On Mon, 2 Oct 2000 09:05:15 -0600, Betty Ann <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, >torture, or death........you are more blessed than three billion people in >the world. >If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead >and a place to sleep.............you are richer than 75% of this world. I appreciate the overall sentiments of this message. But, as someone who toured through many places in India - and did so a dozen years ago, when it was significantly poorer than it is right now, I would question the "statistics" that form the basis of some of the things in this message. The vast majority of people in India - and most everywhere else - have clothes on their backs (and spares), a roof overhead, and a place to sleep. However - and this may be the somewhat deceitful nature of the "statistics" used - many people in India don't have a "refrigerator" - and don't feel the need for one, especially since no one before them had one either. Food is cooked fresh and what leftovers there might be are given to beggars. And, outside of the major exception of China (only one billion, not three), most people are free to practice their religion worldwide. Now the "statistics" may be referring to place where CHRISTIANS are harassed - but that is only a handful of people in those places. And, indeed, someone who tried to chant "Hare Krishna" in the middle of the street of a wealthy Connecticut gated community might also be "harassed and arrested".... -- Cheers, Ken [log in to unmask]