Please watch this video.
I do not advocate or support this specific organization nor do I expect you to. It is simply a video I watched which spurred the following thoughts.
http://www.artistsforpeaceandjustice.com/
Regardless of your opinion about policy, public figures and practical outcomes I ask what is wrong with working toward a world/community/humanity where there is peace, sustenance, love and joy. If there is something truly wrong with it please let me know. We are often told by institutions and philosophies to be charitable and to give to the poor and needy in order to bring about these types of changes in the world. The following are suggestions how one can be charitable using Paul’s words as a guide (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
To be charitable means to suffer with someone until the suffering is finished; to be kind to all; not to envying anything or anyone; not to boost about one’s self; to be humble and not think one person is better than another; to always respond and act in an appropriate manner; to not be selfish but give freely to others; to be calm; to have thoughts that are constructive not destructive and act accordingly; to seek out and embrace truth wherever it may be found; to be strong and support others; to believe in the good of humanity and life; to hope for a better outcome; to endure the disappointments and devastation of life; to never fail in your attempt for what is good.
If we are to be charitable then we would see and treat all people as ourselves. One might think that this seems impossible for me to do, but when there are many doing it the impossible becomes reality. I don’t think it is necessary for everyone to move to a place of poverty and devastation like Haiti because there are many opportunities for charitable acts within the community one now lives. Every one of us has specific talents that when used and combined with others can bring about great change. Please remember that people living in places like Haiti or who need help of any sort also have talents and abilities to contribute to the community as well. The idea that we are all beggars is appropriate to remember in that we all from time to time need assistance and charitable acts preformed in our behalf.
It is often heard that if you are feeling down then try doing something good for someone else. The reason for this is because when we are providing a charitable act to someone we are creating joy with that person. Joy can only be experienced with someone else. Joy is a direct consequence of charity. Sorrow, the counter to joy, is a consequence of no charity.
2 hours ago
9 comments:
Working toward peace is admirable, but don't force your personal version through government.
No government is ingenious enough to spend my money. No government is ingenious enough to spend my time. No government is ingenious enough to establish my value system.
Government imposed giving is not charity. It is coercion and leads to oppression.
A. Finch,
Just to clarify, it was not my intent to discuss governments or their policies. I didn't mention nor do I attempt to suppose that government should force charitable acts. That in itself is not charity so I agree with you. I would however point out your claim that no government is ingenious enough to spend your money, time or establish your value system is not charitable either. Thank you for your comment.
there's nothing wrong with the pursuit of peace on any scale. we, as humans, just get distracted in the pursuit. charity is a convoluted term in the world, because the term implies giving, but even in the video, you see how it can easily be a PR scheme.
nice thoughts.
My ultimate goal is not to meet other people's definition of charity nor to become a peacenik. My ultimate goals is to have sufficient freedom from oppression and coercion that I can pursue charitable actions on my own without the accolades of the popular and powerful and without emotionally charged videos or websites. To each his own.
A. Finch - I agree that one’s action to be charitable or not should indeed be a choice originating in one’s own conscious or soul and I find your goal to be of value.
A Finch & Beck,
I would ask, taking the basic and fundamental message from the video, isn’t the story riveting and emotional in and of itself? Take away the music, celebrities, and anything else that attempts to artificially create a sense of emotion and you are left with a story that, for me, rips at my heart and demands me to ask why. This discussion reminds me of the movie Crash. I went to see it with several friends who couldn’t say a single good thing about the movie when it was finished. I stopped to make sure that we had all just come from the same movie because I had enjoyed it very much. Their reasoning was that there was too much artificially created emotion (music, unbelievable story line) that caused the audience to feel what the director wanted them to feel. I don’t disagree that an overly exuberant amount of artificially creating emotional material does distract from the story and we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be taken for an emotional roller coaster ride by those who have ulterior motives but at the same time we shouldn’t let that stop us from feeling and understanding the message that is trying to be conveyed. In the case of Haiti, though my experience there has been limited and distant, it doesn’t take long in a poverty stricken area to notice and see devastation. Though the video may have been emotionally charged and be part of a PR scheme this shouldn’t and doesn’t negate the real issues which are poverty, inequality and sorrow.
I would like to mention that though there are a lot of problems in Haiti and I use words like “devastation” and ‘sorrow” to describe the current situation it should be noted that there is also a lot of good happening there and not just from the international community. Haitians are good people who have desires similar to anyone, they just lack a lot of the resources that many of us have.
Is it that you were previously naive and unaware of the poverty or that you suddenly find it unfair?
The video attempts to use guilt as the means of motivation. This is in extremely poor taste. It suggests that we are to blame for the poverty and that we should feel guilty for letting this happen in the world.
There is no doubt we should be generous and charitable with the resources we have been provided, but it is offensive and ridiculous to suggest that we are to blame for the poverty of Haiti.
There are many countries and situations that have equal claim to our personal attention and resources. To imply that one is more worthy than another or that I personally should feel greater responsibility for one than another is both simplistic and ludicrous.
I reiterate that freedom to choose our charitable course is far superior to any particular charitable cause and certainly superior to any government sponsored or mandated cause.
If you choose Haiti, that is fine. It appears there may be some need there. Hopefully you have researched the charity and know that it is legitimate. But, suggesting that others should feel guilty for choosing another course is not only pretentious (like the celebrities in the video), but also counterproductive.
It is an incredible and inspiring story. It really doesn't bother me that it started as a PR scheme, because I don't think that's the point of the video--it reflects on the good and the bad. I think it's important and responsible to raise awareness for the things that are important to you.
A. Finch,
As the real Atticus Finch said, “If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it” (To Kill a Mockingbird). Maybe you should walk in someone else’s skin for a while before you start to call them naïve, simplistic, ludicrous, pretentious or counterproductive. Someone who takes upon the name of Atticus Finch should be a better defender of social justice and human rights than you are appearing to be.
I don’t know what has caused your extreme and outlandish outburst of negativity toward my simple and plain discussion about being charitable but I hope you are somehow able to resolve it. Let me know if I can help in anyway because you are not the only one who suffers.
Guilt is only felt when there is reason for it. Guilt is internally imposed not externally. If you felt guilty when watching the video then maybe your heart and mind are trying to tell you to make a change thus enabling you to rid yourself of any guilt you might carry.
I do appreciate your comments because it made me realize that I needed to add a short notice to my posting making it clear that my purpose was not to advocate for the organization but rather to share a few thoughts about charity.
Hi Corbrett, I am not sure you will remember me but I am Ashley's mom. I was very interested in this video. My son just recently finished his eagle scout project that was to benefit Haiti. Where did you learn about this and do you have anymore information on it? Thanks.
Marcy
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