Patterico's Pontifications

12/25/2008

The Giving Spirit (Updated)

Filed under: Miscellaneous — DRJ @ 4:08 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Part of Christmas is the spirit of giving and this interview with Simon Cowell of American Idol fame made me think about what that spirit really means:

And speaking of “Idol Gives Back” …

“There won’t be an “Idol Gives Back” this year. With what’s happening in the world, I don’t think it feels right to tell couples with mortgages that they’ve got to start donating money to charities when they’ve got enough problems at home.

The second thing is, looking at “Idol Gives Back” in the future, we are going to have to up the balance of how much money is going to American charities, because I think it’s important that we give more…We will be doing this again, but it just didn’t seem appropriate this year.”

I’m sure this makes sense to Cowell and probably to a lot of people: Why ask people to sacrifice when they’re hurting? But the need for charity is even greater when more people are hurting. It could be that Cowell believes his audience has no ability to make good giving decisions so he won’t ask them to give. If so, I feel sorry for him and the viewers whose judgment he holds in such low esteem.

Here’s a thought: Every year, Cowell could encourage American Idol viewers to give generously of their time and money to charities of their choice, and his show could publicize examples of how giving makes a difference. Alternatively, if Cowell thinks it’s important that American Idol leads the effort, he could start by reducing his salary and the show could donate from its profits to make up for any difference in prior giving. (This shouldn’t be a hardship since a recent report indicates Cowell makes £250,000 a day from his businesses.) They could call it American Idol Really Gives Back.

UPDATE — I think this is a better perspective on giving:

“The markets were crashing and Christmas was coming when Pastor Doug Ferguson stepped up to the pulpit of Houston’s Grace Presbyterian Church with $5,000 in his back pocket. He preached about generosity, neighborly love and the meaninglessness of worldly wealth. Then he handed out $100 bills.

His instructions were simple: Use the money to spread comfort and joy. Show some kindness to strangers. And report back in 90 days on what you did.

Ferguson hoped the assignment would lift his congregants above the fray of financial collapse and refocus their thoughts on the real meaning of Christmas: by investing in people instead of stocks. It wasn’t a unique sentiment from a man of the cloth, but the novelty of his approach inspired a fresh fervor in his flock.

The Sunday morning challenge unleashed creative and charitable impulses that some congregants had been hiding under a bushel. In the weeks that followed, they bought shoes for the homeless and a plane ticket for a woman who couldn’t afford to see her son graduate from boot camp in the U.S. Marine Corps. They invited needy children to build gingerbread houses and sent medical equipment to Third World countries.

But they didn’t stop with their $100 bills. Their investments were fruitful. They multiplied.”

Read and be inspired by the whole thing.

— DRJ

12 Responses to “The Giving Spirit (Updated)”

  1. What America needs is a windfall profits tax on entertainers.

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  2. I’ve updated the post with another perspective on giving during tough times.

    DRJ (30954e)

  3. […] details: The Giving Spirit (Updated) […]

    The Giving Spirit (Updated) | kozmom (9d25bf)

  4. Great story, DRJ. I am so inspired by the example of that Pastor. Like the word says “Let us not love in words but in deed and in truth.” Faith without works is dead. Hard times is no excuse for stingyness.

    love2008 (1b037c)

  5. Merry Xmas DRJ

    Thanks for all that you do, its been an enjoyable 2008

    Thanks again

    EricPWJohnson (5a816b)

  6. Eric,

    I especially like to discuss topics with you because you always press me to think things through. Keep it up in 2009!

    DRJ (30954e)

  7. Clearly Pastor Ferguon is a neo-theocon godbotherer who wants to impose a theocracy on the American public.

    JD (ba27e7)

  8. Via Drew M over at Ace’s, here’s a great story on the subject, a modern day George Bailey.

    Great post, DRJ. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

    Pablo (99243e)

  9. What a sad, shallow set we have in Hollywood.

    As for the pastor, that is a beautiful story. We served food and wrote Christmas cards for the homeless at a shelter today. It was so beautiful and they were so grateful. I had more than one person tell me that they felt so special to be waited on, and have gifts and cards for their relatives. It made me feel so small to think that I only give a few hours and a few dollars here and there to this cause. Jesus would have invited these people to come and live with him, not just feed and clothe them on the holidays.

    Americans could spend a few less hours a week watching American Idol and spend a few more hours doing good for their communities. That would be a good start.

    carlitos (ae0b26)

  10. It could be that Cowell believes his audience has no ability to make good giving decisions so he won’t ask them to give. If so, I feel sorry for him and the viewers whose judgment he holds in such low esteem.

    Judging by who the viewers have voted for recently (Beat-box boy? Sanjaya?!??!), I think Cowell has reason to doubt their good sense.

    DarthRove (f8c3f9)

  11. The pastor knew, just like F. A. Hayek knew, that the best solutions are local.

    Someone should make Bush and Obama write this on the blackboard, repeatedly.

    Patricia (89cb84)

  12. Over at Washington Monthly, they have the solution to the economic malaise we are in. Repeal Prop 13 so we can raise property taxes. If Democrats could bring prosperity by raising taxes, we would be in nirvana. Instead, California looks headed for bankruptcy, and soon.

    I gave 50 bucks to my favorite bassett rescue shelter because they had 5 feet of snow last week and are trying to care for 100 abandoned bassett hounds. A lot of animal lovers are pretty dumb about it but these folks do a lot of good for some pretty down-on-their-luck hounds. Many of them are donated by families that are in financial trouble, some to avoid vet bills. They just leave the dog there.

    About six years ago, Cindy and I adopted a bassett from that shelter that was partially paraplegic. Charley was an angel and lived with us for four years. For the last year, he wore a diaper. If you haven’t seen a bassett hound in a diaper, you’ve missed out.

    Mike K (531ff4)


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