2008 Woodie Awards
Charity should be all year, not just Christmas
Jessica Powers
Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: Opinion
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It's December again. There are so many things associated with this time of year: finals, the first snowball fight, sipping hot chocolate while wrapped in a warm blanket and that really annoying guy ringing a bell outside the mall.
Charity is a big thing associated with December and Christmas. Several organizations sponsor charitable works targeted to people during the holidays. Yet, for a time period that is supposed to be about good will toward all mankind and "Christian" love, people sure don't act very Christ-like.
This is a major annoyance of mine, because people act like such hypocrites during December. These are the people who have Christmas carols and Christian music playing on the radio in their car but will flip you off and cuss at you in traffic if you don't go fast enough. These are the people who talk so much about their love of Jesus but will run over you in a store to get the last of this year's "it" gift.
And if you dare go to the mall during December, you will be inundated by the rudest, most inconsiderate people you've ever had the misfortune to be near.
These same people will then turn around, leave the mall, drop a few dollars in the jingling Santa's bowl, pat themselves on the back because they gave to charity and think their meager donation really saved someone. They will be satisfied and content with themselves for their "great gift" to those less fortunate until the next year, when they will repeat the process.
It seems to me that the Christmas-time charities are not for the needy, but actually for an ego boost and bragging rights for mock Christians. Granted, some charities really do focus on helping people during the winter months, such as the Evelyn Rivers coat drive. That is a charitable event that is helpful and useful. But really think about it, after December 26, how much press does the coat drive get? None.
Now it is still cold during January, February and March. But once people have done their one little good deed for the year to spare the Christmas guilt, they never once think about helping the needy.
Charity is a big thing associated with December and Christmas. Several organizations sponsor charitable works targeted to people during the holidays. Yet, for a time period that is supposed to be about good will toward all mankind and "Christian" love, people sure don't act very Christ-like.
This is a major annoyance of mine, because people act like such hypocrites during December. These are the people who have Christmas carols and Christian music playing on the radio in their car but will flip you off and cuss at you in traffic if you don't go fast enough. These are the people who talk so much about their love of Jesus but will run over you in a store to get the last of this year's "it" gift.
And if you dare go to the mall during December, you will be inundated by the rudest, most inconsiderate people you've ever had the misfortune to be near.
These same people will then turn around, leave the mall, drop a few dollars in the jingling Santa's bowl, pat themselves on the back because they gave to charity and think their meager donation really saved someone. They will be satisfied and content with themselves for their "great gift" to those less fortunate until the next year, when they will repeat the process.
It seems to me that the Christmas-time charities are not for the needy, but actually for an ego boost and bragging rights for mock Christians. Granted, some charities really do focus on helping people during the winter months, such as the Evelyn Rivers coat drive. That is a charitable event that is helpful and useful. But really think about it, after December 26, how much press does the coat drive get? None.
Now it is still cold during January, February and March. But once people have done their one little good deed for the year to spare the Christmas guilt, they never once think about helping the needy.