So in winning an award at the VMA’s Miley Cyrus had an ex-homeless man accept her award. Publicity stunt or genuine act of charity? Who knows, but i don’t believe that any charitable act can be done one hundred percent selflessly. In all honesty i don’t think there is such a thing as a selfless person, emotionally everybody gains something, whether a person is willing to admit it or not.
This got me in trouble before, i don’t dispute that charitable acts are a good thing to do, quite the opposite. They’re a much needed force in a world full of horror, and ignorance. However, i do think that we all – deep down – get that good feeling when we donate, because we’re being a good person. Once again i’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but it is a signal of the old saying “charity starts at home”; it starts with our feeling better. I do it myself, i say “there’s my good deed for the day”, my acknowledgement clarifies my argument. Feel free to disagree, i’m not expecting you to agree.
We’ve seen a number of charitable acts in the past few weeks, concerning the ALS ice bucket challenge. With my nomination came the decision to politely decline. I whole heartedly do not agree with testing on animals, having always been surrounded by dogs i don’t understand how one living creature can inflict such pain on another; in any form. Yet the charity for the Ice bucket challenge do, and although i understand it’s all for the greater good in the end; i just can’t comprehend it. And the catch in all of this, is as somebody pointed out to me yesterday charities are never going to completely divulge the methods they use to get results, which means we are all left in the dark. Some people won’t think about it, and that’s fair enough. They’re exercising their right to express their own opinion; however i am torn. Is it right to give money to charities which inflict pain on other living creatures to save another? Is this where we’re supposed to put Bentham & Mill’s utilitarianism into place? It just leaves one question; what if it is wrong and we’re actively helping in it?
anastasiacatherine 