Look who gave....and who did not

[Nitehawk013]

If someone you don't even know is hungry do you ignore the needs of your family or next door neighbors in order to give to the stranger?

If so, I think that speaks much more to ones lack of true character than it does mine.

As long as this country has people living in their cars, old people having to choose between buying food or buying meds, good men who go to work everyday on the verge of losing their homes and unable to feed their kids, veterans living in boxes in alleys, etc then other countries should not see one penny of aid from our government. Take care of our own hurting before you throw money at foreign countries.

And no I am not advocating Federal programs do the work. I mean we the people. Instead of giving all our charity to Haitians, Africans, etc etc maybe that $10 would be better spent going to that senior citizen neighbor that you know darn well is having trouble buying groceries. Maybe it would be better spent going to the local food pantry or shelter.

I get it. It's not fashionable, popular or "politically correct" to say what I'm saying but if more people would care more about our own hurting than foreign strangers we wouldn't need all these Federal "social programs". People would take care of others on their own.

[John Atkinson]

I say do the one, and not leave the other undone. help where ability can.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I find that sad. I was raised that you take care of your own first.

Flabbergasting. In a bad way.

I was raised that the human race was "my own.".

[DaveC519]

Originally Posted by edjen01

wonder if it offends anyone "upstairs".

lessons from my grandpa....never pass up a chance to do something good for someone, no matter how small or great the deed, no who they are, no matter how much it cost. after all...isn't that what HE would do..and did?

[soldoutochrist]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I give, but I'm not giving to people in another country when people right here are in need. People in my own church are in need, and I'm sorry but they are more important and mean more to me than a bunch of people on an island.

We have a national debt of some 13 Trillion dollars. We have millions who are starving and homeless. Millions more who are barely able to put food on the table.Instead of seeing how many foreign countries and peoples we can support and help, maybe we would be smart to instead say "we are suspending all foreign aid and relif until we get our own hous ein order. Until then, it is as dumb and irresponsible as trying to put out a brush fire in our neighbors yard while letting our own home be engulfed in flames".

An earthquake hits and the news goes crazy showing all the sad pictures they can in order to get our wallets open. There is no news program trumpetting the millions in need here everyday so they get ignored. I'm sorry but I'm not moved by the devastation in Haiti. I'm alot more moved by the fact that so many Americans ignore thier fellow countrymen in need, often fellow neighbors or church members, but give to help peopel in every other country.

I find that sad. I was raised that you take care of your own first.

To be honest, they aren't even comparable.

Haiti was bad off before. Bad doesn't even begin to describe it. Haiti was terrible before. The poorest person in America was better off than most of Haiti before this earthquake. Haiti didn't have building codes that were enforced or a feasible plan in case something like this happened. Just turn on CNN (or CNN.com if you're an ultracon ) to see how badly it is. Nothing like this will ever happen in America with 200,000+ lives lost because we have safeguards in place that Haiti, unfortunately, was missing.

The fact that you're not moved by the devastation in Haiti is shocking. Just think, in a country with that many who weren't Christian, how many souls were lost? That alone should be enough to break your heart. I'm up for helping out our fellow Americans when it's needed, but there's no reason that we shouldn't help out both our own countrymen and ravaged Haiti if it's within our means.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I give, but I'm not giving to people in another country when people right here are in need. People in my own church are in need, and I'm sorry but they are more important and mean more to me than a bunch of people on an island.

We have a national debt of some 13 Trillion dollars. We have millions who are starving and homeless. Millions more who are barely able to put food on the table.Instead of seeing how many foreign countries and peoples we can support and help, maybe we would be smart to instead say "we are suspending all foreign aid and relif until we get our own hous ein order. Until then, it is as dumb and irresponsible as trying to put out a brush fire in our neighbors yard while letting our own home be engulfed in flames".

An earthquake hits and the news goes crazy showing all the sad pictures they can in order to get our wallets open. There is no news program trumpetting the millions in need here everyday so they get ignored. I'm sorry but I'm not moved by the devastation in Haiti. I'm alot more moved by the fact that so many Americans ignore thier fellow countrymen in need, often fellow neighbors or church members, but give to help peopel in every other country.

I find that sad. I was raised that you take care of your own first.

First of all, why can't you help both those in your local church in need and $10 to the Red Cross for relief? It's clearly not an issue of you being too poor...you have not once said "Well I just don't have enough"

Here...Here they get welfare.

