A major crisis in the Church
The totally wanton, mindless and brazen attacks against Christians in recent times is not new. The difference is in the dimension.
Today, any excuse is enough for Hindu fundamentalist organizations to let loose their goons on the hapless and peace loving community. Not only are there rapes and murders, but hundreds of houses are burnt, places of worship destroyed, but even consecrated places in churches, completely desecrated.
Another dimension is that such a massive scale of violence is unleashed with the guardians of law, acting as mute spectators. No attempt is made to stop the violence. Most often it is the victims who are at the receiving end of police brutality and, in the long run, no action is taken against the perpetrators of the violence.
In most cases the reaction of the Church and community has been a flurry of activity, doing those things that we are known to do best. Provide the victims with material aid and prayers.
In recent times the reactions have been more militant. We have issued Press statements, given interviews, and organized meetings, morchas and dharnas, big and small.
Proverbially, after the initial euphoria, there is a slackening of follow-up with the result that the final goal of bringing the perpetrators of the crimes to book is not achieved. Thus the community is led to believe that “activity” is the same thing as “achieving results”.
When I visited Fr Edward Sequeira of Orissa in the Holy Spirit Hospital I was fortunate to meet Bishop Cheenath in whose diocese the worst atrocities have been committed last Christmas and once again this year. When I told him that the AICU was organizing a massive fund-raising drive, he turned to me, and very gently and firmly said. “Money is not our top priority, George, although it is always welcome. What we need is an assurance that these atrocities will not be committed again”
What could I say to him? Can any of the leaders off our Lay organizations or any of the leaders of the Hierarchical church give him and all the frightened members of his diocese any kind of assurance at all? And if not, why not? The reasons are many.
1.The Christian Church is fragmented.
I use the word “Christian” to include all her denominations. If you read the headlines about the atrocities in Orissa they say “hundred churches burnt”. If there are a hundred churches in a small area in Orissa how many must there be in the whole of India? And who is the authority that will unite and speak on behalf of all of them when their constitutional and human rights are trampled upon?
Even the Catholic Church that is so well-organized and apparently effective consists of three Rites and a host of disparate organizations of the laity.
When the Catholic Bishops Conference off India takes up matters with State and Central Government does it speak on behalf of all the Catholics in India? Does it have the authority and support of all Catholics when there is no joint decision-making authority?
The knee-jerk reaction to close all our schools has only backfired with Education Departments of some States seeking penal action.
Many attempts to set up a “Think Tank of experts” for broad consultation within the Church was proposed in several dialogues between the All India Catholic Union and the Bishops Conference. It has not borne fruit.
2. The Community is fragmented.
Despite the tremendous activism of the laity at great cost to their personal and family life, Christian Lay organisations are unable to unite and present one front. They try to upstage each other, ride piggy back on others’ successes, criticise each other publicly and have become experts in self-promotion through the media both print and electronic.
To make matters worse there is fragmentation within the lay organizations themselves. After every general election, the organizations see some of its excellent members quitting the organization. The reason for this is groupism sometimes based on regional affiliations in voting, resulting in a small coterie of office bearers calling the shots.
3. Lack of information, intelligence and political savvy.
In order to respond to a crisis of gigantic proportions facing the community and church we need to be highly technologically updated. Every diocese needs a backup of websites, databanks and intelligence gathering and storing of critical information to be used at the right time. We also need a network of e-mail and SMS users, and conferencing facilities to keep the Bishops, Heads of Religious Communities, Parish priests and leaders of lay organizations in the loop for instant action.
To take only one example. How many of our decision makers know much about Orissa.?
I quote antropologist Angana Chatterji “Savagery against minorities is not new in Orissa. The VHP’s post colonial history in Orissa is long and violent. From Rourkela in 1964 to Kandhamal. last year and now.”
The gang rape of Jacqueline Mary a Catholic nun, the murder of Fr Arul Das, the beating to death of a Muslim truck driver transporting cattle, and the shameful and horrifying burning of Rev Staines and his sons is part of Orissa’s history.
