Immature people

Immature people

Day after day I read reports and articles in your newspaper
about corruption and financial dishonesty among the ruling
classes in Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines and elsewhere in
Southeast Asia. I ask myself why so many people in this part of
the world are apparently obsessed with money and its
accumulation? There are, of course, greedy people all over the
world in all societies, but I have never met money madness on
such a scale as here.

Everybody is so materialistic. It's so depressing. We all need
money to live but why do the Soehartos, Estradas, Marcoses etc.
of this part of this world never seem satisfied with the next
billion? Why do they want more and more? Is it something in their
mind? Does the hot and humid climate have something to do with
it?

I, an Englishman retired from university teaching, am
constantly asked here whether I have a business. I don't and
never will because I am not interested in business and never will
be. Yet I know that I am not believed when I say this. It is as
`if the only reason to live is to make money. How boring! How
narrow! How uncivilized!

I am not impressed by their wealth. I could not care less
whether somebody has ten cars or a woman has a hundred diamond
necklaces. I am interested in what people are. Have they any
brains? Have they any sensitivity? What are they interested in,
apart from money? It seems that here, those who are rich want to
flaunt their possessions. How immature!

I am going back to Europe soon, to its wonderful music,
theater, art exhibitions, its universities and its intellectual
stimulation.

C. BARRATT

Singaraja, Bali