Two medical aid agencies -- the local branch of Médecins sans frontières (MSF) and Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) -- are both encouraging Canadians to ask their friends and family to donate to humanitarian aid rather than give them gifts this holiday season.
More information on MSF's initiative is available here, and more information on CPAR's is here.
Worthwhile Canadian initiatives both, but there's one problem: telling your friends and relatives that you'd rather help malnourished children than get a new food processor is indisputably admirable. That's not the problem. The problem is that it's so admirable it's likely to make your friends and family feel guilty they're not doing the same thing. After all, they can't very well donate money to the charity of your choice and then expect you to show up on Christmas morning with a big gift-wrapped box for them, can they? This is an all-or-nothing kind of situation: either your entire gift-giving circle agrees to participate together -- thereby eliminating the one-sided guilt problem -- or you might want to just consider making your own donation directly.
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Friday, 4 December, 2009
Give up your holiday gifts for overseas medical aid
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Merry Christmas, Sam,
ReplyDeleteSince all birthday parties actually involve both "getting" ( party treats) and "giving" ( presents) to the birthday person" .... I do not see why this cannot become a " win-win " situation.
For MSF the claimant " maintains complete independence from any religious power" may not actually apply in this "donation" request.... since the " birthday boy" has strong religious connections.... and power
:)
I think a "realistic" request ( versus creating an " all or nothing" situation) would be to surrender the monies spent for Christmas wrapping or decorations to be donated.
How about a nice card for the " birthday boy"........ no letters to Santa could top what you might read in a happy letter sent to "Christ" on his "mas"( birthday) :)
thats a great idea and u still wiil feel good that you helped someone else
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