A Japanese collegue of mine called me the other day to fill me in on some information that he felt enlightened with having gone on a very short vacation to South Africa. I could not believe the things that were coming out of his mouth. These are direct quotes.

1. "South Africa is a black people's nation."

2. "There are two kinds of people in South Africa - the rich and the poor."

3. "It is mostly the rich people who are white and the black people who are poor."

Can you believe this? Is Japan really this sheltered?