opinions about poverty and giving

[kahrshooter]

This would all make sense, except the overseas charity is not just charity, it is a means to an end.

"When you talk of God to a hungry man, he hears you with his stomach."

Quite a few of the charity programs are almost completely missionary in focus, and the food/medicine/clothing/village improvements are "carrots" to get the foreign folk to listen to their proselytizing .

Most of the hungry/homeless/hurting poor in this country have already been exposed to Christianity, so not as much effort is put forward, towards them, by those wishing to "win hearts and minds", as well as souls.

IMO.

 

[inkdaddy]

One of the reasons we are who we are........found on the Statue of Liberty.....
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

The people of this great Nation should ALWAYS come before anyone else!

 

[gr8full2day]

Those people overseas only care about the food and the shelter. They are NOT converting at alarming rates and not going to change their centuries old culture because some well intentioned gringos showed up, with a wonderful message. I think sending missionaries overseas is an extreme misuse of funds. I would never support going over seas to feed people until everyone in your community is taken care of first. Of course, maybe that is why we do not go to any church currently....

 

[jjmikolacjik]

The problem with over seas missions is that they are a means to an end of life. The food programs, medical, std are all controlled by whatever military junta is in power at the time. We are not doing anything to stop the genocide but we sure are doing a whole hell of a lot to keep them going.
Imagine if we took the 25 billion the government spent on Africa each year and used it at home? Imagine if the 15-30 billion private us aid money was spent here. We could really make a change. Yet Africa chic to care about and Americans are not. Our own people believe this, how disgusting and disturbing is that?

 

[yellowhammer]

I give to local charities and overseas charities.It`s my money,and nobody else`s business.PERIOD!

 

[BIGLEW]

I give to local charities and overseas charities.It`s my money,and nobody else`s business.PERIOD!

True that. However I would like to see the tax dollar stay here first.

 

[jjmikolacjik]

I give to local charities and overseas charities.It`s my money,and nobody else`s business.PERIOD!

it may be your money but please be thoughtful when you donate to places both here and overseas. Ensure that your money goes to exactly where you want it and not to a charity that will take YOUR CHARITY to pay for their TRIP to somewhere. Remember as with most over sea's charities only a quarter of every dollar gets to where it needs to go. I know that it may not change your opinion with YOUR money but please at least be conscious of the above mentioned thoughts when donating.

 

[Gacowboy]

Amen, start in your own city or town.

 

[greatflake]

mission trip = free vacation with a little volunteer work.. keep that money at home. not until every child in this great country goes to bed with a full belly and a mind full of knowledge, should we put any money on foriegn soil. if you dont like that, go live with em!

 

[dwalt]

I agree with pretty much everything that's been said here. One quote that's really stuck with me, however, is:

"the best thing you can do for a hungry man is teach him how to cook"

I think that education is something that needs to be looked at here as well...but that's a wholeeeee different story, now isn't it