Charity must begin at home.
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
November 23, 2009 2:10pm CST
Every year about this time, we get these tv ads about the poor dark children on tv, the radio, and also in the magazines and notices they give to our church and I am sure you get it in your church too. We have people here who sponsor a poor child and yet we seldom get notices to sponsor a child in our own country.
(I am sure there are a lot of poor kids on the Indian Reservations and not only that, we do have an organization called Second Harvest here in North America that does a good job for the poor who live in the Appalachian Mountains and other deprived parts of North America.
Yet according to Obama and the other cronies of the Copenhagen deal they are trying to sign, we in North America are so wealthy and the poor here are not really poor and unworthy of any help. He and his minions wants Americans to get a cap and trade tax, etc. so that money will flow out not voluntarily but by force to the so called poorer parts of the world, making them rich at our expense and the expense of the poor here in America and Canada we could support.
I have decided to help the poor here in North America first since as a result of that Copenhagen agreement that Obama wants, there will be more of them.
Therefore no more money for overseas. Help those in need here. Comments anyone?
Does charity begin at home or not?
1 person likes this
17 responses
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
23 Nov 09
hi suspenseful yes I think you are so right. we have poor p eople right here in the US which is why if I have any money at all it will not go overseas to poor kids but to the poor kids in the
US. but sadly I have very little money once the rent and board are paid here and my phone and internet for anything.But anyone who has money to donate here in the uS should be doing it here in our own country. help the homeless and jobless here and do it today.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Nov 09
I do not have that much, but at least in our church, they first give to the poor in the congregation first and there is a food mission here in our city that much of the money goes to. The poor here are just as deserving and it does get very cold here in the winter.
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
24 Nov 09
God Bless America, we should help our homeless children first as the priority, and we should give them a warmth home to sleep on. Help our domestic needs first, then we should consider the others in overseas.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Nov 09
You are so right. I am a Canadian and we have just as much poor here. So I feel no matter whereabouts in North America you live, you should first help your neighbor. Just because they do not have exotic faces or wear lots of beads and necklaces does not mean that they do not suffer hunger and deprivation. When I was young and lived in Vancouver,B.C. we would see the poor men sleeping on benches downtown, the World War Vets who had been damaged by mustard gas and who could not find a job because of shell shock. Then later there were the Indians from the reservastions and their culture shock, the ones that had been laid off of so called white families, those who had left violent homes, etc.
There are so many poor in our own backyard, I see the news from the States and so many unemployed, yet Obama wants to give your money to overseas and make the people in the States even more destitute. 
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Nov 09
I was watching Rachel Ray tonight, and she and her crew were helping a town in Anerica that had gone through hard times since all the major businesses had left. That shows that those who are going through hard times do not all live overseas. Just because they do not have exotic faces does not mean that they are well off.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Nov 09
We have to be careful. Some of the organizations take too much money off the top (of course, you have to pay for the envelopes and stamps and printing) and sometimes when the goods get overseas, the corrupt officials take most of the good stuff and leave the dregs to the poor. I suspect that is what happens a lot so I believe they should have someone go over and make sure this does not happen.
@eshaan (6188)
• India
25 Nov 09
I agree with you..in India there are so many, that we don't have to look around when thinking of charity..and I think that more than us...those who gave birth to those children are responsible for it, if they couldnt carry that responsibility, they had no right to give birth to them...though children are innocent and there's no fault of them for their bad conditions..
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Nov 09
I do think that we have our responsibility in our own countries. I am sure that you see so many Indians going off to America, Europe, and Australia with lots of money, money that could be used to help those there. Just as here, we have Canadians who go on cruises, or move to either Australia or the United States and do not help the poor here. It does not take much. As for those women who give birth to too many children, we should make sure that their husbands can get the proper education so they can support their large families.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
27 Nov 09
As you can see, I've fallen WAY behind in mylotting!
This is a very good subject for discussion. I am sorry for those poor people throughout the world but I think that we need to take care of our own people. If we could take care of the starving children here, they can grow up to be independent and help others.
We have children here that are homeless, who have abusive parents, who don't have enough to eat. I, too, decided to keep my giving within my own country. I give to the Salvation Army, who does a very good job helping people get employment, passing out food to those who need it and clothing, too. I recently decided I'd start giving to a faith-based Appalachian charity with a very good record of efficiency. And I try to help the military, too, through Paralyzed Veterans of America.
I wish I could help those poor children overseas but they are usually starving because of their governments refusing to help and any aid going over there is, many times, confiscate by the rulers. People starving in Mogadishu, for instance, starve because their government steals shipments of food meant for those that nee it.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 Nov 09
I often wonder why in America there are not as much poor then in the third world and I feel it is because of what you say, corruption and those on top taking the food and money meant for the poor. And yet those rich in America are accused of doing the same.
