There is Something Seriously Wrong with Our World

There is something seriously wrong with our world.  Our parish, like many others, offers a "Giving Tree" during this time of year.  The idea is that each family takes a paper ornament from the tree, on which is written a gift idea for a child in need.  The family is to purchase the gift and return it to the parish, who in turn delivers the gift to the family in need.  (Presumedly there is a larger organization "in charge" of this operation ... the parish acts as a middleman of sorts.)  To quell the risk of being misrepresented, let me clarify:  I support endeavors such as this.  As Christians, we are called to help our our brothers and sisters, and if a child is in need of certain things, the Advent Season is a good opportunity to step up our own personal acts of giving.  Certainly, this sort of elective charity at the local level is much better than the kind forced on us by government welfare programs (and has proven to be far more successful in actually helping people in need).

However ...

I have noticed over the years a trend governing the way in which the gift requests are written.  Growing up, I seem to remember very generic messages such as "Girl, 6 years old".  In the past several years, the age/gender description has been accompanied by gift suggestions, e.g., "Boy, 10 years old: Shoes, size 8." Again, to clarify my support of these programs, I am not opposed to the gift suggestions of sorts, particularly those that list items we might think of more as necessities: clothing, bed sheets, etc.

However ...

On this year's tree, I noticed not one, but two tags of varying age/gender, that read: "iPod".

There is something seriously wrong with our world when people think it is okay to ask for an iPod for a poor child whose parents cannot afford ... an iPod.  Call me Scrooge, call me heartless, but folks ... this is just plain wrong.

Charity cannot be tied solely to the inability to afford a certain item.  Somehow, it seems there is a simplicity that should govern gift suggestions.  While my heart is moved by the tag that reads: "Girl, 6 years old: twin bed sheets", I find it much harder to swallow the request for a high end piece of electronic equipment.

If the only requirement for seeking a charitable gift is the inability to afford it on one's own, then I think next year I will jump on the Giving Tree bandwagon and submit my own ornament: "Man, 33 years old: Convertible BMW, preferably red."