[meteorite-list] Grandstanding?

[Darryl Pitt]

this is terribly offensive.

as i previously wrote, one does not have to be a benefactor to a  
charity to be critical of the manner in which the charity's mission  
is conducted.

darren has eloquently addressed the problems here.  and i still can't  
wrap my brain around why the media was invited to this internal fracas.






On Jul 7, 2007, at 9:56 AM, Darren Garrison wrote:

> On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 03:11:47 EDT, you wrote:
>
>
>> Darren!
>> Did you contribute anything?
>> No, you don't need to respond.
>>
>>
>
> And I wouldn't.  That would be hypocritical of me, one way or the  
> other.
>
>
>> .
>> The people of Greensburg need a lot more help, and using a large  
>> check is a
>> way to get some attention to this cause.
>> It worked!  You are all talking about it!
>>
>
> And you have the leadership of the town (and probably a part of the  
> citizenry)
> offended, and a negative newspaper article about the squabble going  
> out for all
> the world to see showing backbiting amongst various meteorite  
> collectors that is
> par for course for the list.  Now, no matter what, there is going  
> to be some
> bitterness remembered for an act of charity.  Not all publicity is  
> good
> publicity.
>
> I mentioned before (and some will choose to ignore that and only  
> pay attention
> to the critical part) that "All the time, effort, and donations put  
> into
> collecting that money was nobile and admirable."  And the thought  
> behind the
> large cardboard check are pure, too, I'm sure.  But how people  
> would react to it
> wasn't as well thought out, I would think (and sorry if that  
> offends those who
> worked hard on this).
>
> Thesis 1: Being able to give to charity makes you feel good.
>
> Thesis 2: Having been reduced to needing charity makes you feel bad.
>
> Thesis 3: A public presenting of a large check to a town official  
> implies a need
> for a public reaction-- applause, a heartfelt thank you,  
> acknowledgement of your
> being able to help and their needing it.
>
> I imagine that, being in a small, non-rich community in the middle  
> of nowhere in
> the middle of nowhere, the people of Haviland are pretty proud and  
> independant
> minded.  I imagine that they are humuliated to be reduced to having  
> to accept
> handouts from strangers just to keep rooves over their heads, food  
> in their
> stomachs, and clothes on their backs.  Helping them is good.   
> Helping them makes
> you feel good.  Having some sort of ceremonial closure to the long  
> hours and the
> money you spent collecting money makes you feel good.  But being  
> explicitly and
> publicly reminded that they NEED the charity of strangers does NOT  
> make the
> people being donated to feel good.  Sure, they are happy that  
> people do look out
> for each other, and that they are getting help.  But they feel  
> horrible that
> they NEED help.
>
> I just think that large cardboard checks are an item for HAPPY  
> occasion--
> lottery and contest winners, mostly.  A charitable donation to the  
> survivors of
> a destroyed is NOT a happy occasion.  It is a solemn, embarrassing,  
> and sad one
> for those who were actually affected by the tornado.  And those  
> always blessed
> enough to be the ones GIVING charity instead of having to ever be  
> the ones
> accepting charity Just Don't Get It.
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