I received a call today from a woman "calling on behalf of the President-elect's Inaugural Committee."
They were planning a Day of Action, which would be expressed in conducting a "food drive for starving military families." She cheerfully asked if I could provide a list of families in need.
I agree with you in principle, ry. What made me crazy about it was her choice of words and her obvious assumption that we had huge lists of "starving military families." Because of the military-industrial machine and the heartless Bush Administration, of course. :P
Believe me, I was completely professional. And I passed her off to people who would be in a position to make use of her offered help.
It was just the underlying assumptions she demonstrated, along some recent online discussion about life in the military and the way the Obama administration seems to be prepared to frame military families that just set me off.
...buuuuuuut, that would have been cruel, so ya should've just passed her on so's* I* could've asked.
BTW, you owe us six insights into FuzzyBee.
oh never mind.
I don't think anyone is saying there aren't some who could use a hand (which is why I passed her on; any budget relief free food allows would be appreciated, I'm sure), or that there haven't been times it was really bad (in fact, groups like NMCRS pass out day-old bread and such given to the local USO). But the idea that there are significant (any?) numbers of military families actually starving is really absurd--and the assumptions behind her thinking so just made me crazy.
Fbl did it right i suppose but I can see why it leaves a bitter taste. Politics does weave into charities oh yes. In the past and hell previously in Iraq the government controlled via charity. Kinda ugly turning charity into control, isn't it?
I worked in a charity when younger with my auntie for just one Christmas. It was a good experience because I got to physically see the people who need the help. After all one wonders if any charity actually makes it through. Many appreciate the help. Some are too worn out and dead inside from whatever struggles they have. Some are parasites who likely don't need the help at all. But you don't judge you give and that's that.
Absolutely. The problem is that she was a political operative, not representing a charity. And she was obviously working off her own politically-based assumptions rather than any connection with present reality.
For Army families in need of assistance, the Army Emergency Relief Program is an excellent resource. It provides emergency grants or loans to military families in need. In addition, Army Community Service offers a number of resources to families, from parent support and free childcare to lending closets and referral services. In these tough economic times, it's important to know that the Army is there for its families. I'm working to set up a blogger's roundtable on the topic, and will keep you posted. Thanks to John for pointing this post out.
Of course, Fort Riley is a single data point in an area with a relatively modest cost-of-living compared to other parts of the country.
We'll see what floats up from that.
I have had more than one contact with different people (through various connections) saying they were associated with the Inaugural Committee, and they had various plans/efforts underway (more than just a food drive). Based on these interactions, I do not believe the food drive directive came from the top. However, I posted on it because I saw it as possibly symptomatic of concerns many of us have had about the pitying and victim imagery regarding themilitary that seem to popping up in some quarters.
I did not inquire as to my caller's title, but I was left with the impression that this was a local group's interpretation of guidance for above. I fully expect that the directive from the senior levels of the inagural committee was "Find a way to help military families as part of our Day of Action/Remake America in celebration of the Inauguration." And I'd bet money I was speaking to a <i>local</i> inaugural committee (formerly campaign) volunteer.
Just wanted to clarify...
Well, regardless, Fuzzy - you let slip the Dogs of Warblogs!