Should the Church and community not have anticipated recent attacks? More is surely yet to come. As I write this Mangalore and parts of Karnataka are burning.
Did we do our homework after the BJP came to power in Karnataka for the first time ?
4. Absence of lobbying and lack of clout
There was a time when Valerian Cardinal Gracias could pick up the phone and make an appointment with the Chief Minister.
There was a time when there were so many Christian members of Parliament and members of the Cabinet that even lay persons could get to see the Prime Minister. As National President of the A ICU, I could meet two Prime Ministers and a whole host of Ministers
When the nuns in Gajraula were raped, we called George Fernandes, Minister for Railways. The very next day he not only met AICU members, but took them personally in his Jeep to visit the nuns and assuage their fears. It did not matter that the Janata Dal was in power. Neither did it matter that he was a Mangalorean and the nuns and AICU leaders were not
Today the senario has totally changed. We have no clout. We are paying a heavy price for our blind faith in the Congress Party. We have not lobbied other major Parties and we have openly declared our hostility to the BJP.
In fact the Hierarchical Church and an entire community involving itself in “partisan” politics is contrary to the teachings of the Church.
We must reverse this disastrous trend and be open in our choices. Like the Tatas, Ambanis and Birlas it should not make a major difference who comes into power if we can learn the art of lobbying decision makers.
5. Need for open-ness and honesty at all times
I can say with all confidence that the Catholic Church is not involved in conversions by force, fraud or allurement although we insist on our fundamental right to practice our faith, share the “good news” and give witness to the teachings of Jesus in our own lives.
But mindless conversions of ignorant, poor, purchasable people whose allegiance is temporary and who are unworthy of being followers of Jesus Christ is taking place. We need to counsel the fringe Christian groups involved.
This is the reason why, when I was a member of the BJP’s National Executive Council, I found it difficult to convince friends in the RSS and the BJP that no conversions were taking place in our orphanages and Mother Teresa’s homes.
Disassociating myself from fringe Christian activity did not help.
Let it be clearly said that the present violence against us and our institutions and Churches by the VHP and Bajrang Dal is no different from the bombs of terrorists in our cities. Both are expressions of anger, humiliation, discrimination and hurt. Some real, some perceived.
It should lead us to wake up to the reality of a changing India. A shared Vision, a Think Tank, use of modern technology, complete collaboration. Political savvy, and fresh strategies and goals to deal with a horrific situation is the need of the hour
We must do this without conceding our rights as citizens of this country to which a miniscule community has contributed far in excess of its numbers and demonstrated outstanding patriotism in times of peace and especially on the battle field.
And we must do this by any means possible and available.
Did I say “any means”? I remember a time when as member of Pope John Paul’s Pontifical Council of the Laity I witnessed a young delegation from Chile telling the Holy Father how their fathers had disappeared, their mothers and sisters raped and homes burnt. “It is time to take up weapons”, they said.
They Holy Father laid his tired face in his hands and wept.
Violence will never, never be an option for us. Let us rather accept the pain, the suffering, the dying unto oneself knowing that the resurrection and a new life are around the corner.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:20 am
Mogal Jorge,
Katorr re bajji !
Tuzo irmao,
Forsoo
September 24th, 2008 at 7:05 am
He irmao
What are you doing at 320 am ?
Besides “katoring re Bajji” I forgot to say that terrorists don’t always plant bombs and disappear. There are those who invade the sanctum of cloistered nuns and destroy their convent and self respect and hang around after the atrocities having tea and biscuits with the Police and the politicians.
Would like your “studied” views about what I have written
George
September 25th, 2008 at 12:21 am
George,
It was nice to talk to you over the wire after a long time.
