I've always been a fan of classic Broadway musicals, particularly from the 50s and 60s. In one of them, Fiddler on the Roof, there is an exchange that goes something like this:
Tevya: "Here, have one kopeck."
Beggar: "One kopeck? Last week you gave me two kopecks!"
Tevya: "I had a bad week."
Beggar: "So? If you had a bad week, why should I suffer?"
I confess to being a bit like Tevya lately, thinking I shouldn't be as generous as I was a year ago to charities, simply because back then I was rolling in dough.
But then I saw this picture from Haiti, and I immediately sent a donation (warning: it is not a pleasant picture). That image is a slice of hell on earth, and God knows I have enough to spare to add a little bit of help to a place that is suffering through no fault of its own. Shame on me for even hesitating before.
I would also add that an extremely tiny minority (Pat Robertson et. al.) have been making utter asses of themselves by blaming the Haitians for their own suffering. The easiest way to be different from a person like this is to send some cash to Haiti. Help them out. You are blessed with much. These poor people are desperate.
Here are a few suggestions:
Complete list from Charity Navigator
My little essay on Good & Evil defines evil as that which destroys life and liveliness. What has happened is evil. Be part of the good and help out, even if it's just a few dollars. Thank you.
