beecrofter writes:

On May 9, 2:38*am, casey451 wrote:
Hi everybody. Sorry to drop in like a rock from outer space. I just
saw a documentary called "All In This Tea" on Sundance and feel
strongly about it. I understand if you get Sundance you can probably
find it on "In Demand" on your cable system.

I thought it was full of wonderful things but had to turn away
whenever David Lee Hoffman was in view, behaving like the ultimate
ugly American. He marches around China without a translator yelling at
people. I think the guy should be taken to task for, yes, elitism, and
for abusing people for whom courtesy is the first consideration in all
human transactions.

If you'd like me to expand on this, just say so. I have the feeling
many people here know about the film and about Hoffman, and perhaps
would like to set me straight. Go for it.

I thought he was acting like a merchant. Trying to get the best value
for his money.
Trading can be a bit blunt.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I do know the man. Blunt he is, and
he's undoubtedly a merchant, but he cares about a lot of things other
than just getting the most for his money. He's really passionate
about craft in tea growing and manufacturing, and sustainable
agriculture as well. He's kind of famous for trying to get Chinese
tea farmers to use earthworms instead of chemical fertilizers.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html