[meteorite-list] Fwd: Out in Left Field

[Darryl Pitt]

folks,

i hope you noticed the email below was posted to the list two days ago.



Begin forwarded message:

> From: Darryl Pitt <darryl at dof3.com>
> Date: July 7, 2007 11:39:48 AM EDT
> To: cynapse at charter.net
> Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Grandstanding?
>
>
>
>
> 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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>>
>
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