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sobriqueCharities. Marvelous organisations, populated by altruists, funded by generous souls, and exists to provide assistance and support to all and sundry. And the worst possible thing in so many circumstances.
You see, we can see all those terrible things happen, and assuage some guilt by throwing a fiver at Amnesty, at Oxfam, at the Red Cross, and ... well, "we did our bit".
The problem is, that doesn't actually change anything. Oh, there are genuine disasters for which relief funds are exactly the right solution to the problem. But there's many many more 'day to day' disasters, from poverty to abuse. From civil revolts to wars. And for those, the charity is part of the problem. They're a 'transferral of responsibililty' that there's nothing we can do, but if we give some money to the charity in question, it'll all be ok.
And it might be, for today. But tomorrow, the same problem will occur, because nothing has really changed.
The problem is, that changing the world is hard. To make it a genuinely better place you have to change attitudes and minds.
Slavery was abolished, and the world was a better place as a result. But there was no 'simple transition' where suddenly everyone woke up and thought "Well, I know we've been getting rich flogging slaves and making them work our plantations, but that's really not such a good idea, is it?". It was a slow process.
A process where 'decent people' first had to come to terms with the fact that the slaves, despite their funny coloured skin, and their funny speaking and voices were actually human too. And not just a lower 'grade' of human, but fundamentally no different. Deserving of exactly the same status, rights and privileges as their own child.
I rather think that the movement against slavery, against discrimination that changed the world was actually because 'conditions' were so terrible. It was quite possible, that once you got past the barrier of 'different colour doesn't mean they're not a person too' the 'intolerable horror' was easy to come to terms with.
It's less easy when we have charities to act as the cotton wool to pad out our guilt. When we send 'aid' and pretend that it actually helps any more than a short term measure.
Where we have support networks to which we can hand off 'the situation' and abandon those in need because 'we are too busy'.
And yet I do not mean to devalue the effort of those who work for a charity. There are problems. And they _do_ help the individuals concerned.
I think perhaps we need to look at it from the other angle. The problems with the world are not ones to be handed off to 'charitable organisations'. Amnesty International has more information and understanding of the problems they deal with than the average person on the street. But the _problems_ they deal with are not ones that should be transferred away to be handled by 'someone else'. They are problems with thoughts and attitudes, that we each must confront.
We do not need to stand alone against injustice in the world. But neither can we tell ourselves that "it's not our problem", because otherwise the world moves further towards a place we do not wish it to be.
You see, we can see all those terrible things happen, and assuage some guilt by throwing a fiver at Amnesty, at Oxfam, at the Red Cross, and ... well, "we did our bit".
The problem is, that doesn't actually change anything. Oh, there are genuine disasters for which relief funds are exactly the right solution to the problem. But there's many many more 'day to day' disasters, from poverty to abuse. From civil revolts to wars. And for those, the charity is part of the problem. They're a 'transferral of responsibililty' that there's nothing we can do, but if we give some money to the charity in question, it'll all be ok.
And it might be, for today. But tomorrow, the same problem will occur, because nothing has really changed.
The problem is, that changing the world is hard. To make it a genuinely better place you have to change attitudes and minds.
Slavery was abolished, and the world was a better place as a result. But there was no 'simple transition' where suddenly everyone woke up and thought "Well, I know we've been getting rich flogging slaves and making them work our plantations, but that's really not such a good idea, is it?". It was a slow process.
A process where 'decent people' first had to come to terms with the fact that the slaves, despite their funny coloured skin, and their funny speaking and voices were actually human too. And not just a lower 'grade' of human, but fundamentally no different. Deserving of exactly the same status, rights and privileges as their own child.
I rather think that the movement against slavery, against discrimination that changed the world was actually because 'conditions' were so terrible. It was quite possible, that once you got past the barrier of 'different colour doesn't mean they're not a person too' the 'intolerable horror' was easy to come to terms with.
It's less easy when we have charities to act as the cotton wool to pad out our guilt. When we send 'aid' and pretend that it actually helps any more than a short term measure.
Where we have support networks to which we can hand off 'the situation' and abandon those in need because 'we are too busy'.
And yet I do not mean to devalue the effort of those who work for a charity. There are problems. And they _do_ help the individuals concerned.
I think perhaps we need to look at it from the other angle. The problems with the world are not ones to be handed off to 'charitable organisations'. Amnesty International has more information and understanding of the problems they deal with than the average person on the street. But the _problems_ they deal with are not ones that should be transferred away to be handled by 'someone else'. They are problems with thoughts and attitudes, that we each must confront.
We do not need to stand alone against injustice in the world. But neither can we tell ourselves that "it's not our problem", because otherwise the world moves further towards a place we do not wish it to be.
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-21 11:15 am (UTC)I think charities are still needed, but we expect them to do all the work. One of the reasons I don't wear wristbands is that to me they mean nothing. So, you paid a quid? Big deal. Have you actually thought about what that band means? Nope. We give money to Cancer Research and still eat an appalling diet. We give money to Oxfam but still buy imported, unfairly priced food.
Charities are needed in times of unparalled disaster. They are there to provide a vital lifeline for those in need, they are not there to act as our consiences. We must take responsibility for that ourselves.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-21 12:52 pm (UTC)So tell me, what charitable activities will you be undertaking?
no subject
Date: 2005-11-21 06:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-21 07:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-22 07:09 pm (UTC)However, that's not enough for me right now. Oh no.
I'll think of something even more fiendish soon. :)
no subject
Date: 2005-11-25 10:34 am (UTC)