glad you asked. Money is merely a transmutable medium that travels well over distances. It is what it does. When it changes into a tent to shelter someone from the harsh cold after they've lost their home and everything they own, it does Something to alleviate their suffering. Would we rather say, well, it's not going to end All suffering to give a tent so let them just be in the cold? Doesn't make sense to me. Yes,and then we have to move onto food...and then reconstruction....and job opportunities...and healthcare...etcetc. Thing is,no matter how awesome a task it may seem, Together it's really doable. You have to give credit to all the people dedicated to this that merely need our support, need to be Enabled.
Money Enables aid of all different kinds. Usually we are not sending a dollar to land in paper form in the hand of someone suffering. If you look around, we are truly lucky enough to be living amongst many amazing human beings that are dedicated daily to helping to end suffering on all different levels with their own two hands. They band together into small groups and form large organizations...whether it is for bringing meals to the elderly and ill in their homes, or rebuilding after natural disasters, or teaching literacy or job-skills to enable someone to become self-sufficient, as many things as you can think of...there are thankfully people dedicated to it with their heart and hands. But their grandest efforts will crumble into ineffectiveness without financial support. You have to think of ways to help fuel these efforts...from the most visible (let's take the example of the tent), to the invisible (the shipping costs, the gas for the car of the volunteer running back and forth, a simple meal for the workers after constructing tents all day). We can do this and I feel it's the very least we can do. It's part of a great system that needs our help to function and grow.
You'd also be surprised to see when and where a very small amount of money itself (not even given but Lent)can raise an entire family out of a cycle of unecessary poverty. It's hard for us in the developed world to imagine how a lack of $12 to invest in a small business (raising chickens, basket-weaving, a sewing machine) can be the Barrier that is insurmountable. Should we band together to lift that tiny barrier if it means an opportunity for self-sufficiency, dignity and a rise out of poverty for a family? If it means being able to have their kids be able to go to school, have milk and food, etc? um, Yeah.I think so. I've been reading more about micro-loans as a one tool for ending poverty and it's really fascinating and hopeful.
So in the end, does money end this suffering? It is an indispensible help in the process. If we all just throw our hands up, say suffering will never end, and look the other way...well, sadly we'll be right. Because what is needed is our awareness and cooperation, our willingness to Try. Personally I'm trying this experiment (http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=10percentclub) because I want to see as much suffering end as possible in my lifetime..and I figure that's got to include me. It's been an amazing and eye-opening journey so far and it's only the beginning.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-11-12 03:34 pm (UTC)Money is merely a transmutable medium that travels well over distances. It is what it does.
When it changes into a tent to shelter someone from the harsh cold after they've lost their home and everything they own, it does Something to alleviate their suffering. Would we rather say, well, it's not going to end All suffering to give a tent so let them just be in the cold? Doesn't make sense to me.
Yes,and then we have to move onto food...and then reconstruction....and job opportunities...and healthcare...etcetc. Thing is,no matter how awesome a task it may seem, Together it's really doable. You have to give credit to all the people dedicated to this that merely need our support, need to be Enabled.
Money Enables aid of all different kinds. Usually we are not sending a dollar to land in paper form in the hand of someone suffering. If you look around, we are truly lucky enough to be living amongst many amazing human beings that are dedicated daily to helping to end suffering on all different levels with their own two hands. They band together into small groups and form large organizations...whether it is for bringing meals to the elderly and ill in their homes, or rebuilding after natural disasters, or teaching literacy or job-skills to enable someone to become self-sufficient, as many things as you can think of...there are thankfully people dedicated to it with their heart and hands. But their grandest efforts will crumble into ineffectiveness without financial support. You have to think of ways to help fuel these efforts...from the most visible (let's take the example of the tent), to the invisible (the shipping costs, the gas for the car of the volunteer running back and forth, a simple meal for the workers after constructing tents all day). We can do this and I feel it's the very least we can do. It's part of a great system that needs our help to function and grow.
You'd also be surprised to see when and where a very small amount of money itself (not even given but Lent)can raise an entire family out of a cycle of unecessary poverty. It's hard for us in the developed world to imagine how a lack of $12 to invest in a small business (raising chickens, basket-weaving, a sewing machine) can be the Barrier that is insurmountable. Should we band together to lift that tiny barrier if it means an opportunity for self-sufficiency, dignity and a rise out of poverty for a family? If it means being able to have their kids be able to go to school, have milk and food, etc? um, Yeah.I think so. I've been reading more about micro-loans as a one tool for ending poverty and it's really fascinating and hopeful.
So in the end, does money end this suffering? It is an indispensible help in the process. If we all just throw our hands up, say suffering will never end, and look the other way...well, sadly we'll be right. Because what is needed is our awareness and cooperation, our willingness to Try.
Personally I'm trying this experiment (http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=10percentclub) because I want to see as much suffering end as possible in my lifetime..and I figure that's got to include me. It's been an amazing and eye-opening journey so far and it's only the beginning.