I’d like to commend Jason Browne for a thoughtful article, “Give wealth to enrich humankind,” in the Feb. 24 edition of The Reflector. While I greatly appreciate a concern for the seriously indigent, malnourished and impoverished peoples of the world, it would be utterly impractical and unworkable to equally distribute the world’s wealth among its 6 to 7 billion people. Browne admits that this is, as he puts it, an “admittedly far-fetched concept.”
But in the last paragraph of his article, Browne implies we are essentially helpless to do anything to financially advance the well-being of the world’s impoverished. He says: “I regret I don’t have a solution to this problem. The best I can do is to beg anyone who feels they do to speak up.”
While I would never suggest that I have any remotely adequate solution to this troubling dilemma, I would like to encourage others to at least distribute small portions of their relative economic wealth to the less fortunate of the world. Donate money to one or more of the good nonprofit organizations that greatly benefit many poor, starving or disadvantaged children and adults in countries where grinding poverty is common.
One might quickly protest that such organizations cannot be relied upon to actually distribute the donations to the poor. While there certainly might be some disreputable organizations that claim nonprofit status, spending donations for their personal use, it is certain that, given the readily available means of seeking accountability from major charities, one can find reliable and praiseworthy organizations with only a minimal amount of research.
As for myself, I’ve been giving monthly donations to a highly reputable organization that provides food, clothing, shelter, career preparation, etc., to homeless youngsters, many of whom were abused by parents or other adult caregivers. This organization is Covenant House, and it has shelters for homeless young people in various U.S. cities.
I’m also sponsoring a child in Guatemala through a good organization-my funds help provide medical aid, clothing, etc., to this sponsored child. I’m certainly not seeking to toot my horn by mentioning this. I only wish to point out how I know from personal experience that one can make a difference-even if it’s only a relatively small difference on an individual basis-through appropriately established, legal and credible organizations.
We cannot by any means equally distribute the wealth of all the rich countries of the world to the poor countries, and I’m not suggesting that this would even be desirable; however, we can individually help distribute some of our personal financial assets to far less fortunate people.
I believe that we all owe it to our fellow humans-and to God-to give at least small portions of our relatively great wealth to the less fortunate. And this will make the world a somewhat better place. How could we lose by being this generous?