Charity 2008
Decision 2008 is like Saimoe 2008; sound, fury, and there are better way to spend your time and money.
One way is to play games. Penny Arcade makes charitable donation into a game itself. It’s a great cause and I know many of you do pitch in already like myself. Anyways, it’s called Child’s Play. They’re not open for business for 2008 yet, so it’s just a placeholder for now.
But to be honest sick kids don’t need games. They need health. However, poor kids do–at least they tend to be healthy enough to enjoy games, and it’s more satisfying when you give it to them. It’s like pouring water into a sand dune or something. Sick kids are more like, barren dirt I guess, but that doesn’t make them more or less deserving even if they just muck up your clothes. And having the opportunity to give gifts to abandoned kids for the past few years, I think it really is something that can make you feel like a better person.
November is actually the best time to talk about charitable giving. December is when all the seasonal givers dish out, and since it takes some time to prepare and get ready you have to do it right about now. Anyways, let me jump the gun a bit on this fine Election Day 2008.
Despite its religious affiliation, this is as wholesome giving as it gets: Operation Christmas Child is only one letter away from Out Of Character, but you actually get to pack a shoebox for the kid directly. It’s nuts. Sure, they screen stuff and you just can’t pack anything under the sun, but it offers a lot of flexibility for you to express yourself through your charity. Even if it’s to down-trodden African children who may not be so culturally tied to this subcultural niche you and I live within. Nonetheless it can be fun and rewarding.
Lastly–why donate? Because if you can fuel a drug habit like buying anime, you can spare the love to give that away as well. A copy of Yotsuba& can go a long way, for example. I mean, heck, if Ryu Moto think it’s one of the best Japan has to offer, it’s probably not a bad pick.
[edit: As of Nov. 7th, Child’s Play’s website is now back in business for 2008 and go ahead and donate away. I think they are preferring money donation this year, but anything is good. Also the Wii made it possible to bring games and health together. Imagine that.]
I’ve made it a habit to donate ten (US) dollars to Child’s Play whenever it comes around. I don’t really know why I started, but it just seems weird not to donate now. (Or to donate any other amount, for that matter.)
I think that’s a good habit, although you should give appropriately to your own personal situation.