All this crucifying of Valentin made me have a look to the pic, something I rarely have time to do. I've seen this kind of people both in Romania and US and frankly, I am not impressed. Romania is full of beggars like these and most of them live this way by choice while many are syndicated. On the other hand there is extreme poverty, of people struggling to make a living, proud people that would never beg but rather help you with the little they can. These should be portrayed: their hard work despite nil perspectives, the impact of western culture over their traditions, their joy over simple things. And Shel comes up with this and expect me to fill pity and compassion? Puah. Servus, Alin
Bob wrote: BW> I think you're being rather unfair there, Shel. Everybody has the BW> right to improve their own lot - isn't that the American Way? Romania, BW> when I met Val there, was a country with far greater problems than you're BW> likely to see in California (for all its genuine problems), and far more BW> than one individual - even someone as talented as Val - can fix. I've seen BW> the down-and-outs in Santa Monica, and I've seen the way many ordinary BW> people live in Romania, and believe me, Santa Monica is better. BW> I don't mean this to sound like "our poverty is worse than yours", or BW> Monty Python's Three Yorkshiremen sketch, but everyone is entitled to BW> their view on these things, and I think your comments to V. were a bit BW> below the belt.
