The Problem of Charity by K'naan

[peasant]

Very interesting piece by K'naan the poet.

 

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The thing about charity that we rarely consider is what it steals from those it gives. It seems we've all subscribed to some dogma, ordering that anyone with a few bucks, some organizational skill, or likes Angelina Jolie, can and should help the less fortunate.

I wonder what would happen if the charity receivers were privately assembled to give their honest opinions on their sponsors. I'm reminded of a certain acquaintance, who came to my rescue once regarding a matter. There can be no faults recounted on the fervor and passion in which my acquaintance tried to help me resolve the matter. Only after the fact though, did I begin to realize how I was to repay this debt. My personal gratitude almost an unnecessary annoyance, the acquaintance began to use every public opportunity of my sighting to recall aloud the instance in which they came to my rescue. Sort of like a senile person telling the same joke over and over again. Except my personal moment of desperation took the place of that slow and patience defying joke. To the helper, much like the senile person, you cannot say "Hey, you're repeating yourself again". Instead, it is more appropriate to observe the secret code of being a charitable cause: to put on a polite smile, and to nod your way into regret.

 

So for this reason, I feel there should be a qualifying factor as to who should be allowed to set up a charity. If you have to get a driver's license to operate a motor vehicle, I don't see why we shouldn't require one to operate people's lives. I'm aware that there can be no true way to govern these matters, but at least we could start with some questions.

 

For example: Dear helper, what drives you to do what you do?

 

When thinking about what to write for IMPACT, considered a musician who has some cause-inspired music, it produced some very stirring questions. The answers to which troubled me enough to write this piece explaining the problem of charity. I feel it is wrong that the illumination of goodwill, the attention drawn from the holy halo of charity, be placed only on the helper's head. We're almost always single-track-minded about the exchange. Yes, I called charity an exchange. And isn't it? There is rarely a moment of true selflessness during the performance of charity. We can't help it. It's how we're built. We always need some kind of a return on our investments. At its worst, charity springs from our ego's need to be seen as good, or to attain material profit from the misery of others. At its best, it is done to feel good about oneself, or to leave a good name behind.

 

Religion offers the best example of charity's identity crisis. Here, you're meant to be charitable to please God. And if you do, He might throw a few favors your way. Turns out everyone wants something. But what do the charitable ones want? Aside from good drinking water, digestible nutrition, some human rights, sanitation, aside from school even? They want to keep the one thing that almost intrinsically vanishes in the trade off: their dignity.

 

Ever heard the Bono joke? He's on stage performing a concert in Ireland and asks the crowd to be completely silent. Then proceeds to snap, and snap, and snap with just a second of a gab between the snapping. And then says, "every time I snap my fingers, an African child dies." And after a short heartfelt moment of silence, a voice from the crowd goes "Well stop bloody doing it then, ya cruel *******!" As amusing as I find this scenario to be, I can spot some truth in it. A lot of us awareness-raising-wannabe-activists want to keep snapping, even if all it took to stop malaria-related deaths was to quit the damn snapping. We do it because we need evil to exist in order to measure our goodness.

 

But, in our crooked humanity and its glory, I do think that certain selfishness is good selfishness. In fact, we can say it is necessary to be selfish in order to give. We just have to be honest about our reasons. It is okay to say, 'I want to help people because it's good for me.' It's okay to say, 'I do it not because I am so precious and kind, but because it is in my best interest to do so.' Everything you do for charity is ultimately for you. I am no exception. Some people have water, or literacy, or child rights. My little passion project has always been Somalia.

 

My obsessive desire to help better this place is also rooted in some form of selfishness. I want to fix it so that I can go back there for sentimental reasons. I want to preserve its culture of poetry because I think some of the greatest poetry in the planet is produced there. I want children in Somalia to have their right to life, to childhood, to education, to peaceful existence, because I know what it's like to lose some of those things. Because I now cannot enjoy those things fully, knowing others are without them. I do everything I do, ultimately for me, and for the unexplainable urge called Love. And yes, even love springs from the self, and therefore cannot be selfless. And yes, I do hope God could throw a few favors my way, too! So when you want to start a cause, or be involved in one, ask why. And if you find that the answers are all rooted in your own beautiful selfishness, don't be alarmed. You're a human being.

 

 

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/knaan/the-problem-of-charity_b_325252.html

[Ibtisam]

Loool, No shid Sherlock. It is for Meeeeeeeeee, so I don't have to feel bad, and guilty and YEs so Allah can reward me or deduct from my sins. Why else would I bother with the headache and embarrassment of begging on someone’s behalf.

 

You want to talk about dignity: There is no dignity in poverty and there is certainly no dignity on begging on behalf of the poor. Every time I ask for someone's contribution- I feel like I choking on a rock, It causes me anxiety, stress, battered self esteem and severe embarrassment. :mad:

[Chocolate and Honey]

Nice article, the brother can write.

Great points! It really bugs me everytime I see some celebrity's(the likes of Angelina)pictures blasted on newspapers and T.V for their charity or "cause" they call.I cant help but think publicity stunt :eek: . I mean nowdays it is the "the new capitalism", every rapper,actor,singer has some sort of charity they raise funds for. Hell, even some shitty shows as "the real housewives" have charities And if you want to see how self-centered, shady and greedy "charities" can be, just go watch them.

There is no such thing as selfless giving, period. We all want something in return; recognition, feeling good, ajar you name it. Thats why in Islam, the saying "Your left hand shouldnt know what your right hand gave" is a good rule.

Everytime I give something, I'm conflicted. I ask myself why am I doing it? Just the other day I wanted to help one of my kids whose family is having hard time(undocumented immigrants who were laid off and because they're illegal, they dont get any assistance)but I felt shitty about it because in order to meet his needs, I have to get my collegues involved and I had to share his struggles and I felt so bad because who am I to tell his story in order to get few measly bucks?ughh . In the end, I hope I "helped" but my reason for giving was to ease my concience so to speak because I feel guilty when I'm standing there teaching them civic duties, equality and character devolopment when I know they're dealing with much worse in their daily lives so by me helping them, I get to feel like I did something, that I atleast didnt stand by

[peasant]

Cmon Ibti and dont be discouraged by few misers who clinch on to the penny. You just have to improve your game plan and device various techniques to conceal your ultimate motive of helping others.

[Sophist]

Stuff staraight Sophia's world philosophy!

 

Sophist

[Miriam1]

^ lol

 

K'naan's working it. Coca Cola's theme song for World Cup, now publishing on Huffington !

 

He should run for prime-minister next !!! (yes..American's and UK' ppl..he's Canadian BRAP!) lol

[Hamse]

Originally posted by Sophist:

Stuff staraight Sophia's world philosophy!

 

Sophist

Haaaaa. you are so cruel. But who is the whispering instructor this time.

 

this is the nonsense ramblings of a teenage mind trying to find answers.

 

Here is K'naans next philosophical question:

 

Who are you? and Where does YOU-ness come from? ... if that is even a question.

[Paragon]

OK.