[meteorite-list] Fwd: Out in Left Field

From: Darryl Pitt <darryl_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 21:38:42 -0400
Message-ID: <3AD40493-6946-4D3E-AE8E-B3970113BF6C_at_dof3.com>

folks,

i hope you noticed the email below was posted to the list two days ago.



Begin forwarded message:

> From: Darryl Pitt <darryl at dof3.com>
> Date: July 7, 2007 11:39:48 AM EDT
> To: cynapse at charter.net
> Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Grandstanding?
>
>
>
>
> this is terribly offensive.
>
> as i previously wrote, one does not have to be a benefactor to a
> charity to be critical of the manner in which the charity's mission
> is conducted.
>
> darren has eloquently addressed the problems here. and i still
> can't wrap my brain around why the media was invited to this
> internal fracas.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jul 7, 2007, at 9:56 AM, Darren Garrison wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 03:11:47 EDT, you wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Darren!
>>> Did you contribute anything?
>>> No, you don't need to respond.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> And I wouldn't. That would be hypocritical of me, one way or the
>> other.
>>
>>
>>> .
>>> The people of Greensburg need a lot more help, and using a large
>>> check is a
>>> way to get some attention to this cause.
>>> It worked! You are all talking about it!
>>>
>>
>> And you have the leadership of the town (and probably a part of
>> the citizenry)
>> offended, and a negative newspaper article about the squabble
>> going out for all
>> the world to see showing backbiting amongst various meteorite
>> collectors that is
>> par for course for the list. Now, no matter what, there is going
>> to be some
>> bitterness remembered for an act of charity. Not all publicity is
>> good
>> publicity.
>>
>> I mentioned before (and some will choose to ignore that and only
>> pay attention
>> to the critical part) that "All the time, effort, and donations
>> put into
>> collecting that money was nobile and admirable." And the thought
>> behind the
>> large cardboard check are pure, too, I'm sure. But how people
>> would react to it
>> wasn't as well thought out, I would think (and sorry if that
>> offends those who
>> worked hard on this).
>>
>> Thesis 1: Being able to give to charity makes you feel good.
>>
>> Thesis 2: Having been reduced to needing charity makes you feel bad.
>>
>> Thesis 3: A public presenting of a large check to a town official
>> implies a need
>> for a public reaction-- applause, a heartfelt thank you,
>> acknowledgement of your
>> being able to help and their needing it.
>>
>> I imagine that, being in a small, non-rich community in the middle
>> of nowhere in
>> the middle of nowhere, the people of Haviland are pretty proud and
>> independant
>> minded. I imagine that they are humuliated to be reduced to
>> having to accept
>> handouts from strangers just to keep rooves over their heads, food
>> in their
>> stomachs, and clothes on their backs. Helping them is good.
>> Helping them makes
>> you feel good. Having some sort of ceremonial closure to the long
>> hours and the
>> money you spent collecting money makes you feel good. But being
>> explicitly and
>> publicly reminded that they NEED the charity of strangers does NOT
>> make the
>> people being donated to feel good. Sure, they are happy that
>> people do look out
>> for each other, and that they are getting help. But they feel
>> horrible that
>> they NEED help.
>>
>> I just think that large cardboard checks are an item for HAPPY
>> occasion--
>> lottery and contest winners, mostly. A charitable donation to the
>> survivors of
>> a destroyed is NOT a happy occasion. It is a solemn,
>> embarrassing, and sad one
>> for those who were actually affected by the tornado. And those
>> always blessed
>> enough to be the ones GIVING charity instead of having to ever be
>> the ones
>> accepting charity Just Don't Get It.
>> ______________________________________________
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>>
>
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Received on Mon 09 Jul 2007 09:38:42 PM PDT