Will you donate to Japan?

[Tinkmom]

No, I think YOU continue to miss the point. While this may be the big news story, there are plenty of humanitarian crisis all around the world that you obviously don't worry your pretty little head about.
Thankfully, there are plenty of people that do look around once in a while and realize that....hopefully someday you will be one of them

I "worry my pretty little head" about all other humans in need, and contribute broadly. I don't pick and choose, and try to minimize the needs of any group in clear need. If it makes you feel better to justify yourself by saying they don't need help, then so be it. The reality is that they are in dire need and I think that is apparent to most and they WILL help.

 

[hipchickie]

I "worry my pretty little head" about all other humans in need, and contribute broadly. I don't pick and choose, and try to minimize the needs of any group in clear need. If it makes you feel better to justify yourself by saying they don't need help, then so be it. The reality is that they are in dire need and I think that is apparent to most and they WILL help.

I am glad that you have the money to give in many areas, and that you choose to do so.
Since my budget does not allow me to give beyond my current obligations, and I have stated repeatedly that I do not think it is fair to not donate to my usual recipients in order to give to Japan, I can only gape in awe at your sheer amazingness.
Go you.

 

[luvmy3]

To me it doesn't matter what country you are from.. If your family and home and everything you own is gone, you aren't going to be saying "well, at least it happened in Japan!" I think I already said this, but I did give. They need it.
If the world has the same mentality as many people on this thread, I feel really sorry for the USA if we ever had a crisis similar to Japan with an earthquake, Tsunami and nuclear threat. People say that they are "better prepared" and I'm sure in some ways they were, but look at Katrina and they KNEW that was coming! Look how long people were out there in the heat with no food or water and no food for babies. I had my son a week before this happened and I CRIED watching the babies with no clothes and no food. FEMA was not there immediately. Look at all that happened to the Superdome and getting people out of there. It was a disaster in our own country and we weren't fully prepared, N.O is still not fully back to restoration and it's not nearly the size of disaster that's in Japan.
I hate to say it, but it's almost like Japan is now being "punished" for being a productive country that can take care of it's people.

If you feel so strongly about it maybe you should give more, or better yet volunteer yourself, go over there and help. Somehow I don't think you were planning that, so I guess you are "punishing" them as well

I see alot of admonishment for those of us who choose not to dontae to Japan, but you aren't fooling anyone with your "kind hearted deed", its obvious you donated so that you can say you did, so that you can admonish those that didn't. Just remember that check you sent, while it may help someone in need, it doesn't help make you a better person.

 

[Vivianne]

I really don't get it.

Chastising someone for giving? That's why these threads are destined to
flop.

Rather than seeing people commending others for what they're not doing,
you see the opposite.

People may have decided to give because "I saw anguish in an elderly womans face, or
I saw a scared child raising his arms while he was being tested for radiation
and it moved me to help in some way, someone crying because they lost
all of their family and they're alone not knowing where to go" and I decided
maybe, I could do some small thing to help them along the way.

You really don't have to give for causes you don't believe in. But criticizing
someone for helping in an opposite fashion...that's really weird.

Give where you feel like giving. Otherwise, be glad someone in this world
is helping another human being.


That's why the human race is in big trouble.

 

[SeansMom]

I really don't get it.

Chastising someone for giving? That's why these threads are destined to
flop.

Rather than seeing people commending others for what they're not doing,
you see the opposite.

People may have decided to give because "I saw anguish in an elderly womans face, or
I saw a scared child raising his arms while he was being tested for radiation
and it moved me to help in some way, someone crying because they lost
all of their family and they're alone not knowing where to go" and I decided
maybe, I could do some small thing to help them along the way.

You really don't have to give for causes you don't believe in. But criticizing
someone for helping in an opposite fashion...that's really weird.

Give where you feel like giving. Otherwise, be glad someone in this world
is helping another human being.

OP here: This thread was started to ask how people go about giving, not to judge how people give. I feel like (some) of these threads remind me of jr high. Please, play nice people. And read the quote above; if you find it in your heart to give, that's awesome. If this isn't your cause right now, that is your business. Stirring with a big stick is NOT helpful, and not what I wanted this to be about.