As promised, I am inserting here what I wrote earlier which is also featured on our website http://www.goasu-raj.org in ‘comments on news reports’
This is a new generation POLITICAL thinking which has come to fore in the year 2000 (in Goa), over the funeral pyre, so to speak, of ‘RELIGION-POLITIC MIX’ . As a political party, founded by those who staunchly and vociferously believe that Politic and Religion ‘MUST NOT MIX’; that the State has the over-riding obligation to maintain peace and order between feuding religious and/or other entities, and that it must come down with a heavy hand, swiftly if necessary, to whatever extent to achieve those ends.
As a political party, we have always refrained from commenting over religious issues; over religious activism; as long as these remain peaceful and orderly and compartmentalised. This political entity believes that Governance is politics and nothing but politics; and as such it must be above board when it comes to any act or acts of commission or ommission, by any one, for that matter, which go against the ‘charter of human freedom’.What is happenning in Orissa is an act of vandalised governance where RELIGION OF HATE is influencing POLITICS, where politics is being nurtured by ‘religion of hate’.This great country, our INDIA, of the equally great or greatest ‘Mahatma Gandhi’, took a turn for the worst after its Indendence in 1947 and after his very murder by the murderers and rapists of today, when the custodians of this vast and diverse nation, who are responsible for the well-being of millions, sat immobilised and impotent to act and to arrest the seeminly ‘ harmless’ sentiments of patriotism mixed with religion of hate that showed its head and was allowed to move freely and wantonly behind the seemingly legitimate acts of just one singular person, a leader called LAL KRISHNA ADVANI, who was given a ‘carte blanche’ to not only compromise the CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED SECULAR FABRIC OF THIS COUNTRY, but to decimate it through the demolition of the BABRI MASJID, only to fullfill his life-time nurtured dream of becoming the Prime Minister of India, one day. And he has, wittingly or unwittingly, managed to manipulate the intelligence of the people of this country towards the fulfillment of that life’s dream by first taking the seat as India’s Dy. Prime Minister and the Home Minister and now gunning for the top seat itself.
God forbid, if that ever happens, this nation will have to get it’s independence the second time over.What happened in Godhra in particular, and Gujarat in general, was the eye opener of things to come. What happened to the Australian Missionary and his teenage sons was an eye opener of things to come, the main accused charge-sheeted with their tripple murders having been subsequently allowed to contest democratic elections, notwithstanding. BUT what is happening in Orissa today is not an eye opener any more. This is the proof that a heavy lid is over the eyes, keeping the eyes firmly shut over all this injustice murder and mayhem. This lid must come off, if necessary by force, more so from ‘without’ rather than from ‘ within’. But this force cannot, and will not, be forthcoming from a pliant’ man’ who is presently sitting on the throne of India’s Prime Minister, nor from the pliant’ woman’ who is the Head of the State, the President of India. Being pliant runs into the bloodstream of our front-running leadership, as we have seen through the non-action by the Ex-President of India, Mr. K.R. Narayanan during the Babri Masjid issue, and by Ex-President Abdul Kalam during the Godhra Genocide. For God’s sake, why does a nation like India feeds and supports its vast men-machine, the army, and its para-millitary forces, if not to come to the rescue of the very citizens who pinch their stomachs to feed and support this grandeur?? What is holding back such ‘orders’ from the leaders of our nation?When I say ‘force from without’ I do not mean the Pope.
The Pope, being the head of Christianity or Catholicism (if you please) is naturally concerned over these most degenerating and inhuman events taking place in Orissa. It is but natural that any leader of a community must object. What I mean by ‘force from without’ is the entire world of humanity, all self-respecting countries of the world, who are friendly or even inimical towards India, to join forces and come down heavily on the ‘pliant’ ‘calculating’ and ‘impotent’ leadership of this nation called INDIA, and bring them to their knees , ONCE AND FOR ALL, by demanding swift action against this lawlessness which is resulting in unnessesary tragedy all in the name of some GOD Who is yet to be sighted, if necessary through a threat of being black-listed.
