Charity

Believe me I do feel for the predominantly young people whose job it is to sell charity on our High Streets, but what a crazy job it is.

For a start there is a common saying that goes 'charity begins at home', that is not being selfish although it might sound it especially if your attitude towards people in say the third world is a paternalistic one, or a misplaced guilt ridden one, i.e people who feel guilty about living and think somehow other people (who have struggles probably similar to theirs) are a more worthy cause than theirs is.

I myself am not only a charity worker but also a charity supporter, and I pay subs to the anti-nazi league (the fore runners to Unite Against Fascism) and to the Socialist Workers Party, I also support individuals who need help when and where I can, and I sponsor an orangutan called Monty on behalf of my Dad.

However, these street charity workers' job takes the biscuit. I bumped into one today who said " Hello what are you doing" I thought to myself " I'm minding my own business", but I just said " I am walking down the High Street" to which she replied "But I am really nice you know" ! Then started saying she wanted a chat... Now I do really feel sorry for these young people as I said before and I am sure they are very nice people. But I really can't say that I would support any one of these causes over another so I blanket don't get involved in any of them, as I certainly wouldn't afford to support all of them.

Many of them are things that should be a given anyway, such as clean water and sanitation for parts of the world that still don't have them. The young and the old should be cared for by society, the elderly respected because of what they have put into life already and the wisdom they can pass on and the young because they are the future.

On charities supporting animals; they really can become a constant nag for financial assistance. Our relationship with animals should be a respectful one, but when the society we live in hardly respects human life it is wrong but no surprise that animals get mistreated. In other words it is our society as a whole that needs to be fundamentally changed into one that puts the needs of the people and the environment first, which is why I give money, am a member and supporter of the SWP.

Homelessness charities are ones that pull on heart strings too and with the wealth that there going around with many people having many more than one house, and other lush and unnecessary luxuries there really is no need for anyone living here to be living rough. In among the homelessness issues, are mental health problems, a very high proportion of homeless people have mental health problems, so again you can see how all of these issues interlink.

We need providing organisations and ones that cater for peoples needs, but they should be funded centrally and evenly, not reliant of private finance and charity. Lets not forget all those rich billionaires and millionaires who have ill begot gains through exploitation and dodgy dealing, for them, charity is definitely one they should seriously consider and very soon too.

It doesn't matter whether anyone believes in God or not, if its not for ones soul or afterlife, charity given by the rich in vast sums to the poor and needy ought be seriously considered for the sake of their own consciences if nothing else.