Appearing to Care

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Those who do things to be seen of men usually do things to be seen of men. Sure, they tell you that they care, but most of the time they are more interested in appearing to care than doing things that actually provide care. They want credit for compassion without having to sweat to earn it, and most of what they do doesn’t amount to much. People who really care will try to keep it secret, because people who really care don’t care who gets the credit.

I remember helping to build the Grapevine Springs Park in 89121 in Vegas. At the time, I was too young to use a chainsaw, so I went around trimming trees with a hand saw. Some local politician showed up, not to help, but to appear on camera, and when the cameraman found me and watched me instead, she inserted herself into the frame to take the attention. I never actually saw her DO any work, yet she wanted credit for making the park, and I think she was very disappointed when it wasn’t named after her. You see, it wasn’t about us having a park. It wasn’t about the people. It was about her getting the limelight for something other people actually accomplished.

“At least she cares,” they will cry when politicians endorse a project “for the public good”. Yet, most of their efforts are relatively vacuous and ineffective. Despite the hashtags, the girls in Nigeria are still captive. Despite the benefit concerts, AIDS still kills people in Africa. Despite the number of likes on Facebook, children are still hungry, nations are still at war, and people are still unemployed. If they really wanted to do something, the people who champion these causes could do something immediately and powerfully. They want to get credit without doing work, and they want you to do the work so that they can unjustly take credit for things they didn’t actually do. Many of these people are rich enough they could do something for many people. No matter how much they say they care, their bank accounts tell another story.

The true measure of a man is how he treats those who can do nothing for him. Well, most advocates go out and promise pelf to people who prop them up. Politicians do it with votes; employers do it with raises and benefits; monarchs do it with land and titles; parents sometimes do it with candy. Whatever the situation, it’s all bribery, because most of the people in power are their own favorite constituent, beneficent and beneficiary. We love ourselves more than we love our neighbors. I know this because we will give gifts to strangers while we rush at the option to stick our grandparents in a retirement home. I know this because we rush to do favors for coworkers and groan when our kids need our help. I know this because we flirt with other people and yell at our spouse. All of those validate OUR worth.

Most of the people who need help do not receive it because they can’t do anything for the giver. What can homeless people or sick people or unemployed people do for politicians? Besides voting, they don’t usually have any money, and most of them aren’t really important outside their meager sphere of influence. If politicians really cared about people with autism, muscular dystrophy, cancer, or about people who can’t find a job or afford a home or can’t get care in the Veteran’s Hospital, they would spend time with them and know their names. Instead, they care about nameless faceless hordes and put illegal aliens over citizens, because the aliens can make sure that the politicians permanently retain power. I know people who suffer from these things, and not to toot my own horn, I do things for them.

Rather than posting to facebook and twitter or putting on benefits, these people should get in the trenches. They don’t because there are no cameras at the shelter or in the trauma ward or at the family dinner table. They want to be seen, they want to get credit, and they want to be able to say “what a good boy am I!” When they do give, they do so as the rich men decried by Jesus who cast in of their abundance in a manner that people noticed, so people would recognize them as great and noble and wonderful. If hashtags really worked, I’d just post things to twitter that I wanted much like children wish on stars, write letters to santa, etc. If these people really cared, they have power to do something. The first lady could have called her husband to act rather than holding up a placard with a hashtag. The celebrities could go donate money rather than holding a concert to collect donations from you. They have the power, but they want to have the credit and keep their power too (there are some exceptions).

Rather than give money through organizations that draw attention to charity, be the miracle in your neighborhood. We all have neighbors and friends and family who could benefit from our help. Yes, strangers may need new dentures, a job, or rescue from Special Forces. However, we also have family members in poor health, neighbors in financial duress, and strangers on the road who might need rescue, even if they just need their spare tire installed or a jump. When I tell you about times I do these things, it’s because the only examples I have are my own. I didn’t do them to get credit or because those people had something they could give me. I was there, and they needed my help, and I do not believe in coincidence. Beware when politicians speak of principles of faith and charity, because they do so usually not because they really mean it but because they hope you do. I hope you do too. Some poor sailor, temptest-tossed, trying now to reach the harbor in the darkness may be lost. Let the lower lights keep burning, send a gleam across the wave. Some poor struggling, fainting seaman you may rescue YOU may help save.