What is happening in ORISSA is not the internal matters of India any more. This is the prime obligation of the COMMITY OF NATIONS, and as such, act they must, FAST and NOW. IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, THE WORLD CAN WRITE-OFF THIS COUNTRY CALLED INDIA, THE SO CALLED LARGEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD.
Floriano LoboFoundding President/General Secretary & Spokesperson,GOA SU-RAJ PARTYTel: (0832) 2470223Mobile: 9890470896 floriano.lobo@gmail.com
September 25th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Dear Floriano
Thanks for visiting the wesite and for your valuable insights
Maybe the effects of the attacks in Orissa, Karnataka and Kerala may be beneficial in the long run to a ghettotized community. The Lord has His plans
George
September 25th, 2008 at 2:39 am
In my opinion, Christians should overcome any sort of minority complex and join arms with so many good and noble Indians (Hindus and many others influential or intellectual or whatsoever) who will support the cause of fighting injustice. That will be another courageous way of bearing witness -like St. Paul did. This will attract many others to our faith in the modern Areopagus.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:40 am
[...] Menezes looks at the violence directed toward Christians in Orissa and examines why the churches do not have any reassurances that such incidents will not [...]
September 25th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Well said. Now that the euphoria has died, do we even care for the follow-up? I am surprised that the ‘Stop hate crimes in Mangalore’ petition has only 9143 signatures to date(10:45 PDT), whatever the outcome of the petition maybe! Is that all the number we have?, or is our community not net savvy or has the petition not been publicized enough? Support of distinguished members of the community in India itself is somewhat lacking, people in power, be it in IT or politics should speak up. Forwarding emails with gory images of the atrocities will get us nowhere.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Dear Sir,
Count me one among the countless Hindus to whom all religions are divine and equal. I believe that religions are different paths to reach godhead. The tension and acrimony that we witness today between the followers of Christ and Hindus are mainly due to proselytisation by Missionaries. I have been thrust while standing in a street corner a bunch of pamphlets by the street preachers of Christianity. The pamphlets abused the gods considered sacred by the Hindus. Did Christ preach intolerance when he said “go yonder and seek fresh pastures”? If the goal of converting India into a christland is dropped, there will be amity, peace and warmth among Indians.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:21 am
In general I think there has been a massive polarisation of the population of india in the name of relegion that has been politically motivated. This is indeed a cause for concern. However, all political parties need their goondas these days and these goons seem to need their daily dose of violence to survive. So please dont fall into the trap of saying “the hindus dont like us; our place in the society is threatened:’.
I dont agree with you that the bomb blasts that rocked india in recent times is only due to the ” hurt” of the muslim population. These blasts are part of a global phenomenon and somehow or the other indian muslims have started to identify themselves with palestinians and the hindu right with israel, a comparison that is hardly credible.
It is a good thing that catholic churches distance themselves from the later versions of christianity atleast on the basis of principle just as the large majority of the hindu population do not go for drills in the morning wearing khaki shorts.
I am indeed surprised that the present govt that is pretty much composed exclusively of non hindus and non believers (excepting pratibha patil who doesnt count anyway) has not lived up to its promise. So your argument that non hindu leaders will protect you better doesnt seem to hold good. The best protection for any minority group is in the population- I dont know why the people in Orissa havent been sympathetic to the christian population there may be reasons outside the realm of relegion for this. many nuns from Europe have told me how they were more respected in India than in Europe.
I think therefore that it is suicidal for christians in India to support the cause of jihadists (who take their orders from outside India).
September 29th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Thanks for your article, lot of ideas there that ask for reflection. I grew up next to a church in Delhi. Even if not a christian, going to midnight christmas mass was seen as normal. I feel deeply dismayed that people with whatever reason can find the courage to atack a church or worse to kill people.
October 1st, 2008 at 2:25 am
A very well written article Mr. Menezes
I’m from Mangalore. Initially when these incidents were happening, many of us were reluctant to take to the streets. When we did, chaos reigned. But in hindsight, I am of the firm opinion that this response took the perpetrators & their masters by surprise.
