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[karizmua]

Al,

In my opinion, what Noudweront is saying is that it?s not the empty cup that we have difficulty in carrying; it is the cup full to the brim that must be carefully balanced. Affliction and adversity may cause sorrow, but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to the soul. Most wealthy people live by the motto ?if it makes you happy, do it!? And then, when all was said and done, they still felt empty and unfulfilled.

Madan Azibe,

I agree with Al, there are many wealthy Haitians, but they choose to keep quiet about it.

Knowingly or unknowingly, all of us are engaged in the quest for true happiness. We are all searching for the secret to finding delight anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstances.

Facts for the soul:

In 2005, at a time when poverty killed 50,000 people every day, the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Campaign demanded a policy change in the unjust trade rules that lock people in poverty. This change would fully cancel, through fair and transparent means, the debts owed by the poorest countries and deliver more and better aid to people in developing countries. These demands were made in the United Kingdom at the annual G8 meeting of the world?s most powerful leaders. A few days before the summit, the G8 Finance Ministers announced that 18 poor countries would receive an immediate $ 1.5 billion annually for debt relief.

Many poor countries own huge debts to rich countries and institutions. This means that many poor governments spend a large proportion of their tax revenues on paying back their Western creditors, rather than meeting the basic needs of this people. World leaders, under pressure from Jubilee 2000 campaigners, committed to canceling $ 111 Billion of poor country debts under the World Bank and IMF?s Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative. But to date, only $ 46 billion has actually been cancelled.

In the article, ?Aid to Poor Countries? in the June 25-July 1, 2005, issue of The Economist, George W. Bush promised the MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) $ 5 billion. So far, however, only $ 400,000 has been disbursed. Reasons abound for this delay, while thousands go to an early grave.

How do you contribute to the poverty of the poor and the oppressed? What positive action will you take to become a comforter to the oppressed in your part of the world?

Visit www.g8.gov.uk and www.makepovertyhistory.org

[Al Saqr]

Kariz, c'est justement parce que j'ai fait la même analyse que toi que j'en ai conclu que lorsqu'on devient riche, on peut enfin se suicider puisqu'on est "vide" et qu'on le sait.

[karizmua]

This is what I’ve found:

They said he had everything. But he doesn’t even brag about it. His countenance is peaceful and contented. I decide I must talk to him. After a brief introduction, I begin to interview him.

“Sir, I’ve heard so much about you. Your properties are well-numbered; and your accomplishments are fascinating. As a youth, I have so many dreams, and I wonder what I need to do to make my life worthwhile.”

He tilts his head up. Silence hangs in the air. Then, suddenly, he begins to talk. “I understand that there’s so much you want to acquire and accomplish. So I want you to learn from my mistakes. In order for you to do so, you must remember the following:

“1. Do not crave material possession. They amount to nothing. I received everything I wanted; but none of it ever made me happy. It all filled my eyes with beauty, while leaving my heart empty.

“2. Ambition and efforts to advance in life are valueless. It’s not wrong to engage in intellectual advancement, or to reach for you dreams. But they, too, will never satisfy you. I believe it’s better to be wise than remain a fool. The wise man has direction, while the fool stumbles. However, in death, both the learned and the unlearned are the same.”

At this point, my curiosity changed to confusion.

“Pardon me, sir,” I mumbled. “I just don’t understand. What then, does a person gain from all his labors and accomplishments?”

“I’m afraid, my child, that the answer is nothing.”

“So how can life be meaningful?” I demanded.

“I wish I could offer you a sampler of worthwhile things to do under the sun to make your life meaningful. But my child, I know of only one. That is to search God. In reality, there’s no answer to life and all its problems aside from God.