On wealth...

[silversolitaire]

It's a thought that has been on my mind for a while now. I used to have a friend who said that nobody who's filthy rich managed that through honest means. I always thought that was a kinda Marxist approach. However, lately I've been thinking a lot about charity and about helping others. One of the things that bothers me the most about not having lots of money to spare is that I'm not able to give as much as I'd like to. It's absolutely certain for me that should I ever manage to get a larger amount of money, the first thing I'd do is give a substantial part of it to organisations such as Amnesty International, WWF, Sierra Club and others. It's important to me.

Like one thing I really want to do right now is take a patronage for a child in one of the poorer parts of the world. I've already been to the website. I'd take a girl. I'm not sure which part of the world I'd choose. I'm thinking Asia, or maybe just say "Wherever it's needed the most". I'm also not sure if I want her to write to me. I don't want her to feel like I expect her to show huge gratitude for me. But if I could, I would love to give some of my money to make it possible for her to go to school and have nice things. Thing is, I can't afford it right now. At all. It'd cost 30 EUR a month. It seems so little money. It IS so little money. 30 bucks to provide someone with a future. It seems so easy, and yet it's too much for me. I was thinking about asking for it for Christmas, but then I realized it was too much of a gift to ask for. 30 EUR times 12... that's 360 EUR a year. Nothing I can ask from my aunt or granny...

Anyway, I digress. What I was going to talk about it extremely wealthy people who live in wasteful luxury. I don't understand it. It's just not right to live in an abundance of luxury when there are people who could live for an entire month of something these people spend in a single day. People who live in extreme poverty. In a country where the rich-poor divide is one of the largest in the entire world. Countries like Russia or the United States. I've seen reports on people who've built themselves a replica of Versailles, with more gold stuck to the handrails than in the real castle. With a huge couch ensemble made of elephant leather and jackets made of suede where the owner doesn't even remember which kinds of animals it was. This person has spent 25 million dollars on this house. And it's just. not. right. With that money he probably could have fed every single starving person in his country. Or he could have built housing blocks, homes for the poor, given out clothes, food or firewood. Things that other people need to live.

People who are this rich should share it. There's nothing wrong with harvesting the fruits of your labor. There's nothing wrong with having a nice house with all the amenities you could think of and buying everything you'd like to have. But wasting your money like that just isn't right. You don't need to plaster your walls with gold and decorate your flowerbeds with real diamonds. Every single cent spent on this is sinful and makes you responsible for every person starving to death. Even if it's only indirectly. I know many people will disagree with this and find my opinion offensive, but I truly believe this. And I'll strive to live after this.

I promise, here and now, should I ever have this much money, or even a fraction of it, I will never waste it in such a fashion. I will try to help other people who aren't that well off and share it.

That's my good thought of the day.

Comments

[kribban.livejournal.com]

I agree whole heartedly with what you say. But I think some people, not you, forget that you don't have to be rich to help. If everyone, rich and poor would give as much as they feel they can spare the world would be a better place. You have to start with yourself. I can't belive more people don't give 10 EUR a month or whatever. If everyone did that it'd raise millions.

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course. Even a Euro a month would make a start. But I was talking about very rich people specifically at the moment. Those who squander their money like that. And once I have a decent income I'll be sure to donate regularily. But right now I really can't afford it. Unfortunately ;_;.

And I consider just having twice as much as I have right now to be rich! Well not that... a normal income probably would be 10 times as much -_-. Anyway, to be a normal income is rich. When I actually have something left once I paid all the bills and not need to angst until I get the next paycheck.

[kribban.livejournal.com]

*hugs* you'll get there. Soon you will be working full time and soon Tom will have made enough money to come to Germany and you can get married and set up a home together and share the bills. You'll get there. *snuggles*

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Yes ^_^. And should I ever have more money than I need then I'll donate even more.

Did you get my mail btw? >_>; *fears the filters*

[kribban.livejournal.com]

No I didn't get it!!!

adds to the rant :p

[pirotess.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree with you, and happen to relate to your desire to sponsor a child, it's something i've wanted to do for years, but I don't have the money either.

It saddens me to see rich people waste resources for useless vanity like you said. Primarily because money doesn't fall from the sky, it comes from the pocket or off the backs of every other human being. Often the poorest ones. It's horrible to think that the people who are invested with extravagant wealth, who are given power, are people who have no sense of its true value and no care for those who make it possible.

There is something in human reasoning that makes lotsa ppl think: If I have the money, is because i DESERVE it. Mine to use as i wish. But maybe worth is the choice, of how one uses such power. Nobody deserves millions. Every child deserves a chance to live though..

And btw generosity is giving what you have to give. So even if you never get to save a kid, sweetie, no matter. A kind word.. a hug.. everything counts^^

I agree

[eaeelil.livejournal.com]

Yeah, people that rich should give to the poor and other helpful organizations!
I've always said that if I ever was to get rich First thing I would do would be give allot of it to charity...Then build a sweet castle for me and my friends XD!
People with that much money need to give at least some of it to charity. Make an attempt to be nice, and help other less fortunate!