"It's pretty easy to judge people you don't know, it's much harder to get to know them.

Prejudging people publicly is easy these days. Read a news story on the Internet and feel free to judge away, safe from the comfort of an anonymous blog.

A common target for many readers these days are the so-called "rich Indians." The people that own casinos out in the backcountry. The people living large off casino riches.

But reality is, as always, much more complex than that.

Since tribes started building them, casinos have improved the lives of many. Many others have been left behind.

Of the 8 tribes in North San Diego County, only four have achieved some measure of success through gambling: Rincon, Pala, Pauma and San Pasqual. The rest live on reservations far too isolated to attract enough customers even if they built casinos."

Get the Story:
Edward Sifuentes: Overcoming boundaries (The North County Times 9/4)