Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/03/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Odmund, I'm not sure that I fully understand your position, but I fail to understand the moral issue which you present. Of the 6 billion souls currently on the planet there is a wide divergence of economic, social and political situations. I count myself as likely among the most economically advantaged, but I do not feel any guilt as a consequence. Certainly I own Leicas as well as other posessions which are far in excess of the lifetime assets of millions around the world. But, what of it? I do many things in my business and personal life to try and make the world a better place, including donations to social causes which I support. To not take my Leica to India and use it in taking photographs would be as hypocritical as giving the Leica to that farmer. In fact, it would be moraly repugnant to me to even get rid of the Leica because there are people for whom the value of that Leica is essentially incomprehensible. Finally, it seems to me that "needs vs wants" is something that only the individual can decide in the context of their own personal relationship to the world around them. Michael >A farmer in India, for instance, would at least have to work for ten years to earn what we paid for an M6. In >this perspective the fundamental idea, Needs vs Wants, also becomes a moral one. ______________________________________ Michael H. Reichmann E-mail: michael.reichmann@alphanet.net ______________________________________