Compare the government reaction at the funeral of Field Marshall Sam Manecshaw and that of Lata Mangeshkar. Similarly here in Goa at Manohar Parrikar's demise. Thank God there are some people with ethics and dignity and do not lose their emotional balance. They were against calls for Lata memorial built in Shivaji park. The Mangeshkar family reportedly said "The park is not the place to erect memorials. There are few open grounds where children can play and senior citizens take a walk. There should be no encroachments on the parks neither should they be used as cremation grounds!" The government in power should not behave like or trigger emotional unthinking mobs. When I read about a mentally-challenged man being seized from the custody of the SHO, stoned to death and his body hung from a tree for desecrating the holy book in a Pakistan village, I wonder where civilization in our modern times have reached! In this battle for existence people generally lack compassion and become cruel and covetous when in power, losing sight of what is right and what is wrong! This arrogance filled with false pride and "I know best attitude" are fertile grounds for dissent and violence. This is seen everywhere in India these days, is it not?
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
