Hey Lidge!!!
just kill me now, i know when i have been soundly thrashed... lol
lol (edit: meaning i am enjoying the debate !!!and i have no further response. lol)
I bow to redneck and his "logic" as mine is considerably flawed with emotional influences.(edit: he is an excellent debater!!!)
(edit: sorry, should have been a seperate paragraph, this is just a story i wanted to share about what we do.)
When i made the comment about using the money for other purposes, i didn't think there were that many people that had axes to grind. I do find it hard to understand how millions and billions can be spent on other things ( valued or not ), when on a daily basis i look into the eyes of a child, young adult, or elderly and all i see is the empty stares of human beings that deserve better than they have. Abandoned through consequences and choices made by others, these unfortunate souls are still looking to the future, looking desperately for a miracle that otherwise wouldn't come if not for the efforts like those with whom i am associated.
last year we fed over 1000 families, sometimes on a daily basis
last year we found housing for almost a hundred families
last year we recycled and resupplied more than 25 families that lost their homes and everything they owned due to some disaster (natural or otherwise).
One family we helped at Christmas had two children. the little boy (about 6 years old) looked at me strangely when i was helping to deliver the household goods, toys, bicycles and computers. I was wearing a red NASCAR Officials Jacket ( because i am a retired Winston Cup Technical Inspector). My hair was a little long, and white and i was actually a little heavier than i am now. The little boy asked me if I was Santa Claus... (yeah i was that big and round). I told him no, i was not Santa , but I was one of Santa's Helpers. I asked him why he thought I was Santa. He then proceeded to tell me of the terrible fire that took his home, and all his toys and clothes. He told me that I looked like Santa. He then told me that I had to be Santa because i brought him MORE and BETTER stuff than what he had before it "all got burned up". This family went from having almost nothing, losing it in a fire, to having a nicer home, better food, clothing and household goods. This led to a better job, a better car, a better way of life and it would not have been possible had it not been for a few dedicated, loving individuals who decided to look beyond the societal thinkiing that there will always be less fortunate, we looked beyond the excuses others make for not helping those less fortunate because we believe they deserve better, if for no other reason than they are Human.
We believe they are worth saving...
just thought you should know what my thinking was and if i offended anyone in the beginning,
get over it.