american caste − 1 November, 1995
when i was visiting the taj mahal in agra, india i struck-up a conversation with a rickshaw driver. one of the observations i made during my month stay in india was the unspoken *caste* system that was still in existence. the people in the lowest caste were called *untouchables*. they were the ones who suffered the harshest realities of life. people of the upper caste ignored them like they were invisible. they didn't exist. some of the untouchables simply starved to death on the street amongst all the strewn refuse. even then no one seemed to notice them.
so i asked the rickshaw driver what caste i belong to because i am not hindu and do *not* believe in castes. he replied with a big smile, *of course you are of the highest caste. you are an american. you come from a very rich and powerful country. you were born with *good* karma.*
*but how can that be? how can you assume i have *good* karma?*, i asked.
*i can never afford a plane ticket to leave my country. you have money. you have freedom to come and go whenever you please. i do not have that freedom. i am stuck here in poverty. that's why you have good karma because you are american. you are in the highest caste.*
*then what can i do to help your people?*
*nothing. we must first learn how to help ourselves.*
so i asked the rickshaw driver what caste i belong to because i am not hindu and do *not* believe in castes. he replied with a big smile, *of course you are of the highest caste. you are an american. you come from a very rich and powerful country. you were born with *good* karma.*
*but how can that be? how can you assume i have *good* karma?*, i asked.
*i can never afford a plane ticket to leave my country. you have money. you have freedom to come and go whenever you please. i do not have that freedom. i am stuck here in poverty. that's why you have good karma because you are american. you are in the highest caste.*
*then what can i do to help your people?*
*nothing. we must first learn how to help ourselves.*
