Tue, 27 Dec 2011

Giving . . . Caution of the Professionals

This is the time of year when we receive lots of solicitations for charitable giving and we want to help. But you have to be careful when you give through professional solicitors. Very little of the money actually makes it to the charities and, after some charities take their cut, even less makes it to the people it is intended to help. The percentage passed through to the charities fell this last year to near 1/3 of the money. That means when you contribute through one of these professional services, out of your $100 contribution, only about $30 makes it to the charity which then must remove their overhead percentage meaning that even less makes it to the actual constituents in aid. You can cut down on those percentages and increase your giving to the actually needy population, give directly to a very efficient charity. Here in Sacrameno, I like Loaves and Fishes which serves the needs of the homeless.

posted 18:01 [/compassion] permanent link

Sat, 04 Jun 2011

Obama on Compassion (Reprise)

You know, there's a lot of talk in this country about the federal deficit. But I think we should talk more about our empathy deficit -- the ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes; to see the world through the eyes of those who are different from us -- the child who's hungry, the steelworker who's been laid-off, the family who lost the entire life they built together when the storm came to town. When you think like this -- when you choose to broaden your ambit of concern and empathize with the plight of others, whether they are close friends or distant strangers -- it becomes harder not to act; harder not to help.

-- Barak Obama

This quote is from 2009. Now, with the Republicans trying to prove that they are the most conservative, I think it is time to revisit it and give it some serious consideration.

posted 08:15 [/compassion] permanent link

Wed, 25 Nov 2009

Charter for Compassion

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.

We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.

We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.

more . . .

posted 09:23 [/compassion] permanent link