Musings on Charity in the Wake of Disaster

[digitaldiscipline]

I think that making a donation to one of the myriad charities that exist to help victims of any dire circumstance (the tsunami, 9/11, hurricanes, what have you) is a personal decision, and everyone has their own constellation of factors that go into it (spiritual, moral, social, financial, etc). You'll notice I left state-mandated contributions, in the form of taxes, off that list.

Obviously, there are a lot of people who are willing and able to contribute to help deal with what happened. Not all who are willing are able; not all who are able are willing.

But I wonder if some of the donations are being done out of guilt or shame, rather than charity and goodwill. That doesn't lessen the effect of those dollars (or goods) for the recipients, but I certainly look at things differently when a plea is couched in the rhetoric of "You -should- do this" (whether or not a specific "... because _________" is appended, or simply implied).

I can't speak for anyone else, but I, personally, tend to buck the yoke of what someone else feels my social obligations and responsibilities ought to be. If I make the decision, for myself, to do something to help, I'll do it, and tell anyone who tries to stop me to go fuck themselves. But by the same token, if I'm disinclined to contribute, an ever-more-strident cacophony calling for my participation will only dissuade me further.

Bad things happen to people all the time; you can be a callous bastard and not care about any of them, or you can go insane trying to care about all of them. I don't understand justifications for what happens in between, but that doesn't mean that isn't where I fall.

Help if you wish.

[blame jabber's penchant for inciting discussion. :-)]

[ETA: Thanks to everyone for engaging in a really good, thoughtful discussion; my intent wasn't to single anyone out (honestly, I read everything y'all post, and know your intentions are for the best), but to present a different perspective and opinion on how some of the news and other expressions have made me think and feel.]

Comments

[anarcha.livejournal.com]

"Bad things happen to people all the time; you can be a callous bastard and not care about any of them, or you can go insane trying to care about all of them. I don't understand justifications for what happens in between, but that doesn't mean that isn't where I fall.

Help if you wish."

I actually really agree with this. That's why I tried for a tone of "this is my reasoning for giving," rather than "this is why you should donate" in my post [Perhaps I failed at this tone].

But yes, no one should feel pressured to donate. And the truth is, there's a million crises everyday, and I continue to buy myself DVDs and candy bars.

I did my own personal calculation, and decided to contribute. But my personal calculation is no more or less legitimate than anyone else's. And I do believe that my responsibility is first and foremost for my own happiness.

Also, on a cynical note, I wonder what the relationship is between the appearance of caucasian/western faces in the reports of these tragedies, and donations (both public and private) from western countries.

[hellsop.livejournal.com]

Also, on a cynical note, I wonder what the relationship is between the appearance of caucasian/western faces in the reports of these tragedies, and donations (both public and private) from western countries.

"Death toll estimated 100,000 -- Dozens of Americans missing"

[etcet.livejournal.com]

"100,000 Dead -- Dozens of Americans Missing (the point)"

[geekers.livejournal.com]

Haa! EXACTLY!

You'll note I don't even post on things such as celebrity deaths, natural disasters etc. I become disenchanted and uninterested in these things. So many people (LJers especially) are blind copy & pasters (both of ideas/mindsets if not actual posts). I think about things a bit, and most of the time I come to the conclusion that those thoughts don't warrent posting. If other people want to personally reflect on things, they will do so... others will blindly follow the thoughts of others as they wish. Quite rarely it is that people *really* wanting to embark in discussion wherein opinions are shared and minds are changed in regard to issues such as these... and doing so on such a grand scale as LJ only proliferate the opportunity for flames.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

You've gotten my point exactly. Everyone can look at their situation and decide what's right by them, not blindly give (or refrain).