justincredible;1409750 wrote:Absolutely. Nothing is stopping you from helping out.
Stealing my money by force to give it to another country is complete bullshit. If you disagree, you're wrong. Simply put.
Here's the thing. I'm not even against doing it myself. I was serious about saying I'd contribute to such a cause. My contention is that I should be able to make the choice whether to do so or to refrain from doing so based on my own conscience and my own evaluation of the needs there versus the needs elsewhere versus the needs in my own home.
If I have $1000 to spare, and I wish to spare it charitably, I should be able to determine which causes of charity I think need it the most. Having that decided for me is NOT acceptable. If a man came to my door, asked me for the $1000 after telling me that he represents an organization that doles out money to charitable organizations as they see fit, I might give him pause. I'd ask him if there was any way for me to determine where my money goes. If he'd say no, I'd tell him to get off my porch.
Those in Syria might need money. I'm betting many in Greece and Cyprus do as well. Why should a person's experience in Syria ... the substantiation used for the claim that they need aid (which is not our immediate responsibility, politically) ... supersede the needs in other countries (or our own!), which may not be known simply because he hasn't visited those places as well? Does the fact that one person has seen the need in Syria carry more gravitas than the fact that those to whom I speak in Belfast, Paris, or Lome say they need it as well?
I can think of people I know in other countries that could use any aid I have to offer. I give them some occasionally. Should I attempt to enable the Federal government to give them everyone's money just because I know they need it? Certainly not.
I do believe charity is a moral obligation, but given everyone's experiences and circumstances being so different, I think it's an obligation that we are responsible to our consciences for ... not our government. Giving charity and aid is something we OUGHT to do out of what we do not need. Giving charity and aid is NOT something we should be COMPELLED to do out of what we OURSELVES need.
