People bringing me down for Charity.

[DanielleNguyen]

Lately, I have gotten a lot of hateful texts, messages, and been called lots of names because of a charity I have been supporting. It is called childfund.org. I sponsor two little girls from Northern Vietnam. They write me letters, I've even sent them Christmas gifts and plan on sending them lucky money. The odd thing is I started to love these little girls and began sponsoring more children in 3rd world countries. However, a lot of people including my father are starting to look down at me. They say support yourself and spend them on things I like. I mean I could get me a $300 laptop or something new. However, I feel blessed and am not a material person. I rather spend $300 on mosquito nets for Africa of $100 for the Childfund bicycle program. I don't see anything wrong with what I am doing. My husband, son, and I are happy and have plenty. My husband knows I have a bleeding heart. While everyone passes by the Salvation army guy ringing a bell outside in -15 degrees. I hand him $20 and then after I leave the store bring him/her a hot chocolate. However, the other wives on base say I have a big ego because I support other kids. They seem to think I think I am better than everyone else and trying to put a goody two shoes front. However, I am just doing something I think is important. I mean of course I brag about my sponsored kids because I think they are amazing. I love how smart and amazing they are. I like how strong they are and even in their bad conditions they hold their heads up high. These kids make me extremely happy! I have lost a few friends since sponsoring these kids. I lost two of my friends for racism, and most the military housewives who have nothing else to do think b/c I volunteer to help others that I am a snob. I don't really care about loosing my father's support. My whole life he's been a cruel man so I can never see eye to eye with them. Maybe I am just missing something. Maybe I can't see something they can see. I plan on keep sponsoring children for years. As a child I would watch the kids on t.v. commercials, starving, or crying, and the t.v. man would always ask for a donation. I would run to my momma and ask her if we could do it and hand her my birthday money and she always said no. So sponsoring a child is something I always wanted to do. I spend maybe $100 a month to sponsor three girls in Vietnam every month. Maybe I could be just blind, but I don't think I deserve so much hate as I am getting.

[HouseMD]

There is nothing wrong with charity. If we had more charity and care for our fellow humans, we would not be in the mess we are in now, where people depend on the government rather than one another for things like food, shelter, and financial assistance in difficult times. The church used to provide many of these functions (it is perhaps the greatest function of organized religion), but few are religious these days so such charity has fallen by the wayside. With the decline of religion and the deterioration of interpersonal and community relationships and the subsequent rise of capitalism and selfishness, people have become greedy and self-serving. They don't understand that giving is a powerful thing, and see it as just a waste of money and effort.

I've always been charitable, and it just seems to confuse people. They are even suspicious, as if I have ulterior motives, but the truth is, I just feel better knowing I've made someone's day with a random act of kindness. It feels better than blowing a few bucks on some video game or whatever, and I already have all the material stuff I need, so why not. We live in a society in which people cannot even comprehend being kind to strangers just for the sake of making the world a bit better, and that is a sad thing indeed. Don't let these people get you down, it is your money to spend after all.

I also tend to believe in karma, and try and live a life that will bring me to good things by virtue of my good thoughts and deeds. It isn't about trying to be better than anyone, it's just about trying to be the best person I can be. Most people don't want to be better people though, they just want instant gratification and satisfaction, then they end up miserable and have no idea why.

[DanielleNguyen]

thx house. I really want to make a big difference and I think you're right

[S_Parc]

Here's the thing... just do your charity stuff and then, don't talk about it to the masses.

I'd also been helping in the physical therapy end, with some of the recent Boston bombing victims, and have basically kept it to myself & the affected persons' families.

The way our f'ed up society appears to work is that regular workers are suppose to donate to a Shriner's or Red Cross but then, let the work be done by the professionals hired by those charities.

[zacb]

It is your business, but perhaps it could be more efficiently spent. I personally like Heiffer Int. , since it gets people off their feet, but that is just me. But as long as you take care of your family, and keep your priorities straight (which I imagine you are), then more power to you.

[DanielleNguyen]

thx