May 9, 2002
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Crap.
That's what every person who walked by the volunteers selling badges and gear for the Starlight Foundation are.
Do you hear me? Mr. Suit Jacket-Hurriedly-Pulling-Out-His-Mobile-Phone and Miss I'll- Fumble-in-My-Purse -so-I-Don't-Have-to-Look-Up??? That goes for you too, you giggling bunch of teenage girls stuffing your faces with junk food and finding the way the volunteers look hilarious. You should be slapped.
There were these two guys - wearing doofus bright yellow tshirts over their suits, with cardboard trays of keyrings, lapel pins and the like, standing in one of the worst wind tunnels in Sydney, beseeching people to donate something for children's hospitals and the Make A Wish Foundation. There were crowds of people pushing past them. Since this was a business section (Information Technology) area, the passersby were well dressed, and i.m.p.o.r.t.a.n.t.
They kept getting the brush off. You could see realisation slowly dawn on their faces that yes, in this wealthy area of Sydney, people actually were not going to donate. People had more important priorities.
Narcissistic fuckers.
It's for sick kids, assholes. You know, kids with leukaemia, who might not ever get to own a mobile phone, have a good shag, be hungover, do too many E's at the club, get pompous with the wife, smoke ciggies and be too busy to give a rats arse about anyone other than themselves.
If I had been those volunteers, I'd have harassed and harangued every single assclown that pretended I wasn't there. I'd have followed them down the street shaming them - "Hey buddy, $2 is less than the cost of the condom in your wallet! Hey girlie, $2 is 1/10th of the cost of the makeup spackled all over yo' face! Hey mister - planning on going home to the wife and your HEALTHY kids tonight? Lucky you!" and so on, until I got thrown in gaol. It would have been worth it, just to shake the self rightous complacency off those faces.
I dunno. What is with people who can obviously afford $4 for a mocha cafe latte not wanting to throw $2 into a tin box to help make a dying or sick kid's life easier?
Are this kids not tragic enough? Not glamourous enough? I guess it's not trendy to have your hair fall out when you are an 8 year old girl. Or have your head have a big lumpy scar in it when you are a toddler.
Hey maybe they asked to get that sick.
No?
Then tell me. Why isn't this worth $2?
Fuck fuck fuck.
I am so angry. But most of all, I am very very sad. And ashamed to be wearing a suit and own a mobile phone.
And if you are one of those people who would pass these volunteers by - please don't tell me. I couldn't bear it. There is no excuse. None. Take me off your 'sites you read' if you even think there is a valid reason for such behaviour. Seriously.
ps. yes, I bought a keychain, a pen, a lapel pin, a stress star and a roll of stickers. It set me back a whopping $20. And yes, I also support other charities regularly. This does not make me a saint, it makes me a good human being.
one more thing: and I volunteered to put my management consultant skills, my organisation skills and my rage to use for the next campaign. fear my rage for I shall be a yellow t-shirted doofus.
Comments (18)
Good for you.
You rock Stress-mama. Those self-important fucks will be in for something when they run into you next year...love you.
Well, one thing's for sure. You don't lack passion.
Steve
*crying* I have always tried to drop every last bit of change in my pocket anytime I see a charity on the street collecting money, and heck I even donated $35 for a coupon book for the USA national wheelchair basketball team; I own a computer and a cell phone and if I can't make room in my budget to help people who really need it most, what kind of human being am I?......and Make-a-wish is one of the most important charities in my opinion (that and St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN)......I understand your anger and your rage....... most people nowadays don't take the time to really and truly care and love someone they don't know but may be in need.......
Damn Stress... I love you. Being a volunteer for the SIDS Foundation has been hard on me because people don't want to give to a charity for Babies who have already died.
Doing volunteer work is sometimes quite heartbreaking. It's worth it... don't get me wrong. It's just sad to see people walk on by & ignore ya.
Why? They have nothing to give because they have nothing inside. Empty people with expensive shells.
Your posts never stop leaving me at a loss for words. This is fantastic! Of you, obviously, not the self-important knobs you're so rightly pissed off about. And good for you for contributing,
This is a terrific post.
I'm training as a hospice volunteer. Someday soon I may well be working directly with one of those dying kids.
I get so darned tired of people saying how can you do that. Where do you find the time with four kids and a job. I could never do it.
Yes, you can, if you try. So thank YOU for trying. I'll wear a yellow t-shirt and be a doofus right along with you.
I think James is right - "empty people with expensive shells".
Little girl, on Daddy's lap,
Hiddin' her disease with a baseball cap.
You can turn the channel, most people do,
But what if you were sittin' in her Daddy's shoes?
You go, Stress. Hell, send me a yellow T-shirt and I'll solicit Luck, WI for you.
I wish I got more of them at my door then some teenage fuck wanting to go on a trip to the fucking Bahama's.
...you are so good, you really are, ya know
I agree with you. I also agree with the empty with expensive shell, theory... you go girl!
You make me want to give nothing but gifts of charity and buy mama-made goods for any & all upcoming birthdays, Christmas, Mother's Day . . .
I guess all those people walking by think it couldn't happen to them...You are such a great person for standing up for charities and giving your time and money, stress.
You are my VERY FAVORITE doofus in a yellow, or any color shirt. Where do I send my money? Can I send it to Plisa and call it even?
ermm...because of the aids run thang...
Now here's my take (and you can't disown me). Fine for the people who drop their money, it's a start - but have you (and everyone reading this) signed your donor card and put your name on the Bone Marrow Registry? I've been on the registry for 7 years now. I signed up the year a good friend's 11 year old son was diagnosed with leukemia. His life was saved by a bone marrow donation. Phil's son will be 18 this summer - all because someone cared enough to put themselves through a procedure that feels like you've banged your hip slipping on the ice. Do it - put more than your money where your mouth is.
P.S. And good for you for putting yourself in a yellow tee - I'm proud of you.
I don't walk on by. But after reading this, I'm thinking of turning donating into a full contact competitive sport: "Hey, fucktard! I gave, and you can too, nono don't be walking by, cough up the cash, my friend or I'm gonna turn this half nelson into a full nelson and if that don't work, you'll be gettin' the Father Nelson, now GIVE."
Because you're right. We, all of us, have more to give, even those already giving. Thank you.
Thanks all - but seriously, ubermummy has a point, and so did I. It's important to give - and give unflinchingly, but it is just as important to DO something as well. Volunteer your time, make sure your organ donation cards are filled out, support local charities as well as the big national ones. You all have big hearts, and I know I am preaching to the converted, but pass it along, will you? The difference you make in a life may just well be your own.
PS. to Dwaber - people count on your inate good manners to get them off the hook. They cannot count on mine anymore. I'll borrow your Father Nelson.
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