Tuesday, October 20, 2009

conversations with nathan.

Nathan & I were walking in one of the ghettos in Vietnam. A little begger girl came up to us & Nathan tossed her equivalent of a dollar US, which is a lot. He told me she was apart of a begging syndicate type deal, and there were men who were using kids to beg for money.

I then asked why he still gave her money if he knew this already. He said, "I know the money will not go to her, and all of it will end up in the hands of scum that use these children. But if she isn't able to make money, she will be the one suffering at the end of the day. She may get beatings, she may be left hungry for the night, maybe she might be sold again to someone even worse."

Nathan then turned to me, "Imrhys, we cannot stop this problem today, or anytime in the forseeable future. But we can help the little girl out, and if it's pocket change to us or a beating for her, I'd gladly hand over the money."

Monday, October 19, 2009

we can learn from anyone.

A magical genie decided to play a game with two men. He summoned them and told them, "I shall grant you each wishes you may have, and that is all you may have for three years. In each of the three years you will be put into a different environment. The one of you whom survives and prospers the most will win this game."
The first man was Lester from America, he was wealthy and educated. The second man was Buru from Africa, poor and uneducated.

Lester chose all the money in the world for his first wish, the most beautiful woman in the world for his second wish, and for his third wish he passed on, because he was so confident that he did not need anything else. Buru chose shelter for his first wish, water for his second wish, and food for his third wish, because that was all he knew of.

The genie granted their wishes, and for the first year they were transported to a civilized metropolis. In that year Lester succeeded beyond imagination, he could buy anything he wanted and he already had the most beautiful woman in the world with him. Buru, on the other hand, had only shelter, water, and food but he lived a content life in the city without worries of survival.

For the second year the genie transported them to the desert. Lester had trouble buying what he needed because not many people inhabited the desert. He got by, but just barely. He and his woman suffered dearly that year, and in the end his woman did not survive and he was left in bad health. Buru, on the other hand, had shelter, water, and food. He lived a content life in the desert without worries of survival.

For the third year the genie transported them to the moon. Lester had no where to use his money, he didn't survive long and died shortly. Buru, on the other hand, had shelter, water, and food. He lived a content life on the moon without worries of survival.

The genie laughed, and wondered why 'smart' humans were so stupid.