleat When the others have been confined, yet the Goan crabs are allowed to be free Prosnak tachea zabab oso dilo eklean, Someone answered their question in this manner Aikat hem chint dovrun, khoimche teo kulleo dharun Listen to this mindfully, which crabs are those that are cruel... Khonnd tanchi pois korun chintat tor bhair sorun in shunning their fear think to move out..escape Her kulleo gorban borun, voddi tiche paink dovroun Other crabs engulfed in oride, would pull their legs Tica voir choddonk nohoi mhunn bhair soronk, dinant kitemch korunk They would not allow them to climb nor escape, not allowing for anything Team kulleo porim ami kortam, hem Goyemkaram thaim ghoddta We behave like the crabs, and this happens to Goas Cholot morot** konnui voir sorot, dolle amche foddta If anybody works hard and moves up, we get jealous Dusro lok poi kitem korta, tea aplea munxeank voir kaddta Look at what other people do, they uplift their own Goemkar ami Goemkarunch damun dovorta We Goans, keep only the Goans suppressed ** (even if) walking/dying Dev borem Korum Edward Verdes Chinchinim / KSA http://kantaram.blogspot.com/ - Original Message - From: Roland Francis Long ago, some half-wit must have come up with the story of how Goans are like crabs. Actually I am not sure the story orginated with Goans as I had been hearing my Maharastrian friends in Bombay telling the same story long before it became popular with Goans. So it looks like the Goans just copied it.
Re: [Goanet] Of Crabs and Goans
Tsk tsk Gabe I think you meant ...dog in a manger... What you (typo'd) made me wince! John Monteiro - Gabe Menezes [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: .. when in doubt Google.'Dog in the manager' ? --- Regards John Monteiro
Re: [Goanet] Of Crabs and Goans
To quote my own posting :-) and Wikipedia... 2008/8/11 Frederick [FN] Noronha * फ्रेडरिक नोरोन्या [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wikipedia (as usual) has its own view: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality It suggests this term is used for Filipinos, Hawaiians, Maoris, coastal Indians in North America, Chamorros in Guam... These were all deeply colonised societies... Any clue here? FN
Re: [Goanet] Of Crabs and Goans
Roland Now you have put the 'cat among the . crabs! I had attempted to follow this from the start, it seemed almost to link up here there, made SOME sense, but gave up hope of ever getting the 'punch line' as it were. I look forward to anyone's reply to your post on this. Bound to get attention from all, this is not a walk in the park, as it were, either walking forward, backwards or side-ways! Good luck. John Monteiro -- Roland Francis [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: (TRUNCATED) Long ago, some..must have come up with the story of how Goans are like crabs... I have been questioning the crab story.Now, if one were not in the basket, or one were not a crab, would one not avoid the risk of being pulled down entirely? I seek an answer. Roland. Regards John Monteiro
Re: [Goanet] Of Crabs and Goans
2008/8/11 Roland Francis [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Long ago, some half-wit must have come up with the story of how Goans are like crabs. Actually I am not sure the story orginated with Goans as I had been hearing my Maharastrian friends in Bombay telling the same story long before it became popular with Goans. So it looks like the Goans just copied it. - - - - -- Roland Francis Toronto +1 (416) 453.3371 RESPONSE: I just love crabs - (Kuli); every Sunday after Mass, when we were in Singapore, it was off to Banana Leaf Apollo, for boiled rice, fried fish roe, fried round fish balls, fish head curry and Singapore Chilli crab, with loads of papadams. This was washed down with Tiger beer. http://visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/about_singapore/fun_stuff/recipes/chilli_crab.html DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London.
Re: [Goanet] Of Crabs and Goans
Wikipedia (as usual) has its own view: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality This term is broadly associated with short-sighted, non-constructive thinking rather than a unified, long-term, constructive mentality. It is also often used colloquially in reference to individuals or communities attempting to escape a so-called underprivileged life, but kept from doing so by those others of the same community or nation attempting to ride upon their coat-tails or who simply resent their success. It suggests this term is used for Filipinos, Hawaiians, Maoris, coastal Indians in North America, Chamorros in Guam... Even ran into this page, talking about the 'crab mentality' from a Moro vs. Filipino perspective: http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.filipino/2008-03/msg00641.html FN -- FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org 784 Nr Convent, Saligao 403511 Goa India Ph +91-832-2409490 M: +91-9970157402 Software for Kids Blog: http://softwareforkids.wordpress.com
Re: [Goanet] Of Crabs and Goans
2008/8/11 Frederick [FN] Noronha * फ्रेडरिक नोरोन्या [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Wikipedia (as usual) has its own view: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality This term is broadly associated with short-sighted, non-constructive thinking rather than a unified, long-term, constructive mentality. It is also often used colloquially in reference to individuals or communities attempting to escape a so-called underprivileged life, but kept from doing so by those others of the same community or nation attempting to ride upon their coat-tails or who simply resent their success. RESPONSE: Good one Fred; when in doubt Google. How about 'Dog in the manager' ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dog_in_the_Manger -- DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London.
Re: [Goanet] Of Crabs and Goans
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:22:33 +0530 From: Frederick [FN] Noronha * Wikipedia (as usual) has its own view: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality Mario observes: Fred, No one knows better than you that Wikipedia is not designed to have its own view. I think we can thank Roland for making this far too complicated. The crab mentality is like obscenity. It's hard to define precisely to an absolute legal standard because standards of morality vary from place to place, but most of us can recognize it when we see it.
