A Rich Father

A rich father who wanted his son to know what it was like to be poor brought him to live with a farming family for a few days. The child stayed there for 3 days and 3 nights. Back in the car on their way to the town, his father asked him: "And your experience?" "Fine," replied the boy. "Did you learn anything?" The boy then explained: "1 We have a dog and they have four of them. 2 We have a pool with treated water. They have a river with crystal clear water, sh and other good things. 3 We have electric lights in our garden, but they have the stars and the moon to light them up. 4 Our garden extends to the fence. Theirs up to the horizon. 5 We buy our food; they cultivate, harvest and cook it. 6 We listen to CDs ... they hear a sustained symphony of birds, crickets and other animals ... ... all this, sometimes accompanied by the singing of a neighbour who works on the farm. 7 We use the microwave. What they cook tastes much better cooked on a slow re. 8 We are surrounded by alarm fences to protect ourselves ... They live with open doors, protected by the friendship of their neighbours. 9 We are connected to the telephone, computer and television. They are in communion with life, sky, sun, water, elds, animals, friends and families. " The father was impressed with his son's feelings. Then nally the son comes to the conclusion: “Thanks for showing me how poor we are! Every day we get poorer because we no longer look at nature" (anon)