Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
'Tis The Season
It's no secret that I dislike Christmas. I always have. Now that it's three days away I comfort myself with the fact that it can't come again for another year. So, yeah, I can't stand red and green or Christmas trees, Christmas music makes me hope for a coma, and I don't understand the idea of "Christmas spirit". I think being Jewish has a lot to do with it, but I digress.
This year I've agreed to attend a Christmas Eve dinner with some of my cousins and then go to church. This kind of thing is cringe-making for me, but I have pills for that, right? One of the nastiest surprises of my parent's divorce was the sudden demand that I eat Christmas dinner with the Jewish side of my family. That tradition seems to have abated at least for this year, so I guess I'm punishing myself with a church service? I don't know.
Anyhow, the one good thing I will say for the holiday season is that it brings about a swell of charity. Which is nice. And good. And stuff. Personally, I don't think we should just reserve one season for giving, but, whatever works. I think it's important to emphasize, however, that when it comes to charity it's important for people to be well informed about the organization(s) they're supporting. One hugely popular outlet for giving at the holidays is the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. I'm sure you're familiar with the concept, seeing as the media is inundated with ads for them right about now, but it's this: you donate new unwrapped toys that are then given to needy children who otherwise might not get Christmas presents.
It sounds good, doesn't it? One not commonly known thing about the Toys for Tots program is that your kids can only get toys from it if you have a home address and a phone number. Don't believe me? Check out the FAQ section of their website. I'm not saying that I think Toys for Tots is a bad program - but I think it's very short sited for a charity (especially such a popular one) to only cater to certain socioeconomic stratas. Really, really poor people don't have homes, let alone phone numbers. They just don't.
My point is this: if you're going to give money (or its equivalent) this holiday season, make sure you really know where it's going and what good it will do. I'd argue that one of the best things you can give is your time. But not in the celebrity-soup-kitchen-photo-op kind of way. Because that's just dumb.
This year I've agreed to attend a Christmas Eve dinner with some of my cousins and then go to church. This kind of thing is cringe-making for me, but I have pills for that, right? One of the nastiest surprises of my parent's divorce was the sudden demand that I eat Christmas dinner with the Jewish side of my family. That tradition seems to have abated at least for this year, so I guess I'm punishing myself with a church service? I don't know.
Anyhow, the one good thing I will say for the holiday season is that it brings about a swell of charity. Which is nice. And good. And stuff. Personally, I don't think we should just reserve one season for giving, but, whatever works. I think it's important to emphasize, however, that when it comes to charity it's important for people to be well informed about the organization(s) they're supporting. One hugely popular outlet for giving at the holidays is the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. I'm sure you're familiar with the concept, seeing as the media is inundated with ads for them right about now, but it's this: you donate new unwrapped toys that are then given to needy children who otherwise might not get Christmas presents.
It sounds good, doesn't it? One not commonly known thing about the Toys for Tots program is that your kids can only get toys from it if you have a home address and a phone number. Don't believe me? Check out the FAQ section of their website. I'm not saying that I think Toys for Tots is a bad program - but I think it's very short sited for a charity (especially such a popular one) to only cater to certain socioeconomic stratas. Really, really poor people don't have homes, let alone phone numbers. They just don't.
My point is this: if you're going to give money (or its equivalent) this holiday season, make sure you really know where it's going and what good it will do. I'd argue that one of the best things you can give is your time. But not in the celebrity-soup-kitchen-photo-op kind of way. Because that's just dumb.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Finals
If nothing else, I've managed to at least get an A in my one credit Psych Lab this semester. I've also learned a costly but invaluable lesson about how easily the higher education system can screw you if it so chooses. Let's just call it a "hard semester" and move on.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Talking about Africa on World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day. I haven't even been back in DC for 24 hours (and since I've been back I haven't set foot off campus) so while I'd like to go see the big red ribbon at the White House or go to Starbucks for their first day of partnership with (PRODUCT) RED, today is just not the day. Today, however, is the day for the launch of the new Mocha Club campaign that I did a very sub par job of blogging about a week ago. Although my blogging may have been bad (It was the day before I went home for Thanksgiving break, what do you expect?) the idea is totally not. Here's a little snippet:
I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME
When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. “I am needed here,” I think. “They have so little, and I have so much.” It’s true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in the people. It’s a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day. [read more]
So, who's on board to start a team with me? For only $7 a month (which is the price of two mochas, hence the name) you can help to support a number of projects: child mothers, education, HIV/AIDS, job creation, orphan care, and Sudan regrowth. All of Mocha Club's work is done through trained indigenous leaders - which is enormously cool - and through them supporters receive monthly updates on exactly where their money is going. Personally, I want one of the "I need Africa more than Africa needs me" t-shirts. So, go check out the website. Really. It's worth it. I know that even on the days when I'm feeling most poor I can still rationalize paying for a $4 grande carmel apple spice at Starbucks. This is the same thing, just better.
(If you're not feeling convinced yet, here's a video that might help.
I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME
When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. “I am needed here,” I think. “They have so little, and I have so much.” It’s true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in the people. It’s a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day. [read more]
So, who's on board to start a team with me? For only $7 a month (which is the price of two mochas, hence the name) you can help to support a number of projects: child mothers, education, HIV/AIDS, job creation, orphan care, and Sudan regrowth. All of Mocha Club's work is done through trained indigenous leaders - which is enormously cool - and through them supporters receive monthly updates on exactly where their money is going. Personally, I want one of the "I need Africa more than Africa needs me" t-shirts. So, go check out the website. Really. It's worth it. I know that even on the days when I'm feeling most poor I can still rationalize paying for a $4 grande carmel apple spice at Starbucks. This is the same thing, just better.
(If you're not feeling convinced yet, here's a video that might help.
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