Re: We Are Very Lucky

On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:00:32 -0700 (PDT), mking7312@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

On Apr 14, 12:09 am, Turby <turbosur...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:53:54 GMT, Calgary

<actual.rider_remove_the_obvio...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On the way home I got to thinking of the bitching and whining that
goes on in Reeky. Bitching and whining fed by many of us, myself
included.

It's entertainment. For some people, I'm sure it's their only chance
to laugh or even just feel validated.

Now to drive the point home in my mailbox, when I got home, was an
email from my sister and her husband. Syl recently retired and they
are doing some traveling.

I get the impression it's their first time abroad. And that most of it
is in a tour group. If so, one's impressions can be very distorted.

Now what struck me were her comments about the poverty prevalent in
the countries they are visiting. What also struck was the apparent way
the locals living in that poverty seem to be grateful for what they
have. I might be reading it wrong, but that is my first impression.

People are people, no matter their economic situation. Even the most
poverty-stricken have a sense of humor. America's most important
contribution to the history of music comes from the slaves.

But,  I was curious, and asked our guide, "If the people are as needy
as they appear to be, how is it that young girls are all wearing gold
earrings and women are all adorned in the most beautiful attire?"...
I'm quite certain that if I was hungry, I would choose to feed my
children before putting gold in their ears, but this is not my
country,  culture or priority.  

I've never been toGambiaor Senegal (the farthest west I've been is
Niger & Nigeria,) but I think there are a couple of things to look at.
One, the attire was probably a few yards of dyed fabric. It looks
exquisite, but it's also labor intensive with cheap materials, and so,
inexpensive. I have a couple of nice pieces that only cost me a couple
of dollars (at tourist prices.) I've seen incredibly fine woven beaded
hats that would cost hundreds of dollars in New York, but you could
buy them for a pittance in Agadez. Another thing is the market. In
most places like that, you don't see a used car lot very often, nor an
electronics store, or a Costco or Target. What you see are the basics
of survival. Food and clothing, firewood, and not much else. If a
family  wants some luxury as a status symbol, gold jewelry may be the
only choice. And it doesn't matter whose country or culture it is,
self-esteem and beautiful objects are important to all of us.

--
Turby the Turbosurfer


"If the people are as needy as they appear to be, how is it that young
girls are all wearing gold earrings and women are all adorned in the
most beautiful attire?"...I'm quite certain that if I was hungry, I
would choose to feed my children before putting gold in their ears,
but this is not my country, culture or priority.

This statement here reeks of just plain ignorance, not in a derogatory
way, but in the sentiment that everyone in Africa in particular are
somehow "starving" unless they are getting hand outs and the local
soup kitchen.

There's an interesting book out:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5005952
(There are other sites with better images from the book:)
http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/396072
Bear in mind the family in Chad are in a refugee camp and their diet
is a bit different than normal people in that they _do_ get handouts.

The question of why they would be dressed nice and
wearing jewelry is the same reason why you'd buy $35.00 sneakers for
your infant. Many people do, but what sense does it make? So your kid
can look nice and seen wearing something of value. People in Africa
love to look nice, esp. in Senegal and Gambia, love to dress nice and
be beautiful because they are, my God it is their right, regardless.
Its no good to assume that even in poverty, people don't care about
themselves. Yet how can they be so much more human than the human
rubbish that calls themselves "rich" who can be so poor in spirit.
We could learn a thing or two from "poverty stricken" countries and
cultures, in all of our wealth, our western empires are spiritually in
drought, surely an equitable exchange should take place.

IME, wealth or poverty has little to do with the spirituality of a
people. If anything, I've found the most spiritual people are those
who live in awe-inspiring surroundings.

--
Turby the Turbosurfer
.

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