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GlassWolf wrote:in all honesty, and this isn't to start an argument, but what really bothers me about many donation deals, is that I wonder how much of the money really gets to the people it's intended to help.

I'm old enough to recall scams being discovered in organizations like United Way etc where the money never went out of the US, or very little of it did..

that sort of thing has always scared me a bit.

Very true. The only organizations I've seen that are honest with the cause are a few non profit Christian-founded organizations. Keep in mind I'm not talking about scamming TV preachers like Benny Hinn and such.

in all honesty, and this isn't to start an argument, but what really bothers me about many donation deals, is that I wonder how much of the money really gets to the people it's intended to help.

I'm old enough to recall scams being discovered in organizations like United Way etc where the money never went out of the US, or very little of it did..

that sort of thing has always scared me a bit.

Well said GW. I agree with that. I also like to live with at least a little bit of optimism when several multi-million dollar corporations are supporting a large foundation that has been aiding countries like this for years. I don't think their actions are in vain...if you look at the progress they've made in this short amount of time.

I understand this is an isolated issue of course. And there are many like it all over Africa no doubt. I do see this as a valuable oraganization, with an attainable goal. If you think about it, they've already started providing jobs to thousands, while simultansously protecting them from the war lords and the kidnappings. All they need is to be funded to get these "safe havens" working...after time the child force militia will disinegrate, and possibly come to the point where their own government can take control.

Its a touchy situation. I just can't stand looking at those pictures and hearing those stories without wanting to go kick some ass. I don't care if others call us world police...in our hearts all we want is to help other people...amongst some greedy sick minded politics, I don't overlook those.

Your last statement pretty much sums up my feelings toward it too. Bartending and waiting tables with that bracelet on has started some interesting conversations, which has increased tips... I guess you could say what goes around comes around. Tis better to give than to recieve.

I think the common phrase I was getting at was, "Think globally, act locally."

I'm not saying I'm without pity or empathy for what's going on between the tutu and the tutsi tribes. I just wanted people to understand that until the Whites (and by that I mean all of the invading nations over the decades from the Fench to the British to the US etc) there was a balance between the two groups. After (we) tried to redivide their borders for ourselves, we shifted that balance and the problems began. There really is little to be done at this point to stop all of the 'ethnic cleansing' and brutality taking place in Africa and while I understand that it's tragic to see what's happening, we also need to realize who can and can't be saved with what resources we have. We can do so much more for the children within our own borders right now, with what we have, but many just don't see where the help is needed because it's not sensationalized in the media the way other areas are.

In regards to why the US doesn't "do something about all of this," I can actually try to explain that in a rather simplistic overview of events that tally in our unwillingness to get involved at the governmant level. Essentially after the debacle in Somolia combined with a number of other similar events where the UN got the US to lend assistance, then turned around and accused the US of sticking it's nose where we don't belong, and subsequently losing a lot of lives in the process in terms of US casualties the US was and still is reluctant to once again act as the "world police" we're so often accused of trying to be. In short, when the US tries to help, the entire world views us as the aggressor, accusing us of trying to force our ways on everybody else. When we switch and stay the hell out of a situation to make everyone happy, then the rest of the world calls us selfish and claims we do nothing to help anyone but ourselves.

anyway I'm not out to start a political debate here. I'm just hoping that if you have money to give, give that money where it will do the most good or be used in the wisest ways possible.

It's a shame that anyone ever has to suffer, but feeling bad about that, and knowing logistically what can be done to help.. are often hard to separate.

Well stated as usual.

Salute to you brother

I see myself as a human in times like this, at least when I realize what is going on, rather than an American. At least the people here in America have a chance to survive, there are plenty of programs that are more than generous to help the homeless and provide ways to come out of poverty. In countries like Uganda, or other African countries, they are born into wars in countries without food or any means of helping themselves.

Is it important to help ourselves? Yes. But I think we do a decent job at that already, though it could be better I agree. The question is do we help ourselves live better, or help others live at all? Remember, we are humans, not just Americans.

personally think we should concentrate our money within our own borders though. We have plenty of starving and homeless here in the US.

That is true, but atleast they are not getting masacred. Has any country even tried to help?

bump for sticky! i want a bracelet!

and all of that strife in Africa is thanks to Western cultures redividing the land and moving borders making for shifts in power balances, and then pulling out and leaving the two tribes to slaughter each other.

I personally think we should concentrate our money within our own borders though. We have plenty of starving and homeless here in the US.