Is charity good or bad?
By thewriter
@thewriter (198)
May 8, 2008 10:41am CST
I just received an email from a high profile charity called OXFAM requesting donations for the Burma crises. But I ask you is charity patronising. And as such does it humiliate a 'victim'. Indeed does charity create a 'helpless victim' to be pittied? A pittied person is going to become a 'helples' person. Moreover, charity and the giving of money tends to only relieve us of our guilt and does not resolve problems doesn't it?
So is charity a good thing?
4 responses
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
15 May 08
Some times, fellow-human beeings get into situations where and when they have no means at all to take care of themselves. Totally and absolutely helpless. They have no more chance except to hope and depend on the help of their fellow-human beings. That's when charity has to come in to save their lives !
@thewriter (198)
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15 May 08
But don't the human beings who get themselves into situations, then they have every human right to be treat with dignity? That means redistributing the wealth via tax. Although I do say that even when redistributing wealth via tax is exacerbating dependency too. But my real point its that tax is associated witbh liberty and rights. Tax is more accountable to the people.
@bojangles88 (649)
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14 May 08
To be honest in certain circumstances people get past caring how they are seen by the outside world and would just like food to eat and a place to sleep. You can't judge charities because of these details. I know that they can be quite belittling - generalising about all African kids starving etc. but I'm sure that the ones who are really appreciate the help they get!
@thewriter (198)
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14 May 08
What an intelligent response to the issue raised Bojangless88. I think you are correct that at the very base of life then you become greatful. But I think with the collective will of the wealthier of us (that is us in the West) can bring about a situation where people don't have to be at the bottom of life, so that they won't have to be grateful, and as such 'patronised'. We have the knowledge to redress the balance, and restructure societies. (after all we can put a person on the moon) via collective lobbying.
@thuynhu (661)
• United States
8 May 08
Personally I think charity is a good thing. I mean there are people in the world that has lost everything in such as the ones who lose their homes in tornadoes or hurricanes and natural disasters. I mean what can they truly do about that. How can they start to get their homes back without a good helping hand from charity organizations. Even though I have heard of ones that are false and actually take peoples money, but in general I think charity is a good thing. Sometimes people should feel pitted they should feel that God wants to help them in their time of need.
@nishidh (105)
• India
12 May 08
ya charity is a really good thing. this is a way to help some people who really needed help. last year i deposited some fund in childeran dream charity and i feel good to help small childeran who really need money for their food , their cloths and all that stuff.
@thewriter (198)
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12 May 08
Surely in the 21syt Century , children should NOT rely on charity. All children have the right to be funded via taxes. That is justice.
