I guess I am mean spirited. I think it vital to teach our children compassion and moral responsiblity. But in this time of war our children should be donating money to the victim’s familes – or even to anti-discrimination causes here.
I feel badly for Afgan refugees and the UN and other countries should do all they can for them. (the ten million given back to the Saudi prince for being critical of US policy could go to the refugees.)
But I think it ill timed to urge these donations now.
Seriously, do you REALLY think that the victims’ families need money more than Afghan children?
“Hi, my brother just died. I have a good job, though, and I need no money.”*
“Hi, I’m dying of starvation. I have no money. I have to work 10 hours a day. Did I mention I have no money?”
:rolleyes:
Why is it that in this time of war we should turn everything upside down? I don’t believe it’s that easy - some people in congress sign a paper and everything we used to know about ethics is reverted.
Plus, this will be good against the “Great Satan” image. Giving money to people in USA who don’t need it, just for comfort is… pointless. And just enhances the image the rest of the world has of the USA as self-centered.
*I’m not trying to belittle the families who were put through this. Having family members killed is something noone should have to go through. I’m just saying that there are people who need it more.
I agree with the pundits that this is a necessary move to demonstrate to the Arab world that this is not a war against Islam or against the people of Afghanistan. Of course, proposing this in a televised speech won’t really help in Afghanistan since television is illegal … which is interesting, because if Bin Laden is making videos to curse his and maybe give secret decoder instructions to his terrorist cells, wouldn’t they have to watch TV to see it?
Well, I don’t think my position is mean-spirited, but it is pragmatic. I only have so much money to give, and, in light of this tragedy, I’m going to give it to people who need it in this country.
Another point, How do you know these kids are going to get the money? The Taliban has burned the food we dropped there haven’t they? What a waste a money. Until we kill every taliban whaco and the new govt is in place, the goodwill gesters should be saved and spent at home.
Maybe it’s not the money. Maybe the issue concerns kids who want to feel like they are doing something. Adults are not the only ones who may feel helpless. Back in the 1940’s there was an author of children’s books, Munro Leaf, who wrote a small book, “My Book to Help America.” It encouraged children to save to buy a war bond. I personally don’t trust cash going through mails. But that’s another issue. FWIW
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Dryga_Yes *
**Yes, it is.
Seriously, do you REALLY think that the victims’ families need money more than Afghan children?
“Hi, my brother just died. I have a good job, though, and I need no money.”*
“Hi, I’m dying of starvation. I have no money. I have to work 10 hours a day. Did I mention I have no money?”**
Do you know how many jobs were lost as a result of this tragedy? They may not be starving, but a good amount of these people had low-level, low-paying jobs. Now they are out of work.
Hey, this plumb didn’t occur to me until right now. My son is all good to go to donate his allowance (and for what it’s worth I think it was an excellent idea for all the reasons outlined in this thread by gobear), but when I address an envelope to the Afghan Children’s Fund it’ll be pretty clear that there’s money in it, possibly cash. What’s to keep unscrupulous postal workers from nabbing a few for lunch?
Considering how much money is going to New York and DC (yours truly, a very poor college student, made a donation of my last $75 in savings. My friend’s dad donated $5000. I work at IKEA - employees in the Baltimore store donated $3000 and the store matched it), I think the situation there will be under control. The people who lost family members and the firefighters who died are being rightfully cast as martyrs, heros. The US is not going to let their heros starve.
But the Taliban has, is, and will continue to let their children starve.
It seems kind of selfish (and in key with the Great Satan stereotype) to refuse this sort of aid. It’s minimal, really, when you think about the mass starvation and destitution of Afghanistan children, who had nothing to do with this attack. I think a dollar from each kid is pretty fair.
I also selfishly hope that this sort of generosity isn’t a one-time thing. Maybe the kids donating a dollar will grow into adults who will donate much more, and not just in times of crises.
**Whoever buys, receives, or conceals, or unlawfully has in possession, any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail, or any article or thing contained therein, which has been so stolen, taken, embezzled, or abstracted, as herein described, knowing the same to have been stolen, taken, embezzled, or abstracted –
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.**
Just a side note, anyone who feels uncomfortable sending cash through the mail can always send a postal money order. It only costs 25 cents. (More practical on a donation larger than $1, but it is an option).
I think it is also worth mentioning that, even if we had a ba-zillion dollars’ worth of aid for Afghanis of all ages, it is extremely problematic how to get it to them, at least so long as the Taliban is in control.
First they would not allow aid to come into Afghanistan. Then they said it could come in, but the convoys would be charged an expensive “road tax” for “using” the Afghanis’ roads (never mind that the relief is for the Afghani people). Then they stole much of the aid themselves, selling it on the black market to raise money. Then they began beating the aid workers, on the theory that any Westerner – indeed, any Afghani working for a Western aid agency – must be a tool of the U.S.
Dropping it from the air is inefficient and dangerous, especially since much of it might land in minefields, Afghanistan having one of the most extensive collections of unexploded land mines in the world.
Good intentions are admirable, but I question whether there is any practical way to meet the those intentions, at least for now.
My dad worked also at a main Post office for MANY years. He worried about theft, and coached me to “camoflage” any envelopes I sent in the mail so they didn’t “look” like they might have money in them. (Don’t just stick money in there, wrap it in paper so that someone can’t see the money if they hold the envelope up to the light. Don’t send money in “birthday card” type envelopes, etc.) So yeah, at least in the past, it did happen. Probably not a lot, but it did happen. (My dad was a cautious soul.)
I still sometimes sent money through the mail, and as far as I know, none of it was stolen. I think it’s wise to use some of the “camoflage” techniques my dad outlined to me when sending larger amounts of money. It can’t hurt, and may make a bit of a difference in avoiding potential theft.
But Rysdad brings up some good points. Also, my dad retired some years ago, so hopefully things are more strict now - making theft less easy. And - who is going to risk getting arrested over a BUCK? Which is what this is about. The odds are that most envelopes will have only a buck, so why bother? If a postal worker is inclined to steal money from mail, they’ll be looking for envelopes that contain more money than that.
My feelings exactly. It’s a buck. It almost certainly will get there, but if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. It’s still worth sending the money anyway.
I understand your “ABC” logic and it makes sense. However, I guess my point is ** not ** about “worthy and less worthy” but rather that we should send our dollars to the various causes in the USA.
Relief efforts for Afgan refugees should be a UN matter for the time being.
I do agree that Bush has been doing a great job (and I was the type who felt ill watching him be sworn in – what a difference a tragedy makes)
