Community Organizer

I’m sure you’ve noticed that the world is kind of messed up.  If you’re anything like me (and I know a bunch of you are) you recognize that there’s quite a lot of suffering going on out there, and you probably want desperately to do something about it.  You probably feel, though – like I do sometimes – that if you can’t do something huge and dramatic – something that makes a demonstrable difference in someone’s life (or, better yet, something that makes a demonstrable difference in a lot of someone’s lives) – then there’s really no point in doing anything at all.  I mean, come on; really – what’s my lousy little donation of five bucks going to mean to anyone?

Here’s the thing, you guys; my five bucks, combined with your five bucks – and hers, and his, and all of theirs – really CAN make a difference.  Have you ever done one of those outdoor team-building activities?  I’m thinking specifically of the one where one person lies on the ground and goes all stiff, and all the other people circle her, put their index and middle fingers together, put them under the person’s body, and lift her up just like they were moving a piece of paper.

There’s strength in numbers, is what I’m saying here.  You CAN make a difference with a measly little bit of almost-nothing, because I’ll put it together with my little measly bit of almost-nothing and, before you know it, we’ll be lifting someone up.

So, that was the pep talk.  Jules, over at Angst Girl, has been working for a loooong time to help people who were devastated by the floods that happened in Iowa in June.  Remember them?  No?  Well, clearly, not many people do.  Folks are still homeless.  Kids are going to school without basic supplies.  It’s starting to get cold, and a lot of people don’t have their winter coats anymore.  I have made a commitment to send Jules a check and to ask her to put my measly little donation to whatever need she feels I can help ameliorate.

Here’s what I’m asking you to do, Dear Readers.  Give up a visit to the coffee shop one day next week.  Skip a manicure (if you’re into that sort of thing).  Go to your penny jar, your couch cushions, and the pocket of YOUR winter coat and wrap some coins.  Pack your lunch for a couple of afternoons.  Figure out a way to scrape together a little bit of something – even if it’s just five bucks – and email Jules.  She’ll give you her address so you can send your measly little bit to her.  Your little bit, combined with my little bit, WILL make a difference to someone.

The government is planning a 700 BILLION dollar bailout of banking institutions, considered “too big to fail,” that acted recklessly, greedily, and unethically in their fiduciary dealings.  Let’s you and I get together and bail out middle- and lower-class citizens of this country who are too small for the government to bother helping.

What do you say?