A message to newer members of the Cantina.

ferguson

ferguson

Joined
Feb 21, 2001
Messages
4,238
The old hands know all of this, but I thought the new guys would be interested. When Bill and Yangdu Martino started HI, the main reason was to help the poor kamis of Nepal. They are the lowest caste and have very few opportunities to better themselves. These days, the kamis of HI are better off than most in Nepal and even have access to some medical care when needed. Along with better living conditions Bill and Yangdu have helped the kamis children to get some education. One of their success stories is Rameshwor Sunar, the son of Sgt. Khadka. The sergeant is in the Nepali army and is a part time kami at BirGorka. Ram is the first of his family or village to finish school. For the past couple of years, he has been attending medical school in Riga, Latvia, with the intention to return to Nepal and take care of the poor people of the villages. The Martinos have covered most of Ram’s expenses which are considerable. When Bill was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I promised him that the members of the forum would do our best to continue his work, and keep Ram in school. We have done this through a series of raffles. We used to hold the raffles on the forum, but have had to stop, due to a conflict with forum rules. We now hold the raffles by email and will have one very soon. So if you want to help continue Bill and Yangdu’s work, and also have the possibility to acquire some very nice swords and khukuris, send me an email and I’ll put you on the email list. If you have any questions, please email me. We can’t have any discussions on the forum.

Thanks,
Steve
 
In most of Nepal and India, the word "Kami" is used as an insult.

I love it that we are helping our kamis achieve life styles that are far beyond anything they have ever known. They are good, solid, worthwhile people.

This is very good and a large part of why I buy HI products.

And I feel that their love is reflected in their work. This love is one of the reasons that HI products have a totally different feel from mass-produced pieces.

Thank you Steve for bringing this to our attention, and thank you also for your good work with the raffles.

For those of you who have not heard of Steve's raffles and work to help the kamis, I would strongly suggest that you email him for details.

I hope this post of mine does not cross any Cantina boundaries about advertising.
 
Thus has it been and probably always shall be that parasites live better lives and are more highly respected than workers.

I should explain that I was refering to Bill Marsh's post above about kami.
 
Great thread idea Steve:thumbup: I will email you asap to get in on that raffle.

Thanks,

Rob
 
Thanks again Steve for all your work towards helping Ram towards his goal.

The check's in the (e) mail.
 
Steve is a good guy, and he works some pretty sweet deals to benefit Ram.

I keep meaning to do a review of a 15" Karka special that he sold me on Ram's behalf (and that I beat the living hell out of) and I keep putting it off. Needless to say, it was a good khuk for a good cause and I'm more than happy with it, and I should have paid more for it.

With these raffles, a good portion of this stuff comes out of Steve's personal collection, some of which I can't believe that he's willing to part with. He's one of the good guys for sure. I've passed up some of the previous raffles but I'm going to come up with the cash for a ticket in this one.

If I don't win? Hell, Ram gets an extra ten bucks that I should have paid for that Karka in the first place. Either way, I win.
 
Steve I really like this cause. Can't imagine how isolated Ram must feel. The knives in this round are really outstanding too. I'll be sending a check soon.
 
Comments with drawn.

1. detracted from the excellent goals of the first post.

2. leaveing it here would end in a on-going arguement with a socialist. Its been decades since that has served a purpose.
 
Steve, I intended in no way to distract from your cause which I support wholeheartedly. I was responding to
Bill Marsh said:
In most of Nepal and India, the word "Kami" is used as an insult.

I love it that we are helping our kamis achieve life styles that are far beyond anything they have ever known. They are good, solid, worthwhile people.

This is very good and a large part of why I buy HI products.
Click to expand...

<deleted>
 
Steve?

It would be impossible to describe just how much good you do by action and by example. Your "ripples" will reach hundreds, perhaps thousands, of folks in other societies. They may never know you.

You helped them, selflessly.

I am grateful to know of you.
 
I never met Bill personally, but I did hear about him from Roadrunner, Spectre, and the others I met at the blade show in Atlanta this year. I can't let the dream of anyone that involved in bettering peoples lives die. I'm in for sure, i'll e-mail you asap.
 
Steve and his help to Ram embodies everything that is good and decent about this forum. I know Uncle Bill would write "Thanks for being one of the good guys Steve!" if he were here.

For what I spend on knives every year as a hobby, it would be hard not to spend a fraction of that to support Steve and help Ram become a doctor and save lives. Good karma all around, _and_ you get a chance to win more cool sharp things. :thumbup:

Thanks,

Norm
 
Can't wait- uh, for January.

And Ram wins, no matter what. :thumbup: Very cool, Steve.


Ad Astra
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top