Perry Marshall, the guy best known for his work with Google Adwords, is in India right now, doing work with an organization called Children's Relief International.
He's sending out updates on his trip via a special email list. Having an interest in India, I got on it.
What i received today...
David,
Yesterday we went to see the "rock people." The rock people
are folks - mostly entire families - who make a living
breaking rocks with hammers, next to a rock quarry in
Rajahmundry.
I had said to Melody (my sis-in-law, who co-directs CRI) the
day before, "I guess if there was one thing that's been a
bit surprising to me, it's that there's not as much grinding
poverty in India as I had expected."
She says, "Well Perry, you missed Calcutta."
Yes honey, that's right. But the rock people aren't a lot
better off than the folks in Calcutta. Kids make 25 cents a
day doing this fine job.
Per team leader Jason's instructions, we stopped at a bakery
and bought some sweets for the kids and showed up in our
rickety blue bus. Got out and started handing stuff out.
We were instantly mobbed with kids, who grabbed the candies
and muffins out of our hands as fast as we could hand 'em
out. We had extra for the adults and though they were pretty
shy about accepting our gifts, none turned us down.
The rock people look just like anybody else here - the girls
wear lovely saris (I have to say, Indian people are just
beautiful, especially the girls in their brilliantly colored
traditional dress.)
But you know what the kids wanted more than even candy and
sweets? PHOTOS. And handshakes and human contact. I got
mobbed, Jeremy got mobbed, Lindy got mobbed, Jason got
mobbed... everyone with a camera got mobbed. Kids wanting
to pose for a picture and then see it on the display after
we took it.
The web connections are real slow here but eventually we're
going to find a way to post them so you can see pics of
these beautiful kids.
I was thinking.... you know, these kids don't look like
"rock people." They don't look like "poor people". They
just look like kids. And having been to six continents now,
you know what?
Kids are kids are kids are kids.
No matter where you go. When Jesus said "Let the little
children come to me" I think I know what he meant. He meant
mor than just permit them to hang around. He meant, open up
and embrace them. Be as open to them as they are to you.
I first met my wife Laura 21 years ago. She was singing in
a choir and I was the sound man. I gave her a microphone
and lured her into my world with reverb.
"I love the way you make my voice sound," she said.
I grinned from ear to ear. She fell in love with me and I
with her. She's been my sweetheart, my Twilight Dawn, for 21
years and 18 years of marriage this July 22.
During the concert she had this solo. She sang - in her
creamy alto voice that is hers and hers alone -
"Love was more than just a pretty word to say
When the savior gave his life upon the cross one day
And all the pretty songs could never take the place
Of a cup of water given in His name."
When you come to a place like this you wonder what you can
do. What is going to make a real lasting difference for
kids. For orphans. For rock people. For untouchables
(yeah, that's a whole 'nother side trip from the day before
yesterday, I promise to get back to that soon). For the
people of India. And all the other places where CRI has
projects.
As you'll discover as we go along, there are a lot of things
in the realm of material assistance that are being provided
for these kids. But there is another element that I think is
more important, that's crucial to making a long-term
difference for these people.
Hinduism teaches the concept of reincarnation and that
depending on the Karma of a past life, some people are born
into different castes - some are destined to have lives of
privilege, some to be working class, and some to be
"untouchable." So untouchable, in fact, that one need not
even help the poorest of the poor because, after all, they
are only getting what they deserve anyway.
Babies die of starvaton. Families live in filth. Children
break rocks with hammers for 25 cents a day.
I know this will offend some people but I'm going to say it
anyway: This belief is nothing more than a lie that has
victimized untold millions of people. Hundreds of millions
of people have nothing, have no ability to do business with
other people, and are cut off from the rest of the world
because of this false belief.
I would like to detour for a bit of a history lesson so that
I can make an important point.
The United States Declaration of Independence makes a
world-shattering declaration that transformed the modern
world:
"We hold these things to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal and endowed by their creator with certain
inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness."
In his book "Democracy in America" (1835) Alexis de
Tocqueville traces this statement and its idea of equality
backward through history and lands at Galatians 3:28, the
words of St. Paul: "In Christ there is neither male nor
female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free. All are equal in
Christ Jesus."
