let the simpletons be just that...simpletons

Yesterday DesiPundit linked to Anil's lament that “the Government of Goa is pushing the State in the direction of Las Vegas, the Casino ‘Capital’ of the world“. The post makes 3 arguments against the proposed project.

1. fishing community who oppose the Casinos on the river, fearful as much of the culture seeping offshore and laying waste the youth

2. the environmental damage that river dredging to accommodate Casino vessels will inflict on their livelihood.

3. tourism should merely limit itself to facilitating transportation and basic accommodation of visitors without either changing or altering the identity of the local populace or mortgaging their livelihood to commercial interests of a few

One would have taught that it was fairly obvious that any service offering from Hotel Leela would cater to the classes and not the masses but no...

Thankfully he later goes on to negate point one himself by stating that

There is growing opposition from the local populace to the dredging of the river Sal to accommodate a Casino vessel floated by Hotel Leela to cater to well-heeled tourists and attract more of the same.

Then comes the globe argument that can be used to stymie any modern project "environment". Is it not possible that while Dredging may impact the aquatic ecosystem but proper attention to mitigation and construction procedures may result in the beneficial effects of dredging outweighing the negative effects, the economic benefits in this case?

Finally the most hypocritical of all arguments...

content in the belief that like forgotten memories from long ago it will dwell in the recesses of time that has moved on, leaving untouched a piece of geography out of deference to the wishes of its inhabitants who, down the ages, sustained the land in as much as they drew sustenance from it, giving it character while deriving their own identity from it, that is until now.

that of protecting the identity of the locals, romanticizing of backwardness and encouraging them to remain the simpletons that they are unaware of the progress outside while we ourselves enjoy the fruits of modernization...

cant help noticing the similarities with this satirical piece from the onion


In The Know: Is Our Wealth Hurting Africa�s Feelings?