Well what about Bill Gates and the others who give to charity? The rich in America help those who are less fortunate, but in the third world it is not so. That means that people over here, some who are not that well off, are being made obligated to help those in other countries whose governments do not help them.
I do not have that much to give, and I give through our church and they do a good job of making sure the money goes where it is needed, and not just to overseas.
@jellymonty (2352)
•
23 Nov 09
You right there, charity does begin at home. I grew up in Africa where we all think that America has no poverty. To a certain extend I still find it hard to believe that somebody who calls America home is poor. I suppose your poverty is completely different to our poverty but nevertheless its always best to clean up your backyard before offering to clean somebody else's.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Nov 09
In much of America and Canada, we do not have the all around warm weather. It gets very cold here in Winter, especially in the north, and just because they have jackets and slacks on plus boots and mittens does not mean they are well fed. When it is hot most of the time, girls can wear light summer dresses or tops and shorts, and boys and men wear shorts so they can see the extended bellies and the ribs, but here the jackets and slacks hide the distortions, and the scarves cover the mouths ruined by teeth that fell out because of malnutrition.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
24 Nov 09
I think that we should be helping our own, before some other country. It may be cruel, but with the economy the way it is, and how far this country is in debt, I don't think we should have to help another.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Nov 09
If one does not have that much money, one should help the poor here, rather then take money that could feed people in soup kitchens here and give it to someone in another country. And if you seem to be at odds, put the money in collection plate at church. They will distribute the money wisely.
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
24 Nov 09
Other than contributing to the United Way, which supports local charities, I have always confined myself to contributing to charities through my church. That may mean people in the United States or in Africa, South America, etc. That means caring for children of every color from the palest of white with blond hair and blue eyes to children of ebony skin and dark eyes. Souls are souls. I trust my church to administer it fairly and honestly. Better than charities run by strangers or governments. I agree that Second Harvest is a good one, though.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Nov 09
I support through my church as well and the church helps everyone in need. It does not decide that someone who is Chinese, for instance, is more worthy of support then someone who is Irish. We support those in our congregation who are poor, those in the neighborhood who need our help, those in our city, country, and those in the Mission fields. That means anyone. It does not matter where they are. There is no the people in Africa are more worthy because they have dark skin or that country needs more, etc. The poor are with us always. But the Copenhagen accord will take money from the poor in America and give it to others because Obama thinks America should be punished for its prosperity.
Charities should not be forced as God loveth a chearful giver.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
24 Nov 09
Yes charity begins at home. We sponsor a child in San Salvador through World Missions, it wasn't something we were forced into, we prayed about it and asked our kids about it. We are teaching them to give towards missions, not "charity". Dorkbama acts like we are the richies and everybody else is poor yet he bags on the USA for our vast wealth. He wants to be seen as some kind of enabler instead of a giver. Yes we have poor here but we also have opportunities like no other country, I'm not putting down the poor I'm trying to focus on the fact that we have it good here but so many people choose to live off the government instead of their own power.
1 person likes this
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
23 Nov 09
I agree with you. There are a lot more little hungry kids right here in the US than we can feed now. The few of us that still have a heart can't do it all. I work a little different in this than a lot of others. I don't believe in giving money to a church or any of the other scams that are supposed to be helping the needy. A couple of months ago I came into a large amount of money. At this point I have given about 25% of it to people that needed it. However I gave it directly to the people so no one made a big profit off it. Instead it went for food or rent that was over due or car payments so some man that still has a job could get to work and back. It doesn't take a large amount of money to do a lot of good if you put it in the right place. A couple of months rent in advance and money for school cloth for the kids can give a single mother a little breathing room and a few extra dollars for food for the kids. In 6 months I will probably be broke again but I will know the money I gave to others has helped them. I wouldn't know of a better way to live what little life I have left than that. We don't need to ship our money to other countries where a large part of it will be raked off the top. There are too many right here that need help.
Art
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Nov 09
We give offerings at our church and that first goes to the poor in our congregation. Our deacons have so many checks and balances that none of the money is skimmed off the top. If one of them uses it for a new tv set or a new car, everyone knows about it. After the poor in the congregation are helped, it goes to a downtown mission, and then to various parts of the country where they need help. After that, it will go overseas. I do not believe in rewarding bad behavior though. If that single mother had lost her husband or he was a wife beater and she had to leave him, that would be different. So we have to be careful. There are many widows who are in need in North America.
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
24 Nov 09
I would definitely agree with your statement here, because we have so many poor people in the states too, who needs our extended hands to give them holiday gifts, and they are also waiting for a home to live. Just imagine on the cold winter time, they have nothing to cling on, and their shivering bodies. We should help them as our charity gift at home.
