I saw a "Save Darfur" sticker on a deep blue Jaguar idling outside the East Bank Club today...

http://www.suntimes.com/news/steinberg/501158,CST-NWS-stein08.article

Of Darfur & fur coats

The wealthy affix stickers to the windows of their luxury cars decrying the murder of innocents in Africa: What's wrong with this picture?

August 8, 2007

BY NEIL STEINBERG Sun-Times Columnist

Opening shot . . .

"Save Darfur," the sticker said, "End the Genocide." Which made me laugh, aloud, because the sticker was affixed to the side window of a deep blue Jaguar idling outside the East Bank Club.

Now I'm sure the sentiment was sincere. But what exactly is displaying that sticker on your luxury ride supposed to do for those suffering in Africa? I mean, other than palliate any stray pangs of guilt that might afflict someone cakewalking from club to lunch to Oak Street boutiques while innocents elsewhere are murdered.

Yes, I know, the old paradigm -- we raise our voices, our government is prompted to act, the woes of the world are assuaged.

But can we really fool ourselves that this is going on regarding Darfur? I might propose an alternate paradigm: people of goodwill slap stickers on their sports cars, increasing their already considerable self-regard, then blithely go about their business while the government does nothing, probably wisely, and the tragedy roars on unabated. At this point, calling for action is almost a form of mockery.

before one can care about Darfur? Volvo or lower? Prius only?

Mia Farrow is wealthy, and seems to care a great deal abour Darfur. George Clooney, too.

Nothing is "wrong" with the picture, except that the author is an idiot for suggesting that it is hypocritical for someone to have money AND care about a cause. For all he knows this individual donated double the cost of the car to an organization fighting for this cause.

I get it, stop buying luxury cars and Dafur will be saved, right?

Just curious. I am not terribly familiar with the situation in southern Sudan, but my first inclination is to oppose foreign military intervention in a sovereign country. I hope the Sudanese people are able to succeed in resolving these longstanding conflicts.

or perhaps some members of the wealthy and powerful use their money and influence to try to make the world better place too.

Sid

of car they drive. The sticker is what matters in that regard.

why would someone deface their jag in the first place...?

How does he know the extent of the car owner's commitment to that cause? Does he empty his own pockets, sell his home, and spend every dime he earns on Darfur?

This picking on the wealthy as if there's something inherently evil about it is wrong, and frankly, childish.

It's entirely possible this person spends a great deal of time and money on the cause, and that sticker just reflects how important it is. It's also quite possible that the sticker is the result of a very small gift. The point is that we don't know. So who are we to judge?

And speaking as a fundraising professional, I'd rather have that sticker and the small gift, with the potential to deepen the relationship and raise more, then to scoff at the person because they haven't done enough.