ALFRED SATISH JONES writes from Washington D.C.: Since bashing/denigrating the United States has become a default pastime in India, churumuri's readers might be interested in looking up this BBC piece highlighting the deep roots of American philanthropy and the huge and positive impact it has had:
It’s all mind boggling indeed.
The attitude to give is the hardest to cultivate because it involves wrestling with the deep seated human urge to make everything about you secure and permanent.
Hats off to those men and women who rise above this and donate their monies.
‘Sadviniyoga’ as it is called in our language.
Society is only a part of it. Isn’t it the innate human nature – to give or not to give – which is the dominating factor ? I am not ruling out the fact that the society plays a big role, but it’s more within.
I applaud the greatness of the givers, I wonder how they can manage, I also try to be like them, I wonder how I can help the humanity, I just eye my ancestral property, I am just materialistic, I make MONEY as the sole aim in life, I spew venom to become richer.
Sure, it’s wonderful to read such good articles. But, do we really learn from just reading something and applauding…? I don’t know, I am confused.
It’s that ‘I’ factor which plays the biggest role, especially when it comes to giving. Most of us have a mask on our face, which we should get rid of. And, that’s the hardest thing to do. Do I sound bitter ? LOL……
And so, maybe I should ask :
“Excuse me, my brother, can you spare a billion?”
Nope…I don’t think I will ask that….