Black or White

What you dont have is what you are always after and till you realise all that you already have is enough, there is no peace of mind. Well, i know i have a written an extremely confusing statement though i honestly believe ;) that it conveys something profound.
I am rather pondering over one such thought - in India, it is considered better if you are fair in complexion. Now what is perplexing is that in the west the caucasians would rather like to tan their skin!!
So i thought about a lot of reasons as to why this contradiction across cultures with regards to you skin complexion exists and i feel this one is the most likely reason. Being fair complexioned in a country where there is lots of sun means that you are well off and dont necessarily have to toil hard in the sun - a sure sign of prosperity. Whereas in the west, anybody who is tanned (atleast in the past when there were no sun studios) has probably been on a vacation to an exotic beach destination - which also is a sure sign of prosperity!! And my conclusion is that able to convey this message gives a elevated status in the society.