Bill Gates not the only one to make an impression

Sir,

I refer to the Opinion column of June 29, Bill Gates: capitalist brainiac or plain old nerd.

Bill Gates has indeed improved the way we live and work using the software he created for PCs. He is also one of the richest men in the world and is also a philanthropist. However, by posing the question is there anyone else who has made such a big contribution to the history of humanity is to start a debate.

There are history books full of many men and women who were heroes and heroines and who made huge contributions to humanity. Their contributions may not have been material but they contributed to our spiritual wellbeing and to bringing peace to the world. To simply say that by becoming a billionaire, Bill Gates is the only person in history that has changed our lives so drastically is laughable. His is not infallible because he has billions in the bank!

After all, what is more valuable in our lives today our material possessions or our families and friends around us?

DV James