Dear goanet reader,
Here are my comments on Frederick's posting:
FN1: Rose, are you sure it's all that simple? Corrupt politicians versus the
guys who are supposedly going to lead us to a
Paradise on earth?
RF1: Watch U-Tube 30 minutes - Goa at Fifty. In it Remo says "The Goan, I
think, is angry, is frustrated at what is
happening in Goa and I think that is what has slowly changed the Goan's nature.
We were known as this fun loving and
very friendly people. You see less and less smiles, laughter and friendliness
and I used to think that the whole fault lay
with the authorities, the politicians. Now I realise that the fault lies with
the people, it is we the people of Goa who are
doing most of the harm to Goa".
Remo is not only an excellent musician. To me he has brilliantly put together
words that a number of us have been saying
for a long period of time "it is we the people of Goa who are doing most of the
harm to Goa".
It is all that simple. Politicians (corrupt or otherwise) are only in power
because the people of Goa have used their vote
and elected them into power.
In the forthcoming elections we are looking forward to our local community
using their "personal power" and voting in the
right candidates.
FN2: The economic benefits of the diaspora is not an issue. We all accept that.
Yet, the philanthropy of another day, and
our attitudes towards the injustices of the past, are two entirely separate
issues. We need not be in denial about the latter.
RF2: Let's make the economic benefits of the diaspora an issue then? How much
economic benefit was gained by our
community in Goa from salaries received by those of us working in East Africa
for the British? How much economic benefit
was gained by our community in Goa from salaries of those working in India for
the British? How much economic benefit
was gained by our community in Goa from salaries of those working on cruise
ships owned by the British?
It will be interesting to know how much money flows into the state of Goa from
abroad, whether it be from Europe, Canada,
America, Australia and the Gulf region as nearly every household has someone
somewhere in the world.
Living in Goa, you may be or may not be aware of the British tradition of
giving out medals, honours, stars and awards for
just about everything. They give out awards for the best garden, the best house
and, would you believe it, even an award
for the best kept toilet on the highway. I would have given such an award to a
toilet in Goa on the highway if only I could
find one! There was huge excitement here when we read that an award winning air
conditioned toilet had been installed in
Margao. The next day we heard it had to be closed as an electricity bill was
not paid, is this right? Has this electricity bill
now been paid to allow the toilet to be reopened so can we use it?
I beg to differ from you Frederick as I do not see two entirely separate issues
here. What I actually see are two entirely
separate celebrations:
- Celebration 1 (yours) "I'd rather celebrate the achievements of the handful
of Goans who worshipped at
the altar of social justice, and took the huge risk kof supported the
underdog... and the Black African cause...
- Celebration 2 (mine) - I'd rather celebrate the achievements of all our
community in East Africa who did not
just contribute to the British cause, but also contributed valuably towards the
Goan, the Black African and to
the international cause. (as detailed in my previous posting).
None of us are in denial of injustices of the past. To me the greatest
injustice of all time will always be the cruxification of
Christ. Followed by the holocaust. Then there is one close to home, the
injustice of the "caste" system which will be the
subject of my goanet posting, yet to come, after I have finished reading the
Sixth Night.
FN3: For instance, Panjim was built in significant part, from tobacco money.
Should we all continue to remain
pro-tobacco?
RF3: Until recently, smoking was very fashionable. Looking at old films, you
will find that the most stylish actors and
actresses are shown smoking on the big screen. It was a sign of sophistication.
This was then followed by detailed death
analysis, increased health care costs, the desire to lead healthier lifestyles
and funding was provided to study the impact of
smoking and passive smoking. There is still a continuance of pro-tobacco
citizens in the United Kingdom. Whilst the
government uses methods to encourage them to give up smoking voluntarily for
health and economic reasons, I am not
aware that it is something to be imposed on them
However, premature death is not linked to smokers alone. Increased consumption
of rich and fatty foods, lack of exercise,
everyone driving around in cars, air pollution and high levels of stress
experienced at work and home can also play a big
part too.
Once we were all pro-Goan sweet eaters especially during the festive season.
Now, most of our community already have
or are at high risk of developing diabetes. We now forced to eat these sweets
with caution and in moderation.
Rose Fernandes
Thornton Heath, Surrey, United Kingdom
15 January 2012
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