Charitable Ignorance

Yesterday I blogged about attending a United Way rally. Well, yesterday afternoon I got to overhear a conversation at work that made me a little irritated. A contractor was asking other coworkers how much they were going to contribute. Naturally, nobody answered, because that's kind of a personal thing. But after he asked he went on a rant about how he feels its all wrong that companies "strong-arm" people into donating to the United Way.

I don't think they strong-arm anybody (or at least in the companies I've worked for). I think they present info that you can choose to ignore or engage in.

This same man* went on about how he thinks it's ridiculous to give money to these organizations. His quote, "I take care of me first. I think people can give money when they have it to give, you know after you put your kids through school, your mortgage is paid, and all that." He then went on to say how the United Way isn't important and it doesn't matter if anybody gives money.

I was kind of stunned by this. Now, I know many people don't choose to give or give in other ways. That's everybody's own decision. But to say that the United Way doesn't matter and to make people sound like fools for giving is downright ignorant? I think these agencies do a lot of good for a lot of people. Hopefully he never has to learn why the United Way exists.

*Of course, I already have issues with this guy, because I previously heard him in a conversation about how cats are thoroughly expendable animals. That particular conversation nearly drove me to break my no confrontation rule, as that made me quite angry.