Dalai Lama urges U.S. to address rich-poor issue

The Dalai Lama was accepting a human rights prize when he began to criticize the United States by saying the gap between the richest and poorest of this nation is much too large. He said that the U.S. should really look into the poorer and less-privileged people in our country. They are people too, and they should have the same rights and opportunities as the wealthier people in this nation. "When I think of America, I think of the idea -- concept of freedom, liberty, equality. I think these are real human values," he said. The award he was given was in honor of recognizing the unending fight against ending global injustice.

I think the Dalai Lama has called upon an extremely touchy subject. The fact that he brought that up while he was given an award for global injustices makes it even more meaningful. I have to agree with him. The gap in this nation is ridiculously oversized. Bill Gates, once again the richest man in the world, is incredibly wealthy. However, he gives generously to charities. Then there are the rich men and women who hoard it up and then blow it on cars or the second and third houses. Instead, they could help out the hundreds or thousands of people in this nation who are on the streets living on garbage and money that they have begged for. We need to work on this issue and give everyone the opportunity to have a successful life making money.