 

[rthutchens]

I am in awe of the responses on this thread. My brother was in Japan during and after the earthquake. He said they were still as courteous during the disaster as before. Their culture is so beyond what ours is in this country. I strongly believe if we had a tragedy like they are experiencing they would be one of the first countries to come to our aide. It was and is a horrific situation and for people on this thread to make comments about they don't need donations like a third world country physically makes me sick. That's whats wrong with this country we are a self centered country and we can learn MUCH from the Japanese. And yes I am donating to Japan thru the Red Cross.

 

[nunzia]

OP here: This thread was started to ask how people go about giving, not to judge how people give. I feel like (some) of these threads remind me of jr high. Please, play nice people. And read the quote above; if you find it in your heart to give, that's awesome. If this isn't your cause right now, that is your business. Stirring with a big stick is NOT helpful, and not what I wanted this to be about.

Amen...

 

[luvmy3]

OP here: This thread was started to ask how people go about giving, not to judge how people give. I feel like (some) of these threads remind me of jr high. Please, play nice people. And read the quote above; if you find it in your heart to give, that's awesome. If this isn't your cause right now, that is your business. Stirring with a big stick is NOT helpful, and not what I wanted this to be about.

This IS what happens here on the DIS (and probably every other msg board)whenevver anyone starts a thread about donating to a cause/charity. There will be plenty of posters who come and answer the question, and there will be posters who respect everyone's choice no matter how different than their own. However, there will also always be those posters who have to come on and tell everyone that they gave and admonish those who choose not to, and then the inevitable will happen.

You can start a thread with whatever intention you want, but once you hit that submit, its no longer "yours".

 

[declansdad]

I am in awe of the responses on this thread. My brother was in Japan during and after the earthquake. He said they were still as courteous during the disaster as before. Their culture is so beyond what ours is in this country. I strongly believe if we had a tragedy like they are experiencing they would be one of the first countries to come to our aide. It was and is a horrific situation and for people on this thread to make comments about they don't need donations like a third world country physically makes me sick. That's whats wrong with this country we are a self centered country and we can learn MUCH from the Japanese. And yes I am donating to Japan thru the Red Cross.

I don't think people said they don't need help. What people have said is that they have limited amounts to give and they eachhave their priorities on how those amounts are donated. There is nothing wrong with that.

In the case of Japan, some people seem to be thinking the entire country was destroyed and the government is non functioning; that isn't the case. Do they need assistance; I'm sure they would be happy for any help. But the fact of the matter is that there are many people around the world that need help every day. If someone is helping them out they shouldn't be chastised for continuing to do so instead of giving money to Japan.

 

[Colleen27]

I am in awe of the responses on this thread. My brother was in Japan during and after the earthquake. He said they were still as courteous during the disaster as before. Their culture is so beyond what ours is in this country. I strongly believe if we had a tragedy like they are experiencing they would be one of the first countries to come to our aide. It was and is a horrific situation and for people on this thread to make comments about they don't need donations like a third world country physically makes me sick. That's whats wrong with this country we are a self centered country and we can learn MUCH from the Japanese. And yes I am donating to Japan thru the Red Cross.

I fail to see what is self-centered about seeing a different level of need between a nation like Haiti and one like the US or Japan. Look at the situation after Katrina - it was a massive logistical and operational nightmare in terms of how to get food and water to the people most in need and how to get people to safe shelters, but the fact is we had the food and water and shelter to provide. The difficulty was in coordinating how to connect the supplies with the needy. Japan is in a similar situation. It is a terrible, challenging situation, but it isn't Haiti where there wasn't food or water to distribute until foreign donations started coming in and there was no safe place to use as shelter for those in the quake zone.

Most people can only give so much, and there's nothing self centered at all about choosing to give to those for whom no other help is coming.

 

[cristielf]

If you feel so strongly about it maybe you should give more, or better yet volunteer yourself, go over there and help. Somehow I don't think you were planning that, so I guess you are "punishing" them as well

I see alot of admonishment for those of us who choose not to dontae to Japan, but you aren't fooling anyone with your "kind hearted deed", its obvious you donated so that you can say you did, so that you can admonish those that didn't. Just remember that check you sent, while it may help someone in need, it doesn't help make you a better person.

