Previous Letters

No comments for a few days ah? Does that mean the ongoing difference of opinions between Barry and Robert has been put to rest, or are you fellows just taking the weekend off? I have been monitoring this battle for a while, and this is the last time I'll make a comment on this issue.
If this was a boxing match I'd have to give Barry 85% and Robert 15%. My decision is based on my opinions on charity, the fact that I know a very high percentage of Gringos couldn't care less about the Tico people, and the vocabulary used by both parties in this ongoing argument.
So, I'm out of here, I'm not coming back to this article, and that's all I have to say on this issue. Let the mud slinging continue .....

Ho hum. It is evident that Holloway is here for personal profit, the reason he moved here, and has provided jobs for people he needs to make money for him.Why else would he not wish to tell us what he does here? My guess is that he has a sportsbook,or the like, illegal in the states. What have i done in the states? Glad you asked,Robert. How's a middle school with 750 students, and community ctr.,now a model for the city, in what was formerly Boston's war zone? I came here because i no longer respected my former beloved country------not to make money. By the way, your rhetoric is quite boring.

Good evening everyone, this will be my last post for a few days, I'm heading out on a mission. I'd just like to say a few words regarding the Robert & Barry situation that has been going on here for a few days. It's a very simple matter of one man who strongly believes in promoting the idea of Gringo's helping Tico's living in poverty, and another man who may not believe in charity, but is willing to hire the Tico people who are eager to work. I don't think Barry is condemning Gringos who enjoy living in paradise, but totally refuse to contribute financially to the betterment of Costa Rican people.

I think he is simply exposing the fact that there are massive numbers of Tico's who are living in despair, and he's trying to make Gringos aware of the situation, in the strongest way he knows how, like posting his concerns in a site like this. We don't verbally abuse religious people who come to our doors promoting what they believe in, and I find it hard to criticize a man who is simply advertising what he believes in. Robert on the other hand believes in providing work instead of getting involved in charity, that's what he believes in, and that is fantastic. It sounds to me like both of you have concerns about the Tico people, it's just a simple matter of Robert not liking Barry's methods of promoting or suggesting that Gringos could do more for the Costa Rica people.

Robert... I've gone back and read the posts made by you and Barry, and I must say that you are being much more harsh with Barry than he has been with you. Although you may finding his promoting of charity to be irritating, I'm sure he appreciates the fact you provide employment for the Tico people. Got to go.... must pack for the trip.

Mr. Schwartz,
It is interesting how you back off of the statement "Gringos Go Home" when it is you that originally said this in your comments, at the end. The Tico Times only used your own conclusion, and it is deeply offensive and divisive to choose yourself as the almighty decision maker of what people should or should not do with their money, their time, or anything they choose that is theirs to do with. Who appointed you the almighty keeper of morality anyway? It is you that should crawl back under whatever rock you are sleeping under. Look at the writing by Mr. Newton below who manages to sustain a meager level of living and still contributes even a box of pencils....and there are many of us who do the same here in this country. Why don't you contribute to your own society from where ever you came from..there are plenty of starving children and homeless throughout North America that you could help, but maybe you are one of the malcontents who drifted into town to be a big fish in a little pond rather than taking care of the home team first. I have paid pay checks to thousands of people due to my efforts. I have created jobs for many thousands of people through the years dear old Chuckie wanna be...but I do not need to brag about who I am or what I have done here..it is pointless. Many lives are better because people earned money from the enterprises I started and/or was involved with through the years. And I continue to do so here in this country, by making it a better place to live and understand what is ahead in the future of business here. What I do and how I do it is not subject to discussion in this type of column. No, my friend, I do not go out to poor neighborhoods and hand out food, materials or the like...I create jobs for people who are willing to work to increase their livelihood and give more to their families. I am not a charity but an open door to opportunity if people choose to walk through those doors, like many other of the so called "malcontents" you judge..it is you that should go home and learn how to open your mind to other people who do not agree with your style of thinking and your style of charity that offers people a fish on their plate but never teaches them how to fish, thus making them even more dependent on the next handout! You and Chuck must be cousins! right?

By the way, through your own ignorance I am certain that you do not even know that the term "gringo" does not mean "People from the USA," but originated in Spain and was used against all foreigners. So in reality gringos here are all people who are not born in Costa Rica, including the proud Canadians, Europeans and all others without Costa Rican blood in their veins..so you have insulted an even wider audience than you even knew about. But who cares about the facts anyway?

