Smash unnecessary walls
Tabrez Mahamad, Margao
Issues relating to the Muslim community – like ‘fatwas’ issued by Islamic clerics, the veil of Muslim women, the marriages of Muslim men, a Kabrastan being denied to Muslims – have become so common that they are now a part of entertainment and a way for the media to increase its marketability.
Like it or not, we are in the limelight. It is not difficult to target the community. The Muslim voice is almost always heard only in the context of problems. Owing to these long-debated issues, Muslims themselves have come to think that they are the ones who are oppressed and being denied their rights, which is not always the case.
Because of this, non-Muslims begin to think that the Muslim community is a cry-baby, is selfish and less patriotic. A wall is gradually being created within the society, and Muslims get alienated, both by the image they create for themselves as well as by the hard-line elements that are all-out to demonise the community.
This kind of development in society leaves long term impacts on children. It becomes increasingly difficult for kids to grow with the right attitude, as they may not be able to mix well owing to the biases and divisive forces that exist everywhere. Consequently, our children are growing up with a lot of unnecessary preconceptions that hamper the growth and integrity of our society, and are huge obstacles on our way to national growth.
My only hope is that things can be much better for us, if we see ourselves and others see us, as a part of a larger collective. Let us be Goan, and be Indian, while still practicing our own religion.
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World Cup champs
Wenzel D’Mello, Mapusa
Spain has won the FIFA World Cup 2010, the world’s greatest sporting extravaganza, at Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa, after a dazzling closing ceremony that will long be remembered. Spain made history, winning the World Cup for the first time. The tournament was first conducted in the African continent and was a runaway success.
Now what about India? With a nearly one billion population, we rank 132nd in the world. Football is popular only in West Bengal, Goa, Kerala and Mizoram. We lack the will, motivation and infrastructure. We need professionals more than politicians to run football in India. One day, India will qualify for the World Cup. It is a distant dream but, who knows, sometimes dreams come true.
Need cleaner play
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
The month-long FIFA World Cup 2010 Africarnival, which showed 64 matches between 32 nations at 10 stadiums in South Africa, was well organised by the host country.
The stadiums were top class. The side attractions were amusing and even the Vuvuzelas –fun for some and nuisance to others – came to be accepted.
There has been a great improvement in the level of football as far as speed, power, dribbling and long distance scoring are concerned. But the game had some negative aspects as well. There were glaring lapses on the part of referees and their assistants. The need to have assistance from modern technology and a referral system is now greater than ever before.
Players also had complaints above the new ‘Jabulani’ ball from Adidas, which foxed experienced goalkeepers. Above all, it was sad to watch players kicking, tripping, pushing, pulling and elbowing their opponents. Football competition and pace of play may be feverish, but such physical acts cannot be accepted as part of the game.
Wake up, Goa
Jayne Bellingham, Calangute
The news item “UK may cut foreign aid to ‘rich’ India” (Herald, 12 July) suggests that NRIs living in the UK could contribute more to their own country. Mr Laxmi Mittal is one of the UK’s wealthiest men and owns the most expensive house. Billionaire Vijay Mallya runs his Force India team from a base in UK too. Many other famous businessmen prefer to operate from the UK, but stash their cash in Switzerland.
Some weeks ago, it was reported that educational aid sent by the UK had been unwisely distributed, being spent on cars and other luxuries by persons in authority. But did you know that all UK government pensioners have received no increase in their pensions this year, nor have people with works pensions, owing to recession? Prices for everyday commodities have risen beyond the means of retired people, as well as underpaid workers.
So I beg the question of all Indians, why, when you take British taxpayers money in the form of government aid, do you treat us with such contempt? Why do you change the visa rules and make us leave for two months before returning? The reasons we hear in Goa are that you do not want us moving around the country and re-entering at will.
David Headley was a Pakistani-American who changed his name only months before he came to India. He did not fill in his visa form correctly and excluded pertinent facts that the Indian Consulate failed to detect.
There has been an exodus of expats leaving Goa. Many more will follow. Your fast waning glory of a beautiful Goa has been sullied by high crime rates and deaths, corruption at all levels, garbage problems, all of which have never been dealt with during the past eight years I have lived here.
The writing is on the wall for Goa, the internet and the media across the world is watching you and how you tackle this situation. The common man must speak up. Be brave. Have your say before it is too late, and fishing is the only thing left to make your livelihood.
Goa’s population
Peter Andrade, Vasco
The Directorate of Health Services put an advertisement in the newspapers on population growth with the caption: “How far is Goa from these scenes?” Goa’s has the lowest birth rate in the country, at 1.71 births per family. Our population is reducing by birth, but increasing rapidly by the influx of migrants. True Goans need to laminate this advertisement and hand it over to the so-called ‘patron saints of migrants’.
Goa is the only state where comunidade land is freely available to migrants, with perks like ration cards, passports, election cards, driving licences, hand cart licences et al. The only return gift for this freebie party is to press the button of the patron saint on polling day.
Teachers’ plight
Jose Pereira, Margao
Anand Dessai of Panjim says that “The teachers of all the private schools in Goa were brought under Grant-in-Aid and given all the benefits of Government employees” (‘Why are teachers fighting?’, Herald, 10 June). This is absolutely false. Teachers don’t even get half the salaries he is talking about! Sixth Pay salary is out of question.
There is no provision for retirement and no pension, in spite of government rules. So why is he talking rubbish?
Is the Education Department at least aware of this? I would request Anand Dessai to first visit private unaided schools situated in the heart of the Margao, and enquire from the teachers what the reality is, before writing to newspapers.
Now hunger strike
Julius Carvalho, Dubai
Unfortunately, successful though it was thanks to Goa’s private bus operators, the 5 July Bharat Bandh did not reduce the price of petroleum products. The BJP and its allies have no new strategy to force Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reduce it. So also, the promise made by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel lies unfulfilled.
Now the BJP and allies must martyr themselves for the ‘aam admi’. Leaders like L K Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Murli Manohar Joshi, Bal Thackeray, Sushma Swaraj, and all Goa BJP MLAs and leaders should sit on an indefinite Fast unto Death. This will not only save crores of rupees, but deliver the ‘aam admi’ from hardship on account of bandhs, as well as force the puppet ruler of our country to reduce the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG.
