“Helping Even One Child” September 3, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Mindfulness, People.comments closed
Supporting a cause based on the premise that “helping even one child” makes the cause worthwhile is . . .
* A “feel good” statement .
* A statement with emotional appeal.
* A statement that makes people feel morally virtuous as they say it . . . even if they are NOT actually helping anyone.
Some non-profits pull at our heartstrings to raise money for causes that never get that money because the CEOs of the non-profits use the funds raised by fundraisers to line their own pockets:
Susan G. Komen . . . Race for the Consumer.
Echoing empty statements can do more harm than good given the Butterfly Effect because anything can change everything.
Here’s a fictitious (I hope) example of what I mean:
* Millions invest time, energy, and money in the Kony 2012 campaign.
* The Kony 2012 Campaign makes lots of money.
* Like “March for a Cure,” most $’s go to pay staff salaries at Invisible Child.
* Only a small % of dollars make it to Africa to neutralize Kony.
In the end . . . one child is helped.
But because of the resources expended on Kony 2012:
* People have less time, energy and money for other causes.
* They feel they’ve done their part and rest on their laurels.
* Then they find out that the campaign only made money for the non-profit.
* That pisses them off because their money didn’t neutralize Kony.
* They stop contributing to non-profits because of the fraudulent cause.
* They refuse to help children, even in “their own backyard.”
957 children who “would have” received support from legitimate charities do not.
Since we do not have the time, money, or energy to fully support any and all causes, we must decide which causes are worthy of our support without falling for emotional appeals like “if even one child is helped, it will be worth it.”
Related post: WP Daily Prompt ~ Blogger With A Cause
Spirit Lights The Way 