Many of us living in the western industrialized countries have been blessed to be able to do what we do, to live in relative comfort, and to be able to travel to many parts of the world. And I have realized one thing through my own travels: regardless of where you come from, that people, in general, are much more similar than they are different. Your background may be very different, your skin color may be different, your hair color, your eye coloring different, but individually, we all want the same things. We want to be able to find somebody we love and grow old with them. We want to be able to start a life and live happy and healthy, productive lives. We want to have children. And if it weren't for a twist of fate, any one of us could have been born in a very different situation. Any one of us could have been born in the war torn refugee camps of Darfur, Sudan.

I mentioned the above as a result of returning back from a meeting with two women for drinks to persuade them to donate their time and/or their money to a charitable cause that can make a difference in the lives of people that go to bed hungary at night. A twist of fate that's as simple as going to bed full or going to bed hungary at night (I've been told this many times, so I'm not going to take credit for it).

As I walked out of the restaurant bar, I reflected on the two individuals that I just tried to convince to donate something to this endeavor. One woman left with a donation of money and the other woman, a promise to look into the problem....words that will probably bounce like a rubber check.

If not with money, can we make a difference by donating a tiny bit of our time in order to help a make someone's life a little better? or to try to make a difference for the better in the world no matter how small?

I'm sick of promises that people can't keep. - I promise this. I promise that. promises, promises, promises. words that are as hollow as their deeds.

carpediem

People in the Western World take so much for granted ... myself included. Sure, there are ones in need here in the States (and Canada) but it's nothing like the horror stories you hear/heard about in Rwanda, Darfur, etc.

It's interesting when you meet people that just don't care about others and then ones that dedicate their entire lives to such causes. Most people don't like parting with their money and even more tend to not want to part with their time. It's definitely more of a me, me, me, I, I, I generation.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars. ~ Khalil Gibran

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. ~ Mahatma Ghandi

I couldn't agree with you more, Carpediem. I'm very lucky to have parents who instilled in me from an early age that even though I may not be wealthy by American standards, I have more than I need, and every chance possible, I should seek out those less fortunate and give to them anything I possibly could.

Believe it or not, I actually joined the Army to try to make a difference in the world. I was a construction engineer, and basically I chose that job because I saw myself rebuilding countries devastated by wars and natural disasters, building roads and bridges, connecting people. I did that, and I'm very proud. I remember one bridge I built in Honduras. It was to replace one which had been destroyed by natural disaster a few years prior. I can remember how the local people were not afraid of us American troops, and would approach me (I was the only one on my crew who spoke Spanish) without a second thought to the loaded machinegun which I held on a sling around my neck. They knew I wasn't there to harm them, and they thanked me over and over again for the bridge. It brings tears to my eyes just to remember those people, and how much they appreciated the bridge that my unit built for them.

Turns out our bridge allowed a lot of people to bring their produce to market in the neighboring city, which they hadn't been able to do since the original bridge went down. They had lost their livliehood, and we gave it back to them with concrete and steel. After that mission, I know that even a little 20-year-old soldier just doing her job for meager pay can change people's lives! I don't know how many lives I touched by taking part in that bridge project, but the impact wasn't lost on me. I surveyed every single point of that bridge with love and respect for the people it would help. My opinion on the matter is that if even one family was able to live a little better thanks to our bridge, it was worth every malaria pill which made me sick, every night sleeping in a hot tent, and every day my back ached from the heavy gear I carried and the long hours I worked. What I sacrificed to be there was a small fractional taste of the hardship these people endured on a daily basis. I would do it all again 100 times if I could.

As cheesy as this may sound, I've always kinda been one of those "save the world" types who believes that no deed, regardless of how small, would be in vain. Yes, I was one of those people sending my daughter's outgrown clothes and toys to a friend to give to the Iraqi children he saw along his supply route every day in Fallujah. Maybe that stuff didn't make a difference to very many people in the large scheme of things, but I know that it mattered to what few children he was able to distribute it to. He told me they and their parents were happy and very greatful, and told him to tell me thank you. Those Iraqi children are no different than my daughter, and they deserve to have every single thing she has, and not this awful state they're in right now. I can't get them out of there, as much as I wish they could, but I'll do whatever's in my means to try to make their lives a little more bearable.

