2008 Woodie Awards
Charity should be altruistic, not a means to another end
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Opinion
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While the move towards altruism that many celebrities seem to be making is certainly commendable, each time a charitable cause arises in the media, it seems to spark a bidding war.
Yes, the argument can be made that America's wealthy are at least doing something constructive to create publicity; however, there are countless social problems in every corner of the world. Why is it that only certain key events are rolling in financial aid and making all the headlines in the news?
When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the aid that poured into the region's reconstruction was undoubtedly welcome. However, the poverty situation that plagues American families every day in other parts of the country was ignored because it remains whispering in the background and is not dramatic or tragic enough to attract hoards of media. The AIDS epidemic in Africa, which seems to have attracted a lot of recent attention from those who like to be in the limelight, has caused a migration of volunteers who are joining in the struggle for awareness. However, it's not clear as to what exactly they are doing. Aren't we all aware that AIDS is a huge pressing issue of our time? And why is the fight against AIDS only popular in Africa? Sure, it's very prevalent in this impoverished region, but is it still not a heartbreaking struggle for those afflicted in any other of the seven continents? Actor George Clooney has given credit to the Actor's Academy during his acceptance speech for best supporting actor in "Syriana" for "talk[ing] about AIDS when it was just a whisper," but hasn't the whisper grown into something of a roar by now? It's time to take another step, Mr. Clooney. Let's go.
It's clearly not the alms themselves that are bothersome. It's the general attitude of self-importance that people seem to adopt when they endow charity to others. It seems that celebrities make very vain attempts to appear philanthropic and selfless, while the actual result is little more than another headline.
Perhaps it is best said that the issue with such campaigns is not the fact that they are helping; charity and alms should be appreciated in any amount. However, it is impossible not to realize that campaigns like The Gap's "inspi(red)" shirt give a false sense of accomplishment to consumers who believe their simple T-shirt purchases have done something great for humanity. The fraction of the cost of that T-shirt that has been donated is insignificant next to the billions of dollars we spend on consumer goods each year.
In the end, the point that really needs to be made is that if you want to help a cause, so be it. Help, give, do whatever you have to do to be a person for others. Donate to a cause, give your time to a worthy cause; these are the things that the Jesuits urge us to do in order to strive for the greater good. However, there is no need to flaunt this. That isn't what charity and mission work are about.
Yes, the argument can be made that America's wealthy are at least doing something constructive to create publicity; however, there are countless social problems in every corner of the world. Why is it that only certain key events are rolling in financial aid and making all the headlines in the news?
When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the aid that poured into the region's reconstruction was undoubtedly welcome. However, the poverty situation that plagues American families every day in other parts of the country was ignored because it remains whispering in the background and is not dramatic or tragic enough to attract hoards of media. The AIDS epidemic in Africa, which seems to have attracted a lot of recent attention from those who like to be in the limelight, has caused a migration of volunteers who are joining in the struggle for awareness. However, it's not clear as to what exactly they are doing. Aren't we all aware that AIDS is a huge pressing issue of our time? And why is the fight against AIDS only popular in Africa? Sure, it's very prevalent in this impoverished region, but is it still not a heartbreaking struggle for those afflicted in any other of the seven continents? Actor George Clooney has given credit to the Actor's Academy during his acceptance speech for best supporting actor in "Syriana" for "talk[ing] about AIDS when it was just a whisper," but hasn't the whisper grown into something of a roar by now? It's time to take another step, Mr. Clooney. Let's go.
It's clearly not the alms themselves that are bothersome. It's the general attitude of self-importance that people seem to adopt when they endow charity to others. It seems that celebrities make very vain attempts to appear philanthropic and selfless, while the actual result is little more than another headline.
Perhaps it is best said that the issue with such campaigns is not the fact that they are helping; charity and alms should be appreciated in any amount. However, it is impossible not to realize that campaigns like The Gap's "inspi(red)" shirt give a false sense of accomplishment to consumers who believe their simple T-shirt purchases have done something great for humanity. The fraction of the cost of that T-shirt that has been donated is insignificant next to the billions of dollars we spend on consumer goods each year.
In the end, the point that really needs to be made is that if you want to help a cause, so be it. Help, give, do whatever you have to do to be a person for others. Donate to a cause, give your time to a worthy cause; these are the things that the Jesuits urge us to do in order to strive for the greater good. However, there is no need to flaunt this. That isn't what charity and mission work are about.
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