Wow.. So unbelievably judgmental and small minded!
We were ASKED if we donate, so I don't know what part of my post or anyone elses post makes it so "obvious" that people "donate just to say you did".
You don't know me, you don't know who I give to, you don't know who I've helped in the world and you don't WHERE i've been to help. I hope that since you can point a finger at me and you feel you are able to chastise me, that you have been to these nations to help as well. I don't feel I even need to go into the places I've been been to physically help and justify it to you, but let me just say that I don't just write a check, although that's what I'm doing in this circumstance and I'm going to hope that my little bit of "kind hearted deed" will help them. Why is that in quotes anyway? You don't think it's kind to give people the help they need when they need it? It seems to me that you think you are the only one to give to EVER give to other countries in need and other people just see it on the news and jump on the band wagon just to say they donate.
I just don't get the whole "*I* only give to poor countries so that makes me a better person" attitude that some people seem to have. I will say that MOST of my money goes to the American Cancer Society since I am a survivor and my mom is now battling cancer. It hits close to my heart and that is where I feel it does the most good because EVERYONE will benefit from Cancer help at some time.
Yes, I will continue to give to Japan and I will FEEL GOOD doing it!!!

 

[cristielf]

I am in awe of the responses on this thread. My brother was in Japan during and after the earthquake. He said they were still as courteous during the disaster as before. Their culture is so beyond what ours is in this country. I strongly believe if we had a tragedy like they are experiencing they would be one of the first countries to come to our aide. It was and is a horrific situation and for people on this thread to make comments about they don't need donations like a third world country physically makes me sick. That's whats wrong with this country we are a self centered country and we can learn MUCH from the Japanese. And yes I am donating to Japan thru the Red Cross.

I agree 110%!!!! We really could learn a lot from them and they DO need the donations as much as anyone else does.

 

[ilovemk76]

I really don't get it.

Chastising someone for giving? That's why these threads are destined to
flop.

Rather than seeing people commending others for what they're not doing,
you see the opposite.

People may have decided to give because "I saw anguish in an elderly womans face, or
I saw a scared child raising his arms while he was being tested for radiation
and it moved me to help in some way, someone crying because they lost
all of their family and they're alone not knowing where to go" and I decided
maybe, I could do some small thing to help them along the way.

You really don't have to give for causes you don't believe in. But criticizing
someone for helping in an opposite fashion...that's really weird.

Give where you feel like giving. Otherwise, be glad someone in this world
is helping another human being.


That's why the human race is in big trouble.

I don't get it either!!

My DH and I decided where we wanted to donate and did. If they get more than they need for Japan then it will get used for all those "deserving" countries. We did not take from other donations but from another part of our budget. I can skip a movie, not eat out, work OT, take from my vacation fund or the like to get this money.

Many here are so proud they gave to Haiti but in many cases the stuff they donated was confisgated and never got to those in need. A corrupt government will put up many road blocks because helping their citizens is not in their best interest.

 

[hipchickie]

I just don't get the whole "*I* only give to poor countries so that makes me a better person" attitude that some people seem to have. I will say that MOST of my money goes to the American Cancer Society since I am a survivor and my mom is now battling cancer. It hits close to my heart and that is where I feel it does the most good because EVERYONE will benefit from Cancer help at some time.

If this is directed towards me, I can only say that you are misreading what I have posted.
The opposing viewpoint actually would be if I said to you, "well, you should not send any money to the ACS because there are people in CRISIS in Japan, and they need help and that is the only acceptable people to donate to. No other person or cause is as important."

We did not take from other donations but from another part of our budget. I can skip a movie, not eat out, work OT, take from my vacation fund or the like to get this money.

Again, I am glad that you are able to do that for a cause you feel strongly about. Unfortunately, my budget does not allow for any of that.

To the person who has family in Japan, I am glad they are OK. I have family in the country I donate to, and I know how knowing that people you love are don't have adequate food, water, shelter, or medical help can be so upsetting.