Plan Colombia and Beyond

Or go see the Doctors Without Borders refugee Camp Exhibit in Prospect Park and see how many Colombians are forced to live. Then donate the $400 to them.

Hmmm...there are too many ways to look at this. Depending on what you want to argue, all three options (the original two plus the latest addition) are all equally valid.

In my opinion, while Randy Paul may be right about donating extra money to respectable NGOs or charities, because it is usually the morally and politically correct thing to do, let's be coldly honest for a second: the vast majority of human beings in this world will, at most, only do that a couple of times, whatever their politics or interests.

The rest of the time, the average human being (including those who may have donated or will later also donate to good causes) will tend to spend his or her money on non-charitable affairs, whether for purely personal or intellectual reasons.

I don't think anybody around here can say that they've never spent money on non-charitable affairs, despite the fact that there are millions of different problems in the world that need more support and resources (such as the refugees Randy mentioned).

That doesn't mean that people shouldn't donate money to those good efforts (in fact, I congratulate those that have or will do that), it's just an observation: all human beings spend money on personal or academic pursuits, not exclusively on donations to good causes.

Well, I wish I could afford to go to New York.
I live about 70 miles north of Dallas, Texas and consider it something of a "vacation" if I get as far as Dallas. Certainly I envy Adam and his many trips to Colombia. I'd love to go back to Medellin and spend an afternoon in the jardín botánico and the near-by planetarium, which used to present programs far superior to anything I've ever seen at American planetariums.

As regards contributing money to charity, living in Colombia certainly put me to the test. Just walking along the street brought me into contact with an endless stream of indigents, many of whom were children. Giving to everyone in need would quickly deplete my modest salary. Not giving at all seemed heartless.

Of course, our share of the world's resources in the U.S. is unjust; but I certainly haven't denied myself computers or DVD's in order to redress the balance. In the world hereafter (if there is one), Mother Teresa will certainly be closer to the throne of God than me.

Well, we can all read Uribe's speech on the web after the event, I imagine. THis would leave the producers + restaurant as my favourite option (this provided I can be in New York in September, which I doubt...)
Regards, Doppiafila

I live in New York, saw the Producers and while I can't spare the $400 to Doctors w/o Borders, if I had it to spare, I would send it to them.

I will attend the Refugee Camps Exhibit in central Park the weekend before. I'll post pictures on my blog.

I see that the Mets are in town that day too. But Randy's option is by far the best. - Adam

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