Should You NOT Donate Money to Japan?
I was doing my daily ritual of scanning Google News when something that I could not believe I was actually reading caught my eye. I actually did a double-take to make sure I read the title right, and when I found out I did, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Especially since I just shared a post regarding how to make donations to Japan.
A post on Reuters’ Felix Salmon carried the unbelievable title – at least for me – Don’t donate money to Japan. I will have to quote a comment from reader jondavid, who wrote: “I can’t believe the link to this story was in google news…and that it took me to Reuters!” My sentiments, exactly – at first.
The author began with the rather sweeping call to NOT give money to Japan – adding further that Japan has lots of money in the first place, so why bother? These were such strong statements, at least in my opinion, at a time of suffering and crisis. It all seems so insensitive and unnecessary, because help is help is help, regardless of the form that it comes as. And there is no denying that Japan needs help – financial or otherwise.
As I read along, I realize that the thought of the post was far from selfish; it would have been better, however, if it was written in a more positive light. But then again, it wouldn’t have had that much of an impact. I will have to agree with the author that we don’t have to just give money to Japan, and we do not have to stop after that crisis is over. We can give to the Red Cross or to Doctors Without Borders at any time, and extend a helping hand to anybody who is in need, anywhere in the world.