This was a well orchestrated attack on the spirit of Mangalore. Today, the polarization is complete. It is ‘them’ & ‘us’. And Mangalore is bereft of leaders of calibre…….
October 1st, 2008 at 8:42 am
Thank you Lionel. This piece appeared in the Hindustan Times of 31st Sept.
I appreciate your visiting my site.
WE need the support of “good” Hindus in large numbers to achieve peace
George
October 1st, 2008 at 9:03 am
Dear Sunil
It is people like you who can group together with like minded Indians and speak up. Group vioces are heard
Thank you and god bless you
George
October 1st, 2008 at 9:24 am
Dear Revathi
Thank you for visiting my website
I agree with a great deal of what you have said.
I also defend your right to disagree with me.
However you quote some things I have not written in my posting.
Please point out the line and para of my posting where I have said
“Hindus don’t like us. Our place in society is threatened”
Or “non Hindus will protect us”
Quite the contrary I believe that minorities can be protected only by the millions of peace loving, enlightened Hindus who believe in the constitutional rights of all Indians
God bless you
George
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 am
Dear Mr Krishnamoorty
I understand what you say and I apologise for the embarrassment you have experienced
The question we must ask ourselves in a democratic, secular and civilized country is can we kill a revered Peofessor for changing the election dates of the Student Council ?
Can we vandalize the hospital because a baby died on delivery ? Can we set shops on fire because they dont have sign boards in the Regional language?
Can we similarly kill , rape burn and vandalize Churches including the Churches of those who do not convert and desecrate the sancity of their tabernacles because a few are undertaking agressive conversion ?
What about the rule of law? What about people’s Constitutional rights? And the procees of Justice, however slow.?
Granting that there might be a grievance can the aggrieved turn into lynching mobs ?
We are accountable not only to our selves but to the Comity of Nations of which we are members?
You and I, hand in hand, have a lot of responsibility to reverse the tide by speaking out loudly and clearly against this madness
Thank you for visiting my website
George
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:41 am
I agree with you Roweena. I can only write and speak at meetings. I am turning 80.
Trying to get a group of mature leaders in Mumbai, build love and brotherhood and network to get an All India, inter-religious “Think Tank” to articulate a Vision and an action plan to stop what will only be the destruction of India
THis piece appeared in the Hindustan Times of the 31st SEpt and a different one will appear in the Times of India this week end hopefully
God bless you
George
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:43 am
Thank you Desi Pundit for expanding my readership
George
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 am
Thank you Nappu D’Cunha
Who will do it
Each one of must take the responsibilty
God bless
George
October 6th, 2008 at 3:39 am
I have read your article. You are as clear cut and straight forward as ever.
The laity should be involved in decision making in a more contributory way.
For me, I also do not agree with the Church on many issues.
But who cares?
From: Virendra Bagul
Mobile: 9869266700
October 6th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Dear Virendra
Great to meet you after so long on the net. I now have your cell phone number
Thanks for visiting my website
We have serious problems that might now get attention because of the persecution
Suffering has always strengthed the Church. you can destroy houses churches and kill people but you cannot destroy faith that for 2000 years has its source in LOVE
Keep in touch
George
October 6th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Dear George,
I’ve been reading your recent articles on the incidents of violence perpetrated against Christians in India. I can’t agree more ….. it seems you have articulated what I’ve been feeling all along.
I feel the need to unburden myself ……..
There is a feeling of deep sadness……..
As a little boy, the religion of a person simply didn’t make any difference. Growing up, I gradually became aware of differences in religion but couldn’t quite fathom these. I grew up blissfully unaware of any other identity except being Indian – there were many things I was proud of ….. things that my Dad (an armyman) told me about my country, people, our soldiers, our leaders and so on. In my twenties, I happened to face some flak from a ‘BJP’ supporter who told me that we Christians should quit the country and go ‘back’ to Rome ! Well, I merely dismissed him as one of the fringe elements.
