When you start feeling sorry for yourself (yes, we ALL do at times), read this. I think it puts everything in perspective....

If Earth's population was shrunk into a village of just 100 people -- with all the human ratios existing in the world still remaining -- what would this tiny, diverse village look like?

That's exactly what Phillip M. Harter, a medical doctor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, attempted to figure out. This is what he found.

57 would be Asian

21 would be European

14 would be from the Western Hemisphere

8 would be African

52 would be female

48 would be male

70 would be nonwhite

30 would be white

70 would be non-Christian

30 would be Christian

89 would be heterosexual

11 would be homosexual

6 people would possess 59 percent of the entire world's wealth, and all 6 would be from the United States.

80 would live in substandard housing

70 would be unable to read

50 would suffer from malnutrition

1 would be near death

1 would be pregnant

1 would have a college education

1 would own a computer

The following is an anonymous interpretation:

Think of it this way. If you live in a good home, have plenty to eat and can read, you are a member of a very select group.

And if you have a good house, food, can read and have a computer, you are among the very elite.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more fortunate than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are fortunate, more than three billion people in the world can't.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful... you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder.... you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day and count your blessings.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 22, 2001

Answers

Barry--

How does Dr Harter "know" that 11% of human beings are homosexual? That sounds like a 60 year old Kinsey report number.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 22, 2001.

"That sounds like a 60 year old Kinsey report number."

I think you are right. I believe the figure 3% is better accepted today.

-- Little Nipper (canis@minor.net), February 22, 2001.

1 would be seriously mauled by pigs

-- Break out the cookies and milk (aimless@national_raffle_association.org), February 22, 2001.

Perspective is the word of the day - every day.

Thanks, Barry. A real gem of a post.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), February 22, 2001.

Good question Lars, but alas I am just the messenger on this one. Seeing how as he is a Stanford fellow, perhaps his research was conducted in ‘The City’.

Thanks Rich…keep em’ warm!

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 22, 2001.