You and I are products of our environment.

If you were raised in a mansion and were given everything your heart desired maybe your answer to the prompt would be, “Elon Musk” or “Donald Trump” or “Hunter Biden” or whatever fancy is proper for the moment.

If you were raised in a jungle to a tribe of cannibals you might say, “I sure admire the village cook. Man can he cook man.”

For me, i have literally seen everything this planet has to offer and when it comes to humans, I am not impressed…

However, if there was respect and admiration to be given then it would be to those deemed as untouchables in the society of India.

In India the most ‘admirable’ caste is the religious caste followed by the warrior caste. Interesting huh? The religious folks want all the honors and glory and have the warrior caste as a close second (to keep the peace so to speak)

Working down the caste system there are retail, bakers, truck drivers, a long list…and then, there are the untouchables.

Abused.

Scorned.

I once gave our dhobi (clothes washer) a brand new bicycle to make his journey to our home easier. He always smiled. He always worked hard. My clothes have never been cleaner.

No sooner did I turn my back and our head servant beat him and took his gift. There was nothing I could do even though I was in the warrior caste. It was/is the way of life for much of India.

So, to you dhobi, to you i have admiration and respect to make the best of the cards this moment has given you. And trust me… There is something far more powerful that also has admiration for you and all the other untouchables.