How does one person make a difference?
Well, I started posting a comment in Smacky's blog, and it just grew and grew, so I thought I'd import it over here and get a dialog going. To quote a bit from his original post:
By the way, the total number of US soldiers killed in Iraq is now more than 1,800. Something to think about down on the ranch, okay? Damn it. Fourteen more marines just died this morning. I'm not sure the power of those magnetic yellow ribbons on your SUV is reaching all the way over there.Ouch. But it got me thinking...
Anyone who took Media 101 should know the criteria of newsworthiness: audience, timeliness, impact, prominence, conflict, uniqueness, and proximity.By those standards, why should we ever talk about one dead soldier when we can talk about 1,800? Write a story about 1,800 murdered Marines and you've got impact! And timeliness! And conflict! It's easy to quietly forget that every person out there has a story. A family and a hometown. Maybe a cat curled up on the couch or a '66 Chevy they're restoring in the garage. I mean, look at that picture above. It was taken in November 2001 at Fort Campbell. How many of those guys lost their limbs out there? How many lost their lives?
The other night, Mom and I were talking about community work, and she said that as she and Dad near retirement, it's easier for them to give time than money. I told her I've reached a point in my life where I can donate money but not time. (Of course, I'm not rolling in dough ... but I have more money than time. And if I guess I'd really be set if I could quit funneling money to my friends. ^_^)
My problem is that I'm overwhelmed by the number of support groups out there. There are groups that write letters, groups that send phone cards, groups that gather up frequent flyer miles. Who's legit and who's not? Which donations are useful and which are pointless?
In other words: How can I best spend my money (and/or how can Mom best spend her time) to have the greatest impact out there?
posted by Kate at 6:55 PM
Copyright 2001-2009, L.K.C.S. It's MINE, all MINE. If you wanna use it, gimme credit and a link, okies? And don't run with scissors, because you're just going to poke somebody's eye out with that thing. No, really. 
3 Comments:
I hope that no donations are pointless.
Unfortunately I do believe that some donations are pointless and other may just send along a portion of your money to where it is supposed to go. It brings to mind some unimportant celebrity event I cant even fully remember, but Dennis Miller showed up in a tux and wearing a small, clear plastic ribbon just the same size of as the yellow, blue, red, rainbow or whatever color you want to pin to your lapels. When asked about it, Dennis remarked that it was to show support for the ribbon makers of the world. I personally do NOT give money to any charity that gives me something back so I can show off to the neighbors that YES, I support (fill in the blank)! Just look at the ribbon I wear and know that I am a good person! No, a ribbon (real or magnet) is still overhead that gets paid for somehow. Even if some nice company donates it, I would rather they keep their 12 tons and tiny, industrial, colored ribbon and just send the cash equivalent to the same place I want my money to go. And who do I trust to spend my money? The people who have been doing it the longest and know how to get it done, Good Will and The Salvation Army. To better help out overseas, then its The Red Cross and The U. S. O. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't give your money to diabetics or breast cancer, just consider what your getting in return and how the money gets there. If there is an organization that's giving out green ribbons with red stripes so they can give your donation to a special hospital or something... Then I would look up the special hospital and give them a call. Believe me, whoever they are, they will take your money directly.
Right, M. Well said. The yellow ribbon [or worse, the foot tall red, white, and blue magnetic ribbons...have you seen those? When did this become a contest to see who can have the biggest ribbon and be the most patriotic? Sigh. Even in showing support it's a contest!!!] bugs me because it's the most visible, most effortless gesture. The biggest bang for your buck.
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