Karma of Recieving

There is an old philosophy question that has to do with giving. Today I got a phone call that made me think about it from the other end. The karma of receiving.

So a woman from a telemarketing company calls on behalf of my local firefighters who want to raise money for the children in the burn ward at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (ie CHEO). I can buy five tickets “at nine dollars each plus a little bit of tax” to see magicians, where all proceeds go to CHEO. Would I like to help the children?

The only way I can answer this is with a yes or a no. A no implies, “No, I CHOOSE NOT to help these CHILDREN. I was never a child, and will never have any. The children can burn in hell.” (cruel pun intended)

“Oh,” She says, “well, you can donate a sum and send it in the self addressed stamped envelope that we will provide for you.”

The only way I can answer this is with a yes or a no. A no implies, “No, I CHOOSE NOT to help these CHILDREN even though you have made it exceedingly EASY for me to donate a sum of money."

Can you see what my problem is? It’s not can I help, it’s will I help. Implying that I have every ability and won’t. Also, they use phrases that make a person feel more guilty, as I’ve so bluntly pointed out in my story thus far. The marketing ploys they are using are the same as those used in consumerism. Except, instead of playing on your need or want, they play on your guilt. And both these marketing “tools” use a “what you get out of it” method (with a magic show…for you and four friends). It doesn’t matter that you donate to CHEO all the time, not to mention other charities. They don’t look at that at all. In fact, if a charitable organization sees that you’ve donated a couple times, they know you are likely to donate again, and then they spew more marketing at you. “You’ll get a breast cancer bear, a calendar for the year 2005 with cuddly kitties, etc.”

Don’t get the wrong impression of me, I’m for charity, and not-for-profit, but I’m upset that they have to resort to shameless marketing to sustain themselves as originations that help people, where huge corporations can violate human social rights and needlessly pollute the environment while being mind-bogglingly profitable. Shouldn’t it be innate for us to care? Shouldn’t it be in our blood? After all, it’s in you to give.