"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>> as you may know, I work in Social History. A few years ago we had a
>>> set in
>> on of our museums showing a miner's cottage from the previous century.
>> It
>> consisted of a fireplace, wooden table and two chairs. as well as some
>> cooking pots
>>
>> One day some people from our local council brought some visitors. They
>> were
>> from Africa and were with our council to learn how to run an area. I
>> was
>> showing them around the exhibition and got to the miner's cottage. I was
>> explaining how poor these miners had been and how bereft of comfort.
>>
>> I felt dreadful when they didn't understand what I was saying.. to them,
>> that cottage was luxury. I never made that mistake again
>
> Give yourself a break. If they were travelling oversees they probably live
> a life of luxury back home. They likely live in a big house with servants
> and drive a Mercedes. What do you think happens to the billions of
> dollars
> in foreign aid that is sent every year?

When I've noticed all the people of sooo many ethnic groups at the casinos
in CT, (realizing there are billions of people starving to death, of course)
yes, you've got to realize that somehow they've got to the U.S. with some
money in pocket. These are groups of people (not Japanese) that I'm speaking
of, the ones on the tour busses, so one does recognize that they are not
local -- well, perhaps they are - from NY. Who knows? But I never think
when I see people are in a traveling group that they are poor.

O, you watch your step! ;-)
Dee Dee