Reply #25: Because they are not like us [View All]

Most people cannot relate to those who are not like them -- don't look like them, don't live like them, don't act like them.

Personal experience:

Last Friday night my church (Catholic) had a card party that drew over 200 people. Before the cards started, people had something like $20 in "play money" that they could donate to four charities that had booths set up in the lobby. I was at the Catholic Relief Services booth. CRS is the main international Catholic charity that assists in helping the Third World become economically independent, as well as with emergency aid. The night's profits were earmarked toward Haitian hurricane relief.

I had posterboards and pamphlets that explained CRS's work. The literature did not feature cute, well-off American children, but those desperately poor -- hungry and wearing tatters. Not exactly photogenic, but the exact people Christ spoke of when he said "suffer the little children and come unto Me."

I knew I was going to be in for a long night when I came in and saw my station set up right next to the local pro-life group. Poster upon poster of cute, happy, well-off babies; dolls that showed the development babies in utero...just the thing to appeal to Catholics just coming off a contentious election. (Not to mention bowls of candy.) But, I had hope that most people would remember Christ's call to help the least among us.

Was I wrong. I had people stop at the CRS booth, look at the materials, and then LITERALLY turn up their noses and dump their play money into the pro-life bucket. Some walked by my booth with such contempt it took all I had not say something smart-assed that would have reflected poorly on both me and CRS. Some made a really prideful show of walking up to the pro-lifer, loudly congratulating her on her fine work, and then dumping all $20 into her bucket. I tried to see the humor in it, because after awhile I felt like crying.

Some people, however, were interested, including the associate pastor who put all of his money in my bucket because he (like me) is a strong proponent of fair trade coffee, a prime CRS concern. I had some who cheerfully gave me their money, and I thanked them profusely.
Some did not want to give their money to me, but the gang around the pro-life booth was so thick that some had to wait in line, and the cards were calling. So they turned and gave their money to me so they could get to their tables. (But I would take their money however I got it.)

Some wanted to know if the money was going to Florida. No, I said, CRS is an international aid group. "Well, you know," they said, "Florida is hurting too." Yes, I thought, but most folks in Florida do not live in tin and paper shacks that are underwater. Most make more than $10 a year, too..." Nevermind.

I was there for about 2 hours and drew about $300. I'm sure the pro-life group got close to a grand. The other charities were a Guatemalan school effort that has been established in the parish for awhile, and a local shelter for homeless teens. I don't think the teen shelter got much support, either...

It was an illuminating and depressing experience. It was not surprising, though, to see the cultural biases come out. So from where I sit, that is why most of us could really care less about these Iraqi children, who by the way, are just as much God's children as those precious babies at the pro-life booth.

Thanks for indulging me.