@elmare0699 (163)
• South Africa
24 Nov 09
I am a South African and agree that charity should start at home. When it comes to poverty, it doesn't matter where you stay, if you are hungry your'e hungry. We are also constantly requested to give to charity not just nationally but internationally as well. I also get the feeling that the leaders of the leading countries expect South Africa to play a big role in helping the poorer african countries. Quite frankly we are being overrun by refugees that are causing a lot of problems in our county, like xenophobia. The truth is that we could do with help in this regard ourselves, but charity should not be forced as it is by it's nature a voluntary act.
Do you know how many amarican companies have businesses in africa? It is claimed that much of african wealth is taken by these companies. There is no doubt that a lot of the natural habitat are being destroyed by these companies and this aggravates poverty in many african countries. Perhaps it is with this in mind that your president wishes to assist these poor countries and for this I applaud him.
I believe that poverty is world wide and perhaps we should all pitch in where ever we can irrespective of who the recipient is.
God does not discriminate, neither should we, so if you have the means to give to both, do so.
@madie8008 (209)
• Malaysia
24 Nov 09
If you see someone in need in front of your eyes, it is better to give them some good shelter first before others. However, for Americans , I am sure that Obama and all his cronies have their own planning to help the needs of North America every year in their budget. Maybe the government have been very proactive solving the education issue and all that will not only help them for several days but make fortune for the rest of their life.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Nov 09
Most everytime we go shopping, there are those men or women with signs that say "I need a job," or "I need money," but not everyone of us has the insight to see if that person went to all the businesses, and got a no, or whether that person did not try. As for Obama, if he said "I personally would love to help those people over in Tanganyika or whatever,"and he decides to send $100,000 a year to a village in Africa or if he says "I would like to personally help build a school in Kenya,"{ or if he and his cronies decided to pool some of their money to help the poor in India, etc. that would be all right. The same with helping the poor in North America, they can tell Americans that "people in such a such a State are dying,"etc. and I am sure that Americans would open their pocket books.
What I am against is that without telling Americans, Obama decides that American money should flow to other countries not because these countries might need help, but because Americans are too rich.
@icekeeper21 (14)
• Philippines
24 Nov 09
charity begins at home, i do agree with it coz if this principle han been teaching from homes, societies, countries and other agencies i think we will not have a poor country, we will not have war and we will envy as so many things that will not happen if this is been teach also when \we say CHARITY its is the pure love of Christ and for sure we will come to realize that how the Lord love us so much despite of all the things that we've done to him likewise to others. if we begin charity at home, there will be no war, no envy, no killings, no bombings, no murderers, robbers, stealing and others coz what they know all about it charity to love others ans love himself....
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
28 Nov 09
I find that it is hard that some people think that helping others overseas is more important then helping those near them and make excuses such as people of their ethnic group or race were responsible for so many ills and wrong doings. And they go and list them and then say how much they have done for charity. Look I have no idea how much I put in the collection plate, or when I helped so and so or how much I donated to, etc. To me it does not matter and when you sort of resent those near you because of past ills and past crimes someone of their race or ethnic group did to some poor minority, I feel that they are not cheerful givers but do it with resentment.
As for wanting peace, only Christ can stop wars, and that is by making us like HIM. So until HE comes again, we will have wars, and rumors of wars, famines, cruelty, etc. Also we have to be careful not to compromise in order to make peace. Only God can bring peace. Man cannot.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
23 Nov 09
Absolutely. Most of my giving is done here in the US - well, all of it now. I used to give to World Vision, but had to quit when finances got tight and never did start it up again. There are many right here in my own town who need help. It wouldn't make sense to send money somewhere else.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Nov 09
My mother-in-law gave to all the charities abroad because they made her feel guilty and this was before you know who. I did give to a couple just once and the next year got all these envelopes with those sad little faces on them. They go right in the waste basket. I will give to those in need here at home. I do not have that large income as we are both retired. And besides if you give locally like offerings at church, they are helped all the time, not just once a year.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Nov 09
The same here. With the economy the way it is, the poor in America are increasing and just because they do not wear ragged shorts for men or have pot bellies and are dark, does not mean they can feed their children. I once saw a show by Second Harvest and any fool could see that the kids were starving, the mothers had lost most of their teeth and even the children, their faces were thin and haggard and yet America is supposed to be a wealthy country.
@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
23 Nov 09
I believe the same way you do, and with the way the economy is today their are more children here that are going to go with out this year. Their are too many peole here in the states that are hurting to try and help anyone else. We need to get back on our own feet right now so we can help others later,
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Nov 09
I would hate to see more hungry children in Canada and the States (and I am not just talking about the Indian Reservations) because the demi god decides that Americans should be forced to help those overseas. Help the poor first at home. If some can afford to help those overseas, all right, but not at the expense of those here in North America.