No, I have not forgotten that the people who live less fortunate lives than I do are people just like me. An old Irish saying my mother used to tell me all the time is "there, but for the grace of God, go I." It is true. I know I was lucky to be the American soldier who came to build a bridge, and not the person who had their life disrupted when the original bridge went down. I was lucky to be the one spending ungodly quantities of money in postage to send my daughter's hand-me-downs to Iraq, and not the mother wondering if her little girl would have a warm coat that winter. I am the lucky one. I have seen first hand how the other half lives. I have also seen the humanity in all of them, and know that they deserve everything we have here at least as much as we do. I wish more people would realize that before just discounting these people as something other than what they really are. I believe that everyone should give what they can, in any way they can. I don't have much money, so I do not donate very often. I try to find other ways, though, and most of all, I try to act on the individual level (like sending things to a specific soldier who will see that all of it gets to those who need it most.)

Sorry this was so long. It's just that humanitarian stuff is something I really believe in, and one day, I hope to help out infinitely more than I have allready. I know I haven't done much, but I've done what I could, and one day, will do so much more. It is my duty as a citizen of the world.

He's worth it.

I'm all for helping out when I can. Unfortunately there are endless avenues of goodwill that need help! It's a dream of mine to have the luxury to one day devote a lot of time to charity or goodwill.

Although I enjoy many good (non-cheap) things, I have a more non materialistic philosophy towards life. I'm definitely not wired like most people.

I recently saw an interview with Angelina Jolie, and although I'm sure she has her own issues like everyone else, I have a newfound respect for her for the charities that she drives. Of course, she can afford to do what she does.

However, I have also learned not to judge people by how much they donate and who they donate to. It's too presumptious and self-righteous. Most people do some good in their lives.. a little here... a little there.. who are we to judge what is acceptable or not? That question can easily be posed back on any of us. And unless you are COMPLETELY sacrificing your entire life for good causes, then it can be argued that you just aren't doing enough.

C'est la vie!

I agree, Franz. Not everyone has the means to help out large scale, so we should remember that those who are helping out on a small or local level are still making an effort to help. Hell, I haven't done anything major. I hope to one day, but haven't yet. I think it's all about a person's intent when they make some move to help others. If their intentions are good, then they are good for having them.

Alot of people have this problem in the US too. Alot of people struggle and cant get help of any kind. It is a bigger problem in other countries but, in all honesty i'd rather use what money I have to give to help AMERICANS. If I had extra money of course i'd give it to other countries too, but first and foremost are americans. Actually, no, Thats wrong - First Americans, Second ANIMALS, third people in other countries. Now, the reason I say that- and don't get all mad like 'she loves animals more than people' , it's just that so many other people help humans, but rarely do people help animals. Sadly animals have no voice accept us......Anyway, hope my point is made without anyone getting upset. I hate bothering people
Love americans
Love your furry/scaley / finned friends
THEN love other countrymen

But don't you see that even the poorest people in America still have it better than the people of other places such as Darfur or Iraq? In America, even if you are very poor, there are social programs in place that those other nations don't have. There are public schools for the kids. There are ways to get things like food. In other countries, it is far more hopeless, as those people have none of those resources at their disposal. To say "put America first" is essentially going against the intent of this thread, which is to emphasize that all citizens of the world are people just like us who deserve our help. To make a distinction placing Americans, who have it much better than others, above the citizens of certain other nations is to miss the point completely.

people need to start doing little things to make this world a better place. it doesnt take very much to be lets say a mentor, 1 hour a week at a local elementary school to show a child that hes worth something to this world. putting money for something is easy, making time in your schedule is so much more efficient.
when someone asks me to donate money, i still cant say no if i actualy have cash on me ( i dont have a checkbook)
but it gets me thinking, Bill gates doesnt donate to charities, he organises people to go build a hospital. he makes sure the money gets to the people who need it, and dont get lost on 100000000 middle men.
People who donate money in my opinion should be more aware that only a small percentage goes to where it should go.
off topic but same with donating for cancer. the majority of the money that the canadian cancer society receieves goes into education. you know what this education is?! panphlets that tell you that you should eat right, not smoke and excercise.
money isnt used in the right way in most situations. what we CAN do is give up a bit of time, when we can. if you cant so be it. Im thinking of anna mostly, full time mom/wife/student....
but for most i dont think its a hassle. I was working 40 rhs a week, had