[meteorite-list] Charity raffle and cheque

[Alexander Seidel]

While this is happening far away from Europe, and I really don´t feel a need to interfere with a local affair in Kansas or anywhere out on the US plains, I still have a humble opinion on that:

This was a noble idea to help people, who suffered from a catastrophic event. My hat goes off to all those who took efforts to get things going with this charity raffle - their names are well known within our little meteorite community.

I don´t see why there is such a negative form of excitement from people who obviously have not been directly involved with all these efforts, and now try to undermine a good thought because of personal disagreements or jealousy towards others.

And by the way: didn´t we here in good ol´ Europe learn this word "SHOW" from you Americans in the end? What is wrong with presenting a big cheque on a stage at a festival, when it ultimately is for a good purpose? Every bank director or mayor in our little communities here in Germany would be glad to pose with such a cheque on a photo in the local press once it is for a good purpose, something worth to be sponsored et cetera. I see no problem with this perpective, as long as it is nothing but a little showy side-effect of publicising a good effort. And while I understand many Americans may have a different approach to religion than Europeans I think it is inappropriate to make even a religious argument with this, as someone just tried here on the list...

Best from rainy Berlin/Germany,
Alex