I have rather ambivalent attitude towards charity events that involve eating. There are quite a few of them in Denmark . You sign in to eat food and than you pay for it. The money you spend are donated to charity.
Yes, I can definitely see the point that it is about helping those who are in need. But on the other hand I find it deeply disgusting to think about bunch of people filling themselves with gourmet food and flushing it with expensive wine, looking around with the self enjoyment. "I am so good. I've just ate 300 gram steak with good conscience. I don't have to feel bad that people die of hunger, while I am eating more than I need. I've paid myself out of it."
It gives the new meaning to I consume therefore I am.
I have a hard time accepting it. For me it is just an excuse to have a good meal and use it as recognition factor. It is contradictory. If you want to help, just help. Not eat!
What happened to the simple need of helping the less fortunate without getting something in return? Did we bury the altruism virtue away? Don't we feel the moral obligation of helping others any longer? Aren't we able to do a simple act of helping even though if it means we need to sacrifice our own interest?
August Comte wrote long time ago in Catechism of Positivism "Man must serve Humanity, whose we are entirely." Living simply for others can seem like unachievable virtue, but in fact is about asking yourself a question: how can I make those people life a bit better and reaching the helping hand out.
We have so much to give....
Photo by Carf
