Hiya! Well, today I was faced with yet another conundrum of life. I am forever on the lookout for projects that need help - whether I can help financially or not is a completely separate matter. If I can, I will, otherwise I will try to spread the word about said organization and hope that helps, or if they need a petition signed or whatever... As long as I agree with the fundamentals of the organization and what they are trying to improve about the world.
For instance, there is a rash of "Non-Profit Organizations" that claim to be striving for a cleaner future for our earth: a subject I am all about. However, upon looking a little deeper into the makeup of the organization I may find that this organization is funded largely by a pr firm for a fossil fuel company and that their techniques in making our earth 'greener' are merely an extension of current values continued not to make our world a better place but to make it APPEAR as though such measures are being met and no further research is necessary. For that kind of group, I make NO moves. I do not sign their petitions and I do not further their cause financially or by word of mouth. I'm most certain they've got enough funding funneled in from larger sources, they don't need my help and besides, I hardly think blinders are an appropriate solution to any problem.
I recently saw a petition posed by Monsanto (who started out as the manufacturer of agent orange, let us not forget that) to ask our government to propose implementing their 'growing methods' in third world countries. The problem here is that Monsanto claims patents on any seed they sell, and anyone agreeing to buy/sow their seed agrees they will always only buy seed from them and never save seed. But saving seed is one of the best ways farmers have of ensuring crop integrity for following years and is also one way they are able to raise their profitability - a subject I think we all know they need every little bit of help in. The other problem with Monsanto's patent on seeds is that when they find "their product" in someone else's fields (someone who did not buy seed from them therefore did not sign an agreement to uphold the integrity of their patent) they sue, and subsequently bankrupt or own the rights to the farmer's crop regardless of their will. What is one of the most basic things we learn about plants? They cross polinate in order to grow flowers or crop. So, you see, it is impossible to keep Monsanto out if your neighbor agrees to grow their crop. They infest and contaminate in order to control, and it is UGLY. So, no, I will not help them 'help' people. I don't believe they intend to 'help' anyone. I believe they are a corporation out for profits and nothing else.
BOOM!
Anyway, these are just examples, but the instance I ran into earlier today was more bothersome to me on a personal level. One of the most important values I hold is the value on human rights. Not human rights based on culture, color, gender or otherwise specified degrees of "rightness". We are all human and we all deserve the right to food, water, life, and "the pursuit of happiness".
So when I see an organization touting "If you hate poverty, come help US out!" I'm all over it. Except when I go to this website (or whatever) and see that they are a religious organization.... This is where I'm at a loss... I understand Christianity (having been raised Southern Baptist) to be a faith of love and understanding, but my observations of Christian groups (having been raised Southern Baptist) has shown me quite a different picture. I don't propose that ALL Christians or ALL Christian groups are conditional with their love and compassion, but I do propose that in my experience, most are. So when I see a Christian (Catholic) group proposing to save American children from the devastating effects of poverty: I stop short. I am reluctant. I don't know if I can agree. Why? Because I don't know if they will only help the impoverished kids who say "I love Jesus" or who agree to read their Bible or who are not gay or who do not contend that they are sorry for stealing to feed themselves or their family. Stealing is wrong, sure, but I don't think anyone who does it out of desperation should be ostracized for it, but instead they should be shown ways to help themselves from that point on.
Of course, these are my values and I don't intend to impose them on anyone else. I do, however wonder if I'm alone in this course of thought. I mean, kids is people too, right? Shouldn't children be treated with respect regardless of their social standing or financial standing?
Anyway
Now
For
The
Link of the Day: I don't think I know everything and I certainly do not mean to imply that the links I present do. These links are just meant to provide a little intellectual enlightenment - and maybe even a little spiritual enlightenment: your choice!
http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/how-our-cell-phones-link-us-congo-sexual-violence-epidemic
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