R Fernandes

Formerly we were told to eat the skin of apples as most of the vitamins were in it, today we are told to shun the skin as it is coated with wax. Formerly, we were warned not to mix with ‘bad apples’ who would turn us bad. Today, we all ‘want’ to be bad – drugs, binge drinking, partying hard – all promoted by businesses who even use the words: be bad, bring out the devil in you, unleash the beast in you, be a night bird.

Today, anything that is generating income is good and promoted so. Never mind its legality, especially if it is only a moral one. The laws formulated also favour such bad apples. Today, it has been ‘decided’ that illegal conversion of land will lead to imprisonment. This means, you will be allowed to convert but through the ‘proper channel’ where someone will generate money. There is no law to such people who ‘destroy’ hills or sand dunes. If people are vigilant and bring the same to the notice of the authorities, the ‘bad destroyer’ will only be stopped and let off. The message is ‘be bad but don’t get caught or else both of us stand to lose money’.

Bank and ATM robberies, chain snatching, dacoities, numerous burglaries, prostitution, drugs all point to a quick, easy and low risk means of income.  The number and quantity of gold smuggling by air into Goa itself should not tempt Goans to try the same as they have been prone to do in the above instances. They should be wary of ‘passengers’, pedalling lucrative dreams convincing them to try the same. This is happening as they are fraternising with bad apples and most traders who are bad apples. Well-meaning people say Goans are caring and fair and remind them not to fall prey to communal forces. They should also express concerns of Goans falling prey to other types of bad apples. Further, they need to call on the government to spare Goans and not keep taking only their land for public use. They should urge all people to have a giving attitude. In fact, it now must be notified that land be acquired only from new land owners else Goans will be left to take recourse to the above-mentioned means of income. So, if they love Goa and Goans their work is cut out for them – to be or not to be a bad apple?