PEDLN - your description of the former "Least Coins" donations sounds like it would be workable in today's economy. Have you suggested it recently to your church group - perhaps as a project for the Children's, Youth or Scouts programs (individually or combined). As I write, I think of the jars of coins in my household. Your comment will be an excellent encouragement to take them with me to SS this weekend. I've already distributed a notice about the "Pennies for Peace" program and encouraged the kids and adults to undertake this venture.
I've really enjoyed this discussion and shared a lot of the comments with friends in the area, in my SS class and with lecture audiences. Three Cups of Tea has been a popular read across the country in various audiences. I mentioned this discussion in a recent discussion about the book and it was easy to move from the book itself to the creation of this site so that many of the previous posters in SN can continue to learn and share their opinions. I understand from the Director of the area Library that she has checked out this site herself.
I, too, have encountered the utter dismay by Asian families (and those from other ethnic backgrounds) about the American disinterest in having multi-generations living together in the same home. But I always counter that there are some families which follow this age-old tradition. I was raised in a home which included grandparents, parents and me. My mother lived with us for many years until the Lord called her.
BABI - indeed there are replacement crops which could be introduced, tended and harvested in Central Asia that have no relation with poppies. After I retired from the Univ. of MD (UM), I worked with USDA HQ in Washington DC for several years. During that period, I met many delegations from a variety of countries - including Central Asia - where detailed discussions on this very topic were held. Prior to joining UM, I'd also worked with agriculture folks at Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, and although we did not host as many international delegations as were invited to USDA in Washington, those who did visit the campus were always interested in crop rotation or the success rate of introducing totally new crops. Thus, I know first-hand it can be done. Now if only those folks in Central Asia could find a way to eliminate the "middle-men" they might succeed in ridding their region of the poppies and their vile production. But at the "field level" that is a regional, tribal and clan issue, which as we have witnessed in reading of GM's efforts, also includes some really treacherous folks higher-up. And as we already know from ancient history, the tradition of collecting baksheesh (at numerous levels) is wide spread.
ANNA - keep up your friendly and encouraging interaction with folks whom you meet casually.
Yesterday, when I was in a local drugstore, I noticed a woman waiting at the prescription counter. She was impatient with the Pharmacy staff and kept fidgeting. I observed her for a moment and then decided to engage her in conversation - mostly to get her to stop bugging the staff. Turned out she was from the same area of Maryland where I lived for 30 years. Her grandson graduated from the same high school that my son attended. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, as are two of her daughters. We shopped in the same store and took our cars to be serviced by the same mechanic. When her prescription was ready, she shook my hand, paused a moment and then hugged me, saying quietly "it's so good to meet someone from home!" I laughingly said "Well, bless your heart" in my best Southern style (which always fails) and we both cracked up laughing, since neither one of us has yet learned how to offer that comment at the right time or in the correct tone of voice!
Mahlia