Do Barry and Robert air out their differences in Tico Times every day? I'm just kidding, I realize that's why sites like this exist. As a man who sends $425. per month to my wife's family in the Philippines, and also pay for funerals of people I have never met, I know very well what it's like to bleed for the poor.

I realize that many people who decide to spend their golden years in Costa Rica are doing so on nothing more than their government pensions, and cannot afford to contribute financially to the betterment of the Tico people. I may have just described myself. In those cases I will just say "that every little bit helps", and even the smallest of contributions count.

A rural school in Costa Rica would greatly appreciate something as simple as a few boxes of pencils, or other stationary products which we can buy for reasonable prices back in North America. I just picked up soccer balls for $5. each. So little money that will bring so much joy to school kids in Costa Rica. I know it's just my way of thinking... but I feel that anyone who lives in Costa Rica should contribute in some way to helping the Tico children. It's important that they understand that Gringos are there to make their lives better, not to exploit them. We don’t need any more Ticos growing up resenting our presence in their country.

One last comment: Here in Canada the minimum wage is $10.25 per hour. To have someone do construction work around our home here would cost approximately $20. per hour. To hire a Tico and pay him $2. per hour is crime against humanity. I can't imagine a Tico labourer reaching out his hand for his days pay (after working eight hours in the hot sun), and me just giving him $16. That man has to purchase groceries in the same Super Marchado that we do, and pay the same prices. I feel that if Gringos are not willing to pay at least $5. per hour to a hard working Tico, "do the job yourself".

Apparently Mr. Holloway has a bit of a guilty conscience, and uses ridiculous name-calling to divert attention from the truth. Bigotry, say what? Prejudice, yes. I am prejudiced againt those who could help and don't. Simple as that. I revere those who are trying to make things better for the underprivileged and try to motivate others to do the same. I suggest you read John Newton's last post,as this is only one of the many things i am involved in. Now, what is it that YOU do, Mr. Holloway?

So you continue to attack those who disagree with your brand of bigotry! Regardless of the wonderful things you do or may do here that you think others are not doing...how many people are you paying pay checks to? How many people do you allow the opportunity to earn an honest living? How many taxes are you paying that goes to the government? I hold by what I said originally with your mis-directed comments..and those of us who do not agree with you, regardless of where we come from, are not stupid, are worthless, are not bad people simply because the likes of you passes your ignorant judgement on us. I am a citizen in this country and am deeply offended by someone who lives here who makes these mean and cruel comments on any group of people.....Get off of your high pedestal and listen to people who do not want to or cannot tolerate you style of ignorance. Your comments put you on the same level of that Chuckie (Baby) Lehmann that you criticize in your comments.

Prejudice saves a lot of time, because you can form an opinion without the facts.

"He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave" - Sir William Drummond

Barry; I went to your Costa Rica Humanitarian Foundation site. What you are doing in incredible.
Once I get settled in Costa Rica I'll be contacting businesses in Canada to see what assistance and material things I can have them contribute. If I have any luck I'd like to direct any found assistance to your foundation. Can you please send your contact information to me at retirecostarica@hotmail.com Thank you.

Hi Barry: I have never been a joiner of Humanitarian Foundations, my wife and I have operated our missions independently for decades. I don't know why we've chosen that route, it's just the way we've done things. Today I went out to Wal/Mart and purchased basketballs and volleyballs, and cases of pencils, which are all part of a package we are creating for a school in Costa Rica that we've never been to before. Wouldn't it be great if every tourist to Costa Rica made such a minor contribution to the children here? We will be living in Costa Rica on a small pension, so I'm not sure how much we can do for the community financially, but we'll do what we can afford to do.
Maybe I'm one of those people who has decided to live in Costa Rica "on a shoe string". LOL
I will look up your foundation on the web, all the best to you.

Hi John Newton: It appears that we are on the exact same page regarding this wonderful country. It's a pleasure to have you aboard. Seems that the intelligent people who read my article, have greatly outnumbered the less intelligent. You good folks have gotten my intent, whereas the few jerks ,who live here on a shoestring, make excuses for why they don't have the money nor the time to help, feel confronted. Hey, this one is funny. One of the two bigmouths even uses an alias here and on the Facebook baloney. This genius even called me a "Zionist" and a racist----how funny, but stupid. Hope to get together with you and fill you in with what my little foundation and the Costa Rica Humanitarian Foundation(look it up on web) have accomplished together here so far. Peace.