That was crap

New Zealanders spend around about as much on Lotto each week of the year (and way more in a big jackpot week) as they were willing to give out to underpriviledged children through the Big Night In Telethon this past weekend. That sucks.

I didn't read the trade me message boards but Les tells me that the negative comments were along the lines of "Why should I spend my money because some kids parents don't get off their bum to give them a bowl of weet-bix in the morning?"

That's why. Because they don't.

And I can categorically say there was never ever a kid born that deserved to get those people as parents. It was just incredibly bad luck.

But they did get those parents and some got some parents that have the best of intentions and are doing their absolute best but quite simply can't make ends meet. I was one of those kids almost- we had some pretty tight weeks when I was a kid.

Apparently there are even some of these people in my neighbourhood- the Air Force recently asked for food donations for it's members. Because we are currently in a recession and higher salaried spouses are losing the jobs that were paying the mortgage. And it's nigh impossible to survive on an RNZAF wage with cheap rent let alone with a mortgage.

But back to those kids. If you pay now...

• you keep them warm
• you keep them fed
• you keep them healthy
• you put them in a better frame of mind to receive their education.
• you give them pride
• they feel cared for a little more
• You increase their potential hugely.

If you don't pay now...

• they get sick
• they burden the health system
• they fail in school
• they burden the social welfare system
• they have no pride
• they burden the justice system
• no one cares, the child doesn't care
• potential is a distant dream
• they burden the tax system and you pay later.

It's that simple not all of them will end up in that situation, not even half, many of those kids will make it to be productive, caring, thoughtful and valuable adults. But if even one of them doesn't because a fellow countryman didn't want to lend a hand and give a few dollars then that's just crap.
We don't have heaps but we gave what we could and that's all they asked.

♥