But today I am almost 52 years old, living in Mumbai and must confess to having the slightest undercurrent of feelings of anxiety ….. at being different (i.e. Christian) and soon probably one of the unwanted ‘elements’ !!!
The systematic and planned incidents of carnage across the country
October 6th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Dear George,
I’ve been reading your recent articles on the incidents of violence perpetrated against Christians in India. I can’t agree more ….. it seems you have articulated what I’ve been feeling all along.
I feel the need to unburden myself …….. a mosaic of thoughts and impressions.
There is a feeling of deep sadness……..
As a little boy, the religion of a person simply didn’t make any difference. Growing up, I gradually became aware of differences in religion but couldn’t quite fathom these. I grew up blissfully unaware of any other identity except being Indian – there were many things I was proud of ….. things that my Dad (an armyman) told me about my country, people, our soldiers, our leaders and so on. In my twenties, I happened to face some flak from a ‘BJP’ supporter who told me that we Christians should quit the country and go ‘back’ to Rome ! Well, I merely dismissed him as one of the fringe elements.
But today I am almost 52 years old, living in Mumbai and must confess to having the slightest undercurrent of feelings of anxiety ….. at being different (i.e. Christian) and soon probably one of the unwanted ‘elements’ !!!
My sons aged 15 and 11, reading newspaper reports, ask what would happen to us Christians …… they asked as to how I would react / respond were I to face a similar situation. I told my boys that it would be a difficult decision with a sword at my throat ….. but knowing my human weakness, I pray that God would give me courage and wisdom in such an eventuality. I also told them that when Jesus could die such a horrible death for me and on my behalf, there was no way that I would deny Him.
The systematic and planned incidents of carnage across the country heightens the sense of unseen powers engineering the violence against Christians.
‘Conversion’ for me is ‘metanoia’ or “change of heart” which all of us (myself included) need continually. It is difficult for me to believe that Jesus Christ wants everyone to become Christians in the sense of “change of religion”. How boring that would be !!!! But I’m sure he certainly called for a ‘change of heart’ ………… a universal call. (and we know how difficult it is change ourselves …. and then we look for help to the ‘higher power’). What shape that response should take for my bretheren proffessing other faiths, I don’t know.
The silence of the Church – meaning most Christians, lay persons and the ecclesiatical leadership – is DEAFENING !!! Hey guys, are you’ll listening ??
Probably, this is the shaking-up that will seperate the wheat from the chaff.
Maybe these are the beggining of birth-pangs of a glorious Church in our beloved country – where we begin to realise who we are, & what is our calling …….. to follow in the foot-steps of our Master and Saviour.
This is a time when we Christians need to talk to each other, unburden our hearts – our fears, hopes & dreams. Could we do something about it ?
And by the way, could you please let me know as to how we may make some financial contributions for the welfare of the Christians of Orissa (even if Bishop Cheenath may not consider it important) ?
God bless your efforts.
Prem
October 7th, 2008 at 3:38 am
Dear Prem Kumar
When I finished reading your beautiful comments coming from the heart (unburdening yourself as you call it) I found myself crying.
Men are not supposed to cry. But I find myself crying out of sadness. out of anger out of pity for those who know not what they are doing.
My area of expertise is “human behaiour” and therfore I will not tell you not to be anxious or not to be afraid. You are experiencing it and you need to acknowledge it and stay with it and see how it can make you whole.
We are going through a “redemptive” experience,a Bblical “desert” or ‘wilderness” experience, a precious gift from God.
Imagine framers and flood affected people who have lost everything. Imagine the thousnds of small investors who are bankrupt. We are not the “suicide” crowd
Looking at history the Church will stay and grow and flourish. You and I must see how we can help.
Thro my writings and some speeches I am asking my many Hindu friends to facilitate the thinking that finally the fascists will come for them unless they come out of the wood work and say loudly “enough is enough”
As I said in the Times of India of 4th October., the minorities cannot ensure their own security only the enlightened majority running into millions can do that.
