World Vision Lies
June 29th 2007 13:30
It disgusts me the way something revolving around charity has been commercialized to the point you have to throw some big concert to get any attention for whatever cause. Though in a way, I'm glad it's like that, you gotta spend money to make money, and not money to use to help the starving children in Sudan either.
Come on people, you see them on TV, every so often they have western names like 'Jackson' or 'Michael', don't forget the kids speak a sort of broken english. Right, born into poverty in the middle of no where, no previous education and suddenly you learn english. How much do teachers cost up there? Can we have them imported down here? Don't give me the 'volunteers' crap either, I'm sorry but plane tickets aren't free, nor is feeding and sheltering them over an extended period of time as they teach english to people whose language they can't even speak.
Lets look at the 'sponsor a child' farce. It seems like people will believe their 'dollar a day' can buy the world. Now, theres no doubt a dollar a day can be used to really help one person or even a community in a remote part of the world. Having said that I draw the line at it somehow managing to build a school AND a clinic, providing education on HIV/AIDS as well as providing education on farming. I'm sorry, are we in the one dollars or in the one thousand dollars here?.
Now, call me crazy, but a dollar a day will not build a surgeory and hire a god damn nurse to teach about HIV/AIDS a hundred dollars a day might, and of course if were talking in the hundreds Mr and Mrs Smith are probably extremely wealthy.
Come on people, you see them on TV, every so often they have western names like 'Jackson' or 'Michael', don't forget the kids speak a sort of broken english. Right, born into poverty in the middle of no where, no previous education and suddenly you learn english. How much do teachers cost up there? Can we have them imported down here? Don't give me the 'volunteers' crap either, I'm sorry but plane tickets aren't free, nor is feeding and sheltering them over an extended period of time as they teach english to people whose language they can't even speak.
Lets look at the 'sponsor a child' farce. It seems like people will believe their 'dollar a day' can buy the world. Now, theres no doubt a dollar a day can be used to really help one person or even a community in a remote part of the world. Having said that I draw the line at it somehow managing to build a school AND a clinic, providing education on HIV/AIDS as well as providing education on farming. I'm sorry, are we in the one dollars or in the one thousand dollars here?.
Now, call me crazy, but a dollar a day will not build a surgeory and hire a god damn nurse to teach about HIV/AIDS a hundred dollars a day might, and of course if were talking in the hundreds Mr and Mrs Smith are probably extremely wealthy.
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Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
Coffee Quip
I hafta agree with you.
Raven
Comment by Anonymous
It sucks that a chunk of it will go to advertising and promoting. But those dumb big bashes revenue a lot too most of which gets to the end. A couple bands play for free (tax deduction), vendor takes no proceeds (tax deduction) basically there is gov facilitated incentive to give or at least that's how it works here. So every visitor gives $$-$$$$ to see some show. And only the NPO takes it and even more gets to the end. Oh yeah, that's why these things are done once a year.
Anyhow, I often despise it when piety, charity and so many altruistic things are glamorized with so much glitter and gloss. But the truth is there are much worse things being given so much fanfare that really doesn't matter how this is being painted, an NPO with a proven track record to deliver to the end is a good thing to support.
If you don't like the direction of the NPO then get involved. I have commented in very polite official terms and seen changes. Truth be told, more often I was enlightened as to why my suggestions were wrong, which is no less satisfying because knowing provides a clearer picture. As someone who has volunteered before and may again (must find free time first), I would definitely suggest that you volunteer. If you have the time it's a very satisfying use of your time. Come to understand the landscape and total vision of the organization then share insights and people will listen.
Comment by Anonymous