Mr. Barratt's Indonesia

It would be regrettable for Mr. Barratt to leave Indonesia, or Southeast Asia, with the perception that people in this part of the world are more obsessed with money than people in the West are.

Has Mr. Barratt not heard of Bill Gates? (Yes, I know he gives a lot away; but he keeps much more than he needs.) Or the American business executives with their million dollar salaries plus stock options or the sports figures and film stars with multi-million prices, plus perks, or the European royal families with untold and unneeded wealth?

I agree with Mr. Barratt that devoting one's life to wealth accumulation doesn't seem like the highest human calling. But neither does devoting one's time to theater going or reading and other self-centered, self-fulfilling pursuits. Moving to Asia in 1989 it was a surprise to me, after having studied eastern religions, to learn that not all Asians were guided by spiritual values; some were every bit as greedy and materialistic as some Americans are. Greed and materialism are not, like dark hair or blue eyes, racial traits, Mr. Barratt. Neither is generosity of spirit or altruism; these are as in evidence here as they are in England or the U.S. or anywhere else.

Asian corruption is not evidence that Asians are greedier and more materialistic than Westerners; in fact much Asian corruption is fed by the greedy Western multinational corporations and financial institutions that for the sake of convenience and business advantage engage in bribery. Does Mr. Barratt feel that as a Westerner who might be considered wealthier than he actually is, he is asked for money too often? Sometimes Indonesians do expect foreigners to give them financial help, but only because they think that whoever has more should help those who have less. This doesn't seem like a bad philosophy to me. (Unfortunately this laudable attitude is sometimes exploited by greedy officials for corrupt purposes.) Even very low-paid Indonesians feel a responsibility to give financial and other assistance to those who have less or are in need.

We're fortunate if we can absorb this value of sharing with those who have less. I hope before he lives Indonesia Mr. Barratt will spend more time wandering around his Bali neighborhood and noticing the human interaction and kindness and generosity he might have missed so far.

DONNA K. WOODWARD

Medan, North Sumatra