Letters to the editor

Christmas - A Festival of Love

It's that time of the year again! More than the beautiful decorations, delicious sweets and dazzling lights in our houses, Christmas is about the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. In the birth of Jesus, the eternal, all-powerful creator descended on earth. The festival of Christmas is also a deep reminder of God's great love. It is a time when Christ comes into our world to shower on us his steadfast love, which is his greatest gift. He shares his love in numerous ways. He comes to solve our problems and challenges. He guides us on our path ahead. Christmas is a time of renewed strength and healing too. There are myriad ways in which we can celebrate this festival. Let us celebrate Christmas by sharing the love of Christ.

Anish Esteves, Mumbai

What Christmas 

means to me

Despite all the fun and laughter, Christmas has a much deeper meaning for me. I have always felt that it is a good time for forgiveness because it is the birthday of Jesus Christ, who was born to forgive us and save us from all our sins. Jesus Christ came to the earth because He loves us. He came to the earth to forgive us and make us free from the burden of sins. Christians believe that we are all sinners and without the blood of Jesus, we are all doomed and Satan can dominate us. But God loves us so much that he sent his only Son Jesus Christ to the earth so that we could have an eternal life. God forgives us and our sins every day, every hour, every minute and every second. God never sets a time or a period for forgiveness. He is always ready to forgive us if we pray and ask for His forgiveness. Just like we have been forgiven, we should also forgive those who have hurt us. Jesus said that unless we forgive others, God wouldn’t forgive us (Matthew 6:15). As a human being and especially when we’ve been hurt badly, forgiving may not be that easy. But remembering the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all unrighteousness and sets us free from the power of sin and death, we should forgive others. Refusing to forgive will make our hearts a place for Satan’s seed of bitterness. Forgiving will unlock the chains in our life for God to work in our hearts. Living with an unforgiving nature can also be harmful for our health, because many diseases, including depression and arthritis, have been associated with bitterness and the tendency to not let go. So, if there’s anyone who you need to forgive — be it friends, family members or enemies; this Christmas start with them and make peace with your past. Most importantly make peace with your own self. If there ever was a time to do so, then this is it!

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai

Goa’s Slums! 

This always baffles me!  When the massive Illegal slums were coming up in Goa, like Zuari Nagar etc, what were Goans actually doing then! 

How come they could not see this eyesore being setup? How was such a huge and polluting settlement allowed to be built? Did anyone or any group do anything to stop it? Was this the bonus for liberation of Goa! 

Arwin Mesquita, Colva

How we solve problems

Tourists coming with own vehicles or travelling on hired ones have resorted to social media to complain of police harassment in Goa. The Chief Minister has asked the police to go easy on them. He mooted one check at the entry points and the sticking of a tag so that no further checking will be required. TTAG responded that similar’ carte blanche’ travel be provided to rent a bike/car too! Incidentally, has the Goa CM ever asked his neighbouring State CMs’ that companies set up in Goa, must not only employ people from those States? Nah!

So, the tag proves that the vehicle has all the required papers: but does it prove that the driver with a valid licence, is not driving under the influence of liquor? Can’t the car now be driven by someone without a licence or drunk? Are not a majority of the rent a bike/car driven by first-time riders/drivers? Have we not witnessed tourists drinking on the beach, which is banned? Have we forgotten that terrorists target crowded destinations and that the government is giving a green signal of to all crooks? Have we forgotten that tourist spots and especially during this season, attracts all the riff raffs? Have we forgotten that ‘burglars’ have come into Goa by train, burgled a house and then scooted by the morning train? Are they not aware of the class of tourists coming to Goa -especially the rent a bike/car types? The greatest deterrent to such crooks is a vigilant police. TTAG can treat the tourists as ‘Gods’ but not at the cost of our safety! These methods by the govt supported by TTAG leave a lot to be desired. The simple solution is to reign in corruption- isn’t it this the government that claims to be non-corrupt? But both do not want the law. In fact, both have been showcasing the ‘unique’ USP of Goa tourism- anything goes in Goa for the tourist -law or -no law. 

R. Fernandes, Margao

Politicos as chief guests for football games

It is quite common to have local politicians as chief guests and guest of honor at football matches, who also give away the prizes. This trend was evident even at the I-League matches. However, the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) has been different on this count. The matches of the ISL being held across the country do not invite the local politicians as chief guests or to give away the prizes after the match. The politicians have been totally isolated. As a matter of fact the prizes are distributed by the representatives of the various sponsoring companies. This is a good trend and should be followed at all tournaments. It is common knowledge that even at the village level; politicians tend to take advantage of such events. They sponsor a particular tournament with the sole intention of being made the chief guest, keeping in mind the votes he/she can garner during the elections. Probably the youth organizing the tournament are also lured in supporting the particular politician. This needs to stop as a wrong person could be voted to power, which can have a bearing on the politics in the State. Villagers should come together to sponsor a particular tournament. The senior-most villager or a prominent citizen, with no political affiliations, should then be made the chief guest. 

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

The onion crisis

There have always been wide-ranging talks about improving the agriculture sector. True, a lot of technological advances have been infused into the farming sector so far, from crop variety to harvest machine for example.  Where there is a will, there is a way – as the saying goes. As a matter of fact, the bigger the population, the greater will be the benefits in all spheres and on all fronts. However, the latest news of the onion price crisis has given us all a completely different picture of the agriculture sector on the contrary. The recent spiraling onion price rise has indeed dented the dietary system of almost all, who often munch food filled with the taste of onions. But the strategy now should be to avoid future problems relating to the possible onion crisis. Having a background in agriculture through my family, I have strong plans to increase [even engage myself in] agricultural activities in my native areas in Tamil Nadu.

There have been reports of onion import from countries like Egypt to counteract the problem facing consumers. But overall, the concentration should be on avoiding the problem once and for all not through makeshift arrangements like importing produce from other countries but through a permanent solution.  For this to happen/come true, radical changes through technology should be made to the agricultural sector.

P. Senthil Saravana, Mumbai