The Asian crisis

First of, this posting sounds like a lost cause... maybe it is (most likely it is!). But I'd still like to think that Asia still provides some hope for change.

A couple of months back I had an interesting conversation with an in-law in the U.K.. Now retired, he was a former CEO of one of the world's largest tobacco companies.

I asked him, "Why is it that with so much hype on Asia being the next goldmine, are European companies not coming here in droves despite themselves telling everyone how Asia is going to be the next BIGGEST thing to happen?"

He replied, "The problem with Asia is that no one respects another. Everyone will undercut someone else to make the sale. As a result, the margin just isn't profitable for us to move there."

Sadly, this is true and reveals much about the "Asian mindset" today.

We have debased ourselves so much that regard for another as human being has degenerated almost to the brink of extinction. Money has replaced humanity, it has replaced natural goodness that once resided in each of us and if we're honest enough to ourselves, it has become our god. Despite all the Church-going, mosque-going or temple-going, one can still deceive himself but God? Come on...

The honour that our forefathers once pledged is gone as did fairplay, integrity and a universal respect for people. We have allowed ourselves to freefall, all the while chanting our "greed is good" mantra.

So, when are we going to ever wake up, smell the roses and for a single moment, at least, believe that human life (ours and others) is sacred.

It is sacred enough for God... when will it be sacred enough for us?