I’ll always lend a hand whenever I can, but I recently realized it has been awhile since I devoted any significant portion of my precious free time to philanthropy. Admittedly, my better half’s persuasive eyes were a major motivator. But
I’ll always lend a hand whenever I can, but I recently realized it has been awhile since I devoted any significant portion of my precious free time to philanthropy.
Admittedly, my better half’s persuasive eyes were a major motivator. But regardless the impetus, it felt good to spend some hours last weekend helping the humane society set up for its biggest fundraiser of the year.
And why not volunteer for the animals? What better benevolent cause is there than standing up for a creature who can’t speak up for itself and whose life depends in large part on our actions? We’re all part of the same kingdom.
And with humans acting more like animals lately than animals — throwing crosses and Qurans at each other, robbing thousands of innocent for dozens of guilty, trampling the rights of the majority for the privilege of the few — I’m in no hurry to dedicate my all-too-short days to people.
Even in trying times, we must rise above the greedy pursuit of the individual and preserve the power of the collective. If we can’t do it through logical reasoning and civil discourse, utilizing our capacity with language and symbolic thinking, we’re no better than animals.
We must be smart enough to recognize the venal from the vigilant while paying heed to Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Putting my selfish apprehension aside, last weekend I chose to give back, and so did dozens of others. And it felt good. Real good. Maybe not as good as spending the day surfing or hiking, but it was raining all day anyway… I kid.
Seeing all the hard work come to fruition the next night, with Willie K and his band livening up the evening for hundreds of guests after a robust silent auction, made it all the more worthwhile.
I realize that, especially on Kaua‘i, we’re blessed with a population filled with people who donate their time and money to a wide variety of noble causes on a regular basis.
While our committed newsroom does its best to spread the word about these endeavors in the paper, it’s an honor to be welcomed among you as I engage more directly.
So cheers to charities and helping them however we can to achieve their honest goals.