Sleep well, give witness to your sons. The Lord will be with us to the end.
If you want to send money to the Orissa refugees make a cheque to “All India Catholic Union” and send it to me. I am the President Emeritus of the
Org. Shall send you my address and phone number in a separate Email
God bless you
October 7th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
[...] was once a member of the BJP, believes that Indian Christians need to come together and create a strategy: When I was a member of the BJP’s National Executive Council, I found it difficult to convince [...]
October 7th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Thanks for your posting
There is no alternative to dialogue. Which means that we go into a dialogue not just to convince the others to your point of view but to listen and be open and willing to change your mind
I taught negotiation skills to hundreds of Managers and dealt with Unions, some of them very violent
George
October 13th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I found your article very thought provoking. I, however, have several questions not necessarily from you
1. Why is it we are deserted during our times of need by all those who have benefitted from our institutions? Why are the Soli Sorabjis, Fali Nariman’s , Sunil Gavaskar’s all silent? Have our institutions failed somewhere? I am a member of Goanet and I feel hurt and disappointed when I see some of the educated hindu members who have studied in our schools support the hindutva line.
2. What can be done to democratise the church and empower our laity ? Our lay people can run organisations, banks, institutions but are given a very peripherical role in the church. When will the church move from ‘pay, pray and obey’ principle to giving the laity a greater voice in the church.
3. I have been closely observing the way some of our parishes and schools are run by the religious and I must say I am greatly disappointed. How do we effect changes?
4. It is my view that the religious are by and large insulated from secular life, except perhaps at the very top or certain exceptions. How do we expect them to provide leadership in times of crises?
5. What has been the role of our christian and other MP’s? Are they able to influence decisions?
6.Regarding George Fernandes, I do not know how reliable he is. Isn’t he the one who gave a clean chit to the killers of Graham Staines and his two young children?
In conclusion I agree with you that our security and welfare lies in the hands of the secular majority and we need to strenghten their hands.
Regards,
Marshall
October 16th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Dear Marshall
Thank you for visiting my site and posting some very relevant comments
Shall answer them via Email.
There are no easy answers and solutions unless we are willing to go to the root of the problems for which we have neither the interest or the scholarship.
George
October 26th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Dear Mr Menezes
I was very happy to learn about your site whilst browsing the web. This is an excellent forum that you have created for people to air their views and opinions on the current happenings at home ( India).
Enjoy reading your articles on different areas of life.
Wish you good luck and excellent health to carry on the good work
Best Wishes
Elroy & Lorraine ( Abu Dhabi,UAE)
October 28th, 2008 at 3:08 am
What a delightful surprise
You have come aong way after Carter Wallace
Glad for you and Lorraine
Amazing what the web can do
Just Received a cheque of Rs 10000/- from a reader for the Orissa victims from an unknown reader. The world is populated with beautiful people despite the fringe group goons
George
September 11th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Hey i love your blog, found it while randomly surving a couple days ago, will keep checking up please do visti mine if you wish :). Btw yesterday i was having troubles opening the site. Cya…
September 12th, 2010 at 6:46 am
Thank you for visiting my site. If you’re reading any particular piece I’ve written I would appreciate feedback, good or bad. As long as it is not indifferent
George
October 17th, 2010 at 12:29 am
genuinely a excellent posting. I’ll undoubtedly be examining this web site much more.
October 17th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Dear Lauren
Thanks for your comments, Do revisit I am posting some new pieces
George
October 17th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Dear Gail
Thanks for your visiting my website and for youe comments
I do not have an rss weblog
George
March 5th, 2011 at 1:59 am
Thank you for comments
Do visit again. The latest ones are pure satire
August 17th, 2011 at 9:19 am
You write so well.. Wishing you good health and long life .. love every word that your write.. and your brother.. callng himself `Forsoo’ so much down to the Goan roots! And you calling `Irmao’ was the icing.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:14 am
Thank you as always
Mog asundi
George