Here...We sent millions of money aid to Katrina victims.

Here... we have homeless shelters.

Here... we have shelters.

Here...we put people up in hotels when disaster hits.

Here...we have FEMA.

Here...we give to everything. There are tons of things to give money to to help out Americans,

There...400,000 people are without homes, food, water. They are a poor nation...and of all the things Christ was about was helping others.

$10...unless you are yourself dirt poor and can't afford it, your excuses sound incriminating

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I'm sure this will offend, but maybe Saudi is right.

I'm more worried about the financial crisis in my country with my countrymen than I am with a bunch of haitians. I am not sending or giving them one penny.

When these hollywood idiots start pouring millions into programs to help hungry and homeless Americans I may take notice of their efforts.

NH, I donated more earlier - but I am making a second in your "honor". I certainly don't think anyone should be required to give anything at all - but your post certainly compels me to be more compassionate.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013
I give, but I'm not giving to people in another country when people right here are in need. People in my own church are in need, and I'm sorry but they are more important and mean more to me than a bunch of people on an island.

We have a national debt of some 13 Trillion dollars. We have millions who are starving and homeless. Millions more who are barely able to put food on the table.Instead of seeing how many foreign countries and peoples we can support and help, maybe we would be smart to instead say "we are suspending all foreign aid and relif until we get our own hous ein order. Until then, it is as dumb and irresponsible as trying to put out a brush fire in our neighbors yard while letting our own home be engulfed in flames".

An earthquake hits and the news goes crazy showing all the sad pictures they can in order to get our wallets open. There is no news program trumpetting the millions in need here everyday so they get ignored. I'm sorry but I'm not moved by the devastation in Haiti. I'm alot more moved by the fact that so many Americans ignore thier fellow countrymen in need, often fellow neighbors or church members, but give to help peopel in every other country.

I find that sad. I was raised that you take care of your own first.

Bro. Nitehawk,
With all due respect, nothing reveals whats in the heart of a man like the words that come from his own mouth. First of all, a great number of Americas impoverished are in that condition by their own choice. Drugs, alcohol, and poor decisions put many of them where they are. Some are there because its easier to depend on the government and charitable groups to sustain them than to get out and find a job. So, while we "take care of own own", and, of course we should, are we really taking care of many of them them or are we enabling them to remain where they choose to be? I'm all for taking care of our own and those "stupid Hollywood types", as you call them, do more to help "their own they you or I will ever realize. Remember Willie Nelson and Farmaid? The country has more programs than I could ever name to "take care of its own". Churches and groups like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army are there to "take care of their own". "Our own" has help...if they choose to avail them selves of it.

they are more important People who were born in America are more important than "a bunch of people living on an island"? This reminds of James' discourse on respect of persons.

Jam 2:1 ¶ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.

Jam 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

Jam 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

we get our own hous ein (sic) order. The fact is, we will never get our "house in order". Even Jesus said that: Mar 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. The NIV says it this way: The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. You and I can help Americas homeless and poor anytime we want to. But, "closing up our bowels of compassion" (1 John 3:17) in the face of Haiti's worst natural disaster to "care for own own"? John asked, so I will ask..."How can we say we have God's love is we close up our bowels of compassion toward those in desperate need?"

I'm not moved by the devastation in Haiti. Jesus was "moved with compassion" toward a hungry multitude. And you aren't moved by the suffering of the people of Haiti? Again, what a man says reveals whats in his heart. Rather than being "moved with compassion" toward the devastation in Haiti, you seem to be like 10 of the disciples who were "moved with indignation" against two of their own. That "bunch of Haitians" ARE our own, Brother. The Spirit of God moves us with compassion for those suffering. Its the flesh that moves us with indignation.

I was raised that you take care of your own first. I was raised that way too, Brother. Who cares about a "bunch of Haitians" Especially BLACK Haitians. Those bunch of devil worshippers probably deserved what they got. Yeah, I was raised that way. But, thankfully, I got saved. God changed me. Now I realize God isn't willing that any should perish and I'm not either. God help us all when we are no longer "moved by the devastation" of anyone in need.

I know this is long, and will go unread... but I just had to say it.

[rgcraig]

Read every word of it OA and you were right on!

Thanks Hoovie for you extended generosity - I might do the same.

[tamor]

Originally Posted by John Atkinson

I say do the one, and not leave the other undone.

Reminds me of the words to the song I learned many years ago when I was in the Brownie Scouts:

Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold.