This refers to the article ‘Moment of truth for MoI.’ by Miguel Braganza (Herald May 26 and 28). Some statements in the article are ridiculous. With his allegation that there is nothing to ‘substantiate’ the Catholic Dogma of Transubstantiation, the author displays his ignorance of the numerous certified Eucharistic miracles that have taken place all over the world wherein the bread & wine being offered at Mass turned into real flesh & blood.
His allegation that ‘those who cannot become doctors, engineers, architects... are generally the ones who become priests and nuns’ is arrogant. He is blind to the academic qualifications of so many priests and nuns; he is short-sighted enough to assume that the others, by not possessing ‘high’ qualifications, are in some way uneducated or lack an ‘intellectual level’. He chooses to be blind to the sacrifices of so many priests and nuns who choose to live simple lives instead of practicing many lucrative professions that too many lay practitioners use to satisfy their insatiable greed. Is M.O.I. a Measure Of Ignorance, vis-a-vis the author?
Bernard Simoes, Dona Paula
English medium
This refers to the article ‘Moment of truth for MoI.’ by Miguel Braganza (Herald May 26 and 28). He is an experienced writer with vast knowledge of Konkani and English literature. The Medium of Instruction issue will definitely hot up in the days to come. The parents and Archdiocesan Board of Education and some other English schools have been take for a ride by the new Government. Shashikala Tai and Uday Bhembre cannot dictate terms for the parents as it not fit in the RTE Act. It seems that the government is buying time only to take some unwanted decision at the last minute hence FORCE, and Archdiocesan Board of Education has to get ready for a sure confrontation. We parents are not ready to accept anything less than English as MoI. We are sure to approach even the Supreme Court and come to the logical conclusion. The imposition of Devnagiri Konkani has separated the Goans on communal lines thereby spoiling the chances of poor children to get expertise of English language for the last 25 years. They are out to destroy the Konkani Language. Hope better sense will prevail and all the poor children along with rich students will get an opportunity to learn English in the coming academic year.
Francis Fernandes, London
Monsoon Calamities
The monsoons will hit Goa in a few days. It is a season that causes unexpected calamities. One major danger that occurs during the monsoons is the uprooting of overgrown trees due to softening of the soil and high speed winds. Overgrown trees in the residential areas cause danger to life and property. The government must identify them with the help of the local panchayat in the villages and get them trimmed or felled with the assistance of the Forest Department. This precautionary measure will go a long way to protect life and prevent loss of property during the monsoons.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Dress Code
Very soon tourists visiting the Basilica of Bom Jesus will have to wear clothes suitable to the sanctity of the religious place. The move by the church authorities to erect signboards requesting visitors to wear decent clothes is extremely welcome.
It is seen that dress codes are vigorously enforced in all churches in Rome. Likewise, the Church in Goa should also impose this rule in other churches around the State too. The dress code has to be enforced not only on the tourists, but locals as well. It must also be seen that everyone adheres to this request.
Willie Severes, Majorda
Mangrove Awareness
This refers to ‘ Mangrove forests in Khazan lands’ by Visitação Monteiro (Herald May 19, 2012). I was glad to read his views. There are some misunderstanding about the project run by Mangrove Society of India. MSI is trying to create awareness about mangroves amongst the school children. We are not at all planting mangroves in Khazan land of Divar. We are equally responsible to protecting the valuable and traditional “Khazan Land” or Kharland or brackish water areas which are used for paddy, vegetable and fish cultivation. I thank the for giving me this valuable information about Khazan Land through his letter. The MSI teach the distribution of Mangroves, its nursery and plantation techniques only within the limits of mangrove regions.
Dr A.G Untawale, Executive Secretary, Mangrove Society of India
