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I appreciate charity and I am convinced there is not enough of it (philanthropy isn't enough and often misses the point of helping others which is not self-glor

I appreciate charity and I am convinced there is not enough of it (philanthropy isn't enough and often misses the point of helping others which is not self-glorification, but the death of ego). However, some things bothered me about this article. First, the article is rather vacuous and chaotic in content, and so the motive for writing the article shifts toward drawing attention to oneself ("Oh, look how charitable I am!"). Charity doesn't do that. Second, the article seems to reinforce the condescending/patronizing attitude Americans often have toward immigrants when they're not busy hating them. The attitude consists in thinking that immigrants come from backward, horrible, uncivilized places and that the American is the noble, better educated, civilized, great benefactor. There is pleasure in the delusional superiority. (White upper middle class college students also have a rite of passage known as peace corp or a semester abroad in Africa, but I digress.) Third, if you're paying $60 for a laptop, just pay for it yourself. Getting people to chip in for a 10 year old, $60 brick just looks really cheap. It's not much of a sacrifice, guy. If you're going to have people chip in, at least have the courtesy to buy them a more recent piece of technology. There are better ways of integrating the family into the community. Fourth, and perhaps the most minor of my points, there is a waft of Linux ideology in the air (this related to first point).

ryukafalz 10y ago
>Third, if you're paying $60 for a laptop, just pay for it yourself. Getting people to chip in for a 10 year old, $60 brick just looks really cheap. It's not much of a sacrifice, guy. This really, really depends on how much you make. Maybe it wouldn't be a problem for us, but I know many people who can't afford to drop $60 on something like that out of the blue.
Someone1234 10y ago
> First, the article is rather vacuous and chaotic in content, and so the motive for writing the article shifts toward drawing attention to oneself ("Oh, look how charitable I am!"). Charity doesn't do that. There is no such thing as a selfless good deed, and a lot of philanthropists want people to know how good they are. But when selfless and selfish ambition align, as in the case of charity, society itself benefits. That's a good thing. If a charity is legitimately disinterested in being recognized you never would have heard of it. This getting popular could help the concept spread. > Second, the article seems to reinforce the condescending/patronizing attitude Americans often have toward immigrants when they're not busy hating them. The attitude consists in thinking that immigrants come from backward, horrible, uncivilized places and that the American is the noble, better educated, civilized, great benefactor. Which exact text in the article gave you that impression? I feel like I am pretty sensitive to such tones but I didn't pick up any of that. > Third, if you're paying $60 for a laptop, just pay for it yourself. Getting people to chip in for a 10 year old, $60 brick just looks really cheap. It's not much of a sacrifice, guy. You too could chip in. As you yourself said, it isn't much of a sacrifice, so why don't you?
throwanem 10y ago
It's easy to criticize. Edited to add: > the point of helping others which is not self-glorification, but the death of ego Is it? I thought the point of helping others was to help, rather than to polish one's own Zen. More fool I, no doubt.
spacehome 10y ago
> The attitude consists in thinking that immigrants come from backward, horrible, uncivilized places ... This makes me think you haven't traveled all that much. Places like this actually exist.
blisterpeanuts 10y ago
I interpreted this article not as "Woo-hoo, I'm great!" but as a blueprint for others to help immigrants integrate into society. In my opinion, he did a pretty good job.
grb423 10y ago
Our rich nation should throw open its arms to these marginalized community members. Diversity is our strength! All cultures are the same except when they're driven by hate and xenophobia like the Republicans. The hand-ups provided by this stingy country to people just seeking a better life was disgusting. Western Civilization, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!

ryukafalz 10y ago

>Third, if you're paying $60 for a laptop, just pay for it yourself. Getting people to chip in for a 10 year old, $60 brick just looks really cheap. It's not much of a sacrifice, guy. This really, really depends on how much you make. Maybe it wouldn't be a problem for us, but I know many people who can't afford to drop $60 on something like that out of the blue.

Someone1234 10y ago

> First, the article is rather vacuous and chaotic in content, and so the motive for writing the article shifts toward drawing attention to oneself ("Oh, look how charitable I am!"). Charity doesn't do that. There is no such thing as a selfless good deed, and a lot of philanthropists want people to know how good they are. But when selfless and selfish ambition align, as in the case of charity, society itself benefits. That's a good thing. If a charity is legitimately disinterested in being recognized you never would have heard of it. This getting popular could help the concept spread. > Second, the article seems to reinforce the condescending/patronizing attitude Americans often have toward immigrants when they're not busy hating them. The attitude consists in thinking that immigrants come from backward, horrible, uncivilized places and that the American is the noble, better educated, civilized, great benefactor. Which exact text in the article gave you that impression? I feel like I am pretty sensitive to such tones but I didn't pick up any of that. > Third, if you're paying $60 for a laptop, just pay for it yourself. Getting people to chip in for a 10 year old, $60 brick just looks really cheap. It's not much of a sacrifice, guy. You too could chip in. As you yourself said, it isn't much of a sacrifice, so why don't you?

throwanem 10y ago

It's easy to criticize. Edited to add: > the point of helping others which is not self-glorification, but the death of ego Is it? I thought the point of helping others was to help, rather than to polish one's own Zen. More fool I, no doubt.

spacehome 10y ago

> The attitude consists in thinking that immigrants come from backward, horrible, uncivilized places ... This makes me think you haven't traveled all that much. Places like this actually exist.

blisterpeanuts 10y ago

I interpreted this article not as "Woo-hoo, I'm great!" but as a blueprint for others to help immigrants integrate into society. In my opinion, he did a pretty good job.

grb423 10y ago

Our rich nation should throw open its arms to these marginalized community members. Diversity is our strength! All cultures are the same except when they're driven by hate and xenophobia like the Republicans. The hand-ups provided by this stingy country to people just seeking a better life was disgusting. Western Civilization, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!