Before Paul said this, NO ONE had ever made such a bold and
sweeping statement. No one. Not the Jews, not the
Babylonians, not the Egyptians, not the Greeks, not the
Chinese. The concept of equality came first from Paul.
This idea got planted in western civilization and began to
grow and develop, little by little dismantling slave trade,
sowing the seeds for democracy and spurring technological
and political progress.
If you live in a democracy and you're thankful for the
ability to vote, if you're thankful that people generally
consider you and themselves to be just as good as anybody
else, then thank Paul.
Because despite what the Declaration says, equality really
is NOT self evident. At least it wasn't to any of the
ancient world prior to 2000 years ago. On the surface,
we're all different. Some are stronger. Some are smarter.
Some have more money. Some are politically connected. Some
are more savvy.
And some people get the scraps.
But when Paul said this, he was declaring that there is an
underlying *spiritual* reality, that yours and my true
identity doesn't come from accomplishments or money or power
but from our Heavenly Father. That once we know that true
identity we're no longer slaves to money and power and
accomplishments and the 'natural' order of things.
So what are we gonna do for the rock people?
We're going to appoint a pastor to live there at the quarry
and minister to them. To do what Jesus did - to "Let the
children come to me." So that they too will know they're
just as good as anybody else. They're not untouchable.
They're children of a King.
That minister will be able to see where the needs are and
help them find medical care, clothing (we saw a street
vendor there at the quarry, selling shoes but he had no
shoes on his feet), food, care and concern.
CRI can set up a minister like this for less than $100 per
month. (More about CRI at www.childrensrelief.com.)
I've gotta get going now (other people are waiting to use
the computer) but I'll send out another update soon.
God Bless.
Perry Marshall
P.S.: Rants? Raves? Rude asides? I'll be happy to hear
back from you. If you reply to this email you'll get an
email back that says we didn't get it, but I will check that
email box anyway and I will see your comments.
This is going out to over 3000 people and I have no idea how
quickly I will get back to you. But your voice will be
heard....
Just for the record, I like Perry. We always chat when I see him at live events and he has been very kind to me every time we've connected. And I like that he's doing work which he feels will benefit people, both in his business and personal life.
However, I feel like he's got a few things wrong when it comes to his understanding of India, Hinduism, and the general situation of which he spoke.
I just sent this response to him, but as there are 3000+ people on his list, probably a lot of the people who read this blog, I'm posting it here. Not exactly online marketing related, but I think it's important for this to be seen as many of us deal with people from India on a daily basis.
Whether you agree with me, or Perry, or neither of us, I hope this will stimulate discussion on the topic.
My response...
Hey, Perry. Interesting email.
I'm sure what you've seen in India is disturbing at times and
probably overwhelming. But how about some empathy and
looking at it from beyond your perspective?
It IS possible to live in extreme poverty and still be happy.
And just because these people are not living within YOUR
value system doesn't mean that they're deprived.
If you look at the definition of karma, it simply means
"what is." It's neither good nor bad.
The "rock people" are learning a spiritual lesson, just like
you and I are, just like the prostitutes, just like the rich,
and just like the drug addicts. As hard as it may be to see
somebody dying, or selling themselves, or whatever else,
there is a lesson there.
And perhaps the lesson they're learning is for YOU. Maybe
they're taking up life as a kid breaking rocks, so you could learn
what you needed to.
Whether you agree with the caste system or not, it's not really
your place to comment. This is their culture; not yours. And it's
their choice to live in that culture. And please realize that not
everybody in India follows the caste system, just like not
everybody in the US is racist or refuses to do business with
blacks or Mexicans.
If you want to say something has "victimized untold millions of
people," perhaps you should look into our culture and what people
have done with Christianity. The "us and them" mindset many
Christians hold is no different than the caste system.
Christians say they love, but many times it's conditional. For
example, if we're all "children of a King" as you say, why is it
that people aren't allowed to live their lives their way, without
judgement and without somebody trying to bring them over to
YOUR belief system?
If God knows everything, He'll understand.
Something to chew on...
David
Thoughts?
