Today at the grocery store the lady at the checkout asked me, as they have all summer, “Would you like to donate a dollar to help cure muscular dystrophy?” My answer? “No”. I have nothing against finding the cure for muscular dystrophy. I said “no” because I think that is a rude tactic. What is someone supposed to say? “No, I’d really rather watch them suffer”, or “No, I’m so cheap that I won’t even give a measly buck to a perfectly worthy cause”. You either give as a good person or you don’t as a weasel. There are no other options. So, because I’m offended by the whole process, I just say “no” – with a smile on my face of course. For some reason I find it highly humorous that I just said no to muscular dystrophy. I almost break into a chuckle even as I type this. I’ve also said no to breast cancer. Man, I’m one nasty shmuck. It’s because of people like me that the world is the way it is.
Would it hurt to give a buck each time I go? Isn’t it really a good thing? Wouldn’t Jesus give a buck? Surely he wouldn’t say “no” while grinning from ear to ear. I’m conflicted…
No I’m not. A buck is a buck. I give to causes I choose to give to. If I want to give to your cause I will. Otherwise, stop hawking your agenda in my face. I just wanted to get some milk, for crying out loud! What about the poor dairy farmers? Why don’t I get any credit for helping them?
Do people feel this way about missionaries? Uh-oh… This doesn’t help my new plan to raise support outside the grocery store.
Have to agree on this one,
I’ve had cashier requests for donations at my grocery store, Walgreens and Office Max; it’s one thing to put a jar for “Jerry’s Kids’” next to the register, it’s something completely different to have the cashier ask for donations.
Thankfully, this hasn’t happened every time I go to the store (yet) and if it does I would start telling cashiers to tell their bosses I’ll shop elsewhere if it doesn’t stop.
The wonderful thing about giving is it’s something you get to do without being directly asked, that’s what makes it feel good; when you take that out of the equation it turns into “guilting” not giving.
Of course Dave, you and my father would be the ones that would say, “No, I’m way to cheap.”