WARNING! Controversial subject...hackles might be raised, feathers could get ruffled, you may become a bit...miffed. We can still be friends though...right?
Anyone else noticed the frequent reoccurance of postings on FB, Twitter and Myspace accounts in regard to the recent tele-a-thon to raise funds for Haitian Earthquake relief? A lot of people are pretty upset by the fact that we have been able to raise upwards of $58 million to contribute to the cause in a short period of time, while there are those here in the US who are suffering from poverty and hunger. Here is the exact post I am seeing...
"
Shame on you America: the only country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations. 99% of people won't have the guts to copy and repost this.. CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME!"
My first response:
The only one?!? Really?
My more thought out response:
Isn't is AWESOME how God works in our hearts? He has made your heart heavy for the people in America, while for others He has burdened their hearts for those who have needs in foreign countries. He sure has an interesting way of covering His bases, and meeting the needs of all His creation eh? I read somewhere once that if you have change in your pocket, you are wealthier than 97% of the world's population. Why would God bless you and me so abundantly, while there are those who go without? Could it be so that we might share, instead of getting caught up in how to make our 2nd SUV, snow mobile, 4 wheeler (insert your toy of choice) payment? I wouldn't imagine He catagorizes us by whether we are Haitian or American (I am pretty sure Jesus wasn't an American)...I think He views us as His children. I love that you have identified the need here in our country, because there is great need here. I have seen first hand the need both here as well as abroad in third world countries such as Haiti. I can tell you...the two look much different than your mind's eye can even begin to imagine. I hope you won't be distracted from meeting the needs as you've identified them right here at home (if God is laying that burden on your heart) by those for whom He has burdened with the needs of Haitians who are facing absolute devastation alot of us can't even fathom.
Be the change you want so desperately to see in the world. Wouldn't it be crazy if we spent less time criticizing, and more time giving?
Poverty would go extinct.
Non profits organizations like
Redcross and
World Vision are working overtime to make a dent in poverty both in the US and abroad...but they can't do anything without the help of people like you and me.
I realize many don't subscribe to the notion of the existence of a God, so let me put this another way. I read this morning that in the city of Houston (3rd largest in the US) on any given night, there are approx 10,000 homeless on the street. In the blink of an eye (the time it took for an earthquake to reak it's devastation) over 150,000 people lost their lives, 850,000 people were left homeless and over 3 million have somehow been affected by this disaster.
Now on any given night in the city of Port Au Prince, Haiti there are still 850,000 homeless people living on the street.
No doubt, there is great need here in the US. I am glad you are willing to see it...many are not. However, it is a great matter of perspective as to what taking care of "our own" actually means. Could not "human kind" fall under that definition given the severity of devastation in the world? According to the GDP, we are unequivically the richest nation in the world. China and Japan don't even run a close second being trillions behind. According to the "US standard" for poverty level, 12.7 % of Americans live at, or below $16,000 per year. In sharp contrast, 80% of Haitians live at the "world" poverty level, with families living on less than $1 per day. 54% live in abject poverty (much less than $1 per day). Haiti
was ranked the poorest nation in the western hemisphere...prior to the earthquake.
Some would argue that we seem to be consistantly helping others, but when we suffer a disaster no one wants to come our aid. What about international response to our nation in it's hour of need? Wikepedia
article on the international response to Hurricane Katrina lists over 90 nations and international organizations responding to Katrina both monetarily and with search and rescue, medical, and various forms of aid to the tune of $854 million.
I said all that to say this...
it doesn't matter who we share our abundance with, it matters that we share.
Check out this
website with more info on world poverty statistics.
Have a thankful, blessed and generous day!
DPD
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