The case against charity as we know it | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Saturday 25 February 2017

The case against charity as we know it

It is not unusual to see individuals or cooperate representatives grinning from ear to ear as they embark on charitable projects. On the surface, it's a noble gesture and many philanthropists have the best intentions but is charity all it's cracked up to be? Giving to the less privileged might bestow one with a self-righteous warm glow and a shiny halo but there's more to charity. Consider this.
If resources are employed to benefit as much people as possible, will many less privileged Nigerians depend on the patronising beneficence of their compatriots for daily bread? It is not charity to plunder the public purse then in a bid to assuage the pangs of conscience, scatter a few shiny coins to the hungry crowd who know no better.

Charity is a principle, it entails foregoing avaricious personal enrichment in favor of public betterment. When you choose to construct roads rather than own private jets, to build affordable housing rather than purchase luxury overseas mansions, you are being charitable and that is the philanthropy that truly counts.

Charity is a process, much like farming, it involves tilling the land, sowing it and tending the plants as opposed to randomly scattering handfuls of seeds.

10 comments:

  1. Hmm! Thought provoking,better though even in form of restitution.at all all na witch

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  2. Linda, it seems you are starting to take your responsibility as a strong and recognised voice on social media seriously. This is the second thought-provoking post I am seeing from you today. Although to be quite frank, now that I think about it, I don't think it's actually you that wrote it. Just saying....

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    Replies
    1. Of course it can't be Linda writing this na, has she finished posting on the Kim K clan to think of such to write?! If it were Stella D, I would have said this is a just a walk tru to her cos she is a true journalist!

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    2. I so agree with this comment. You have a platform. You can use it better. After all is said and done. It's your platform, if your conscience is clear and trumps social responsibility then so (unfortunate) be it.

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    3. @anon 10.52, why don't you take a walk to stella D then? Inspiring stories my foot? After breaking people's homes?

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  3. Hmm... nice peice. But can't help but wonder though... how many of your 'bones' have u shared? *wink*

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  4. TRUE
    -D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds

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  5. I'm not a practicing Muslim. Read what the Muslim Book says about charity. It's same.
    A lot the world needs to learn about Islam and way of life.

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of Linda Ikeji.

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