Which local charitable organization encourages Squamish business owners to donate to their cause only to turn these financial contributions into profits for a multinational corporation?
Community Christmas Care, a local Christian organization determined to do right in this world gone wrong, is the unmindful guilty culprit. Granted, the good Christian thing to do is give to the poor, taking care of those less fortunate than ourselves.
And it truly doesn't get much more commendable than this. Just look at Mother Teresa, Jesus and Robin Hood. These are just a few of the iconic characters to whom we all can relate because their philanthropic stories are passed down through the generations. Jesus was born in a manger; Mother Teresa served as a nun in India; Robin Hood had a thing for some lady named Marian but I digress. My point is, if you're not poor and you do have extra money lying around after taking care of all the necessities in your life, please give to the poor. It is a kind, charitable thing to do. You will feel good about yourself and, perhaps, one day, the good karma will lead to a great parking spot the next time you drive to watch a Canucks game in the city.
But to Community Christmas Care... please, don't take money from the local business owners trying so hard to build a caring and creative little community from the ground up - only to give it up to the multinational. Pause to consider this - it is, in fact, the opposite of what Jesus and Robin Hood were fighting for. I'm pretty sure they were taking from the rich and giving to the poor, not the other way around. Yes, give money to the kids you're trying to help out, but not in the form of gift certificates for the large corporate stores. Not only are iPods are a dime a dozen these days, but studies reveal they result in early hearing loss.
If you really want to give something special to disadvantaged youth, think beyond the short-term gratification of a product made in China to the long-term objectives and political visioning that our local leaders are fighting for right now. Isn't supporting locally owned businesses (which more often than not pay their employees higher wages) a driving force when growing a close, sustainable community?
While Community Christmas Care believes - and rightly so - to let those less fortunate go without a gift on Christmas morning, I believe it's wrong to take ask local business owners to donate to a charitable cause only to funnel that money out of the community - and country - toward stores that represent multinational chains whose annual profits are higher than the gross natural product of many world nations. Here's an idea: Why doesn't Community Christmas Care transform the money it fundraises locally into gift certificates for locally owned stores and shops within our community, effectively keeping the money in the family? For sustainability to become a reality, supporting our local businesses at every possible opportunity is the first step.
