Drop IFFI for Tiatr Festival and other letters to the editor.

 Drop IFFI for Tiatr Festival

Auriel Ribeiro Sa, Mapusa.

I wholeheartedly agree with the views expressed by Cedric da Costa in his article ‘IFFI or Tiatr Festival’ (Herald Mirror,6 Dec) that we should have a tiatr festival instead of the silly fiasco the IFFI seems to have been.
After moving down to Goa from Mumbai, I appreciate the dedication and hard work put into the production of a tiatr and make it a point to see any tiatr staged closest to my hometown. The witty cantaram highlight the plight of Goans due to our corrupt politicians. The concerned authorities need to look into the dilapidated state of Hanuman theatre at Mapusa to enable tiatr lovers to enjoy tiatrs in an a/c environment.
We need to preserve and be proud of our unique culture, which foreigners seem to appreciate more. The tourists will definitely enjoy our tiatrs even if they do not understand the language. The tiatrists need to evolve too and give an excellent fare in a language everyone understands to reach a wider audience without compromising on the unique flavour of the tiatr. (on 14th Dec 2009)



Ranks are like caste.
Auriel Ribeiro Sa, Mapusa.

Aamir Khan deserves kudos for the film 3 Idiots wherein he has portrayed the fallacies in the educational system.
Being a teacher myself, I echo Aamir’s sentiments when he compares the rank/grade system to the caste system. These stories will indeed touch a chord somewhere and lead people to rebel strongly against the system. All parents need to watch this movie.
Aamir’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’ was an eye-opener and now I pray this one will open hearts to change the system for the better. Chetan Bhagat deserves thanks for ‘Five Point Someone’, which inspired the making of this movie. (on 14th Jan 2010)

Only one choice?

With respect to Venita Coelho’s article ‘The Reproductive Rights of Women’. (Herald, 16 Jan) I feel she has voiced her opinion very effectively. But she has not mentioned the mental and psychological impacts an abortion can have. I can assure you that not only the woman but also the man is affected by the process. Why go to God last? Ask him first what is the right thing to do. If he suggests abortion, go for it! But if he says, “Wait on me and give the baby up for adoption so another woman is blessed, listen to him, for His sake!
I am proud to be pro-life and, in my opinion, if a woman has the right to choose, then those same rights must be extended to the child in her womb. A woman can ‘choose’ life, can’t she? (on 20 Jan 2010)

Old-fashioned Dad

With respect to Marc de Souza’s article ‘The Old-Fashioned Father’ (Herald, 21 January), I want to congratulate him on the article and also assure him that I have an old-fashioned Dad in my husband. My children respect and obey him. He is everything Marc says he should be and more. I hope there are more fathers like Marc and my husband in the world. Our children need a firm hand at the reins, a God-fearing, home-loving and time-giving captain to steer the ship to a safe harbour. (on 27 Jan 2010)


Media Maladies

I read Sajla Chawla’s article in OPinionatED (Herald. 17 January) on media sensationalism. I couldn’t agree with her more.
At one point in her dissertation, she talks about the plight of the farmers driven to suicide . I couldn’t help noticing that the very next day’s paper reflected this same fallacy.It widely publicized the death of the Marxist legend Jyoti Basu (main front page headline) and totally sidelined the death of a farmer in Malegaon (a 3-liner on page 5) who committed suicide due to heavy debts. Gandhi would scoff that, “A nation may do without its millionaires and its capitalists, but it can never do without its labourers.”
The media portrays women in a derogatory way in its advertisements, and foreign women are shown as ‘easy’ and ‘available’. When a state like Goa protects its high-profile personalities and its police have no self-respect, one cannot expect anything better from its media.
Rape begins in the mind, when someone decides he is above the law and has no conscience or concept of right or wrong. That decision translates into action only after he sees an opportunity and a soft target. Unless men are educated to respect all women, irrespective of culture and colour, and their physical prowess is harnessed for good, women will continue to be the victims, whether in their homes or outside. (on 8th Feb 2010)