Generosity in Times of Crisis
With another winter storm and last week’s Hurricane Sandy leaving New York City and the east coast in devastation, the Twitter and social media atmosphere were sending much love to those affected. In times of devastation we tend to band together and unite as a community. Much like our beloved Answers community the purpose is to inform, support and provide help. Currently, on the homepage of Yahoo! 6,796 people have donated to the hurricane Sandy relief efforts totaling $377,097.
Even in rough economic times Americans are still one of the most generous countries in the world. According to a CNN.com article “American benevolence is unmatched. China, which boasts the second largest economy in the world, is one of the least generous nations on Earth when it comes to charitable contributions.” So even when household budgets get smaller, our charity does not, it just adapts and adjusts.
It’s encouraging to know that our sense of empathy has not diminished. In times of natural disasters, tragedies or other humanitarian calamities our sense of a collective community is still reignited and we donate either our time or money by volunteering or supporting charities.
So why do you think, even though America is described as an individualistic society that we are still the most generous?
Please leave a comment below.
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People are always willing to help because if you believe we are made in the image of our Creator, we are called to ACT in times of need i.e. Good Samaritan. This crosses all socio-economic boundaries because we never know when tragedy can strike close to home.
I believe that generosity is natural for most people as an outpouring of how thankful they are for what they have in their lives. We Americans have a lot to be thankful for – and as a result, we are naturally generous when we see others in need.
Because at heart we are a great people and we really do want the best for everyone.
Helping and volunteering is part of the heart of Humans it’s normal especially in Americans in time of crisis.
Americans have been Overly-generous because of the fact that we know how it feels to “be on the other-side” of such tragedies as Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, San Diego, Cali. Earthquake and countless-other ‘natural disasters.’
It is this CAN-DO attitude that makes America the country that actually s-p-e-l-l-s o-u-t “Amer-I-Can”!
I’ve worked three years for All Faith Community Services in Buckeye, Arizona. Everyday there are people in need. It is our job as a society to become the strongest link in the chain. We are the social safety net. People in general have empathy and want to help.
The most dynamic proposals come from people who personally do not have a pot to piss in. The folks who give their last 12 dollars to a nerghbor who has children and the paycheck does not come in for a day or two.
People care about one another as long as they are not on drugs. Meth, in my community, has taken a toll on our caring population. The police are seriously trying to stop that.
Take drugs out of the mix and we are all human beings who want to help each other.
I don’t think that we are all that generous. It’s mostly just the news media putting on a show that gets people all warm and fuzzy inside and full of this ego trip about how generous we are. And we go along with it since we like to think we are so great, any way we can pretend we are. If we were so generous, we wouldn’t be crying it’s socialist when the government tries to get a health care for everyone, paid for through our taxes.
OMG ! $377,097.?
It’s not a very generous country to individuals in need, I don’t understand it. I’m sitting here with social anxiety disorder, wanting to work, wanting to find help, in need of clothes, food and I get pushed aside and told to basically “man-up” after years of abuse and neglect from my parents and school bullies.. but when it’s a group in need then everyone’s out donating their time. Why is the individual unimportant in this world? That’s what I’d like to know.
…cos we’re human
Simply put, Americans on average are well of compared to other countries. You mention that people of China don’t contribute much, but the average income per month in China is only $120 a month. On top of that, there is a lot of people who live in poverty in China that make only around a dollar a day. America has regulated incomes and a large job market.
Also, while there may be a decent amount of people helping for a disaster, it shouldn’t take a disaster to make people help. In America, people expect to have luxuries, such as television, computers, internet, vacations, trendy clothing, cars, jewelry, movies, music, and video games. Consider how many people spend their extra money on these luxuries verses how many people spend their extra money helping. Perhaps the city I live in is just a greedy city, but most of the people I have met in my lifetime would rather spend their “hard earned cash” on themselves.
I personally wish more people would give instead of take, but we live in a competitive world where people want to be on the top of the totem pole.
I think that because of our Christian heritage we give and help the less fortunate because we are so blessed.
I think most of us recognize that “there but for the grace of God go I,” and hope that if it were us, we’d want people to help, too.
Hurricane, Fire, Flood, Earthquake, Catastrophic Sickness, Job Loss; these are just a few and none of us is immune. Knowing this reminds us to be of help when we can.
You asked a question that I myself have wonder,It seen’s, we all pull together as one when something happens that makes or put anyones life in danger and in need. We join in to help. I believe for that very moment we stop and think it could have been me so we reach out to those in need. I believe we should always do what we can for anyone in need. What we give out comes back to us.
Cause humans have the natural instinct to help others and cooperate in a society so crime or suffering does not arise.
A.K.A Transcendentalism.
In fact it is the innate human nature that makes people generous.
Because, we are the only species outside of chimps, that willingly give everything for others. If you think about it, chimps are descendant from us. They get their feelings from us.
In the disney movie ‘Chimpanzee’ an older, less social chimp raises an orphan chimp. We as human do the same. It’s in our genetics to try to help things in need.
We have hearts, it feels good to give. Once a person is devestated, with no where to go, that person has to swallow his/her pride and accept help. It’s hard for some to do. Life’s lessons are learned when disasters strike. The good bad and ugly. Most of us have had bad things happen. We can appreciate what a hand up is. A hand up, not a hand out. Random Acts of Kindness happen all the time. People have a need, a desire to help each other. We need to feel needed. It feels good to do good for someone. Never expect anything back, just do something good for someone, everyday. It’ll change the world if we all did it.
We are tought throughout our lives not to be selfish. When something like Hurricane Sandy happens, we all jump at the chance to help and we can’t wait to help do some good. I remember the line from “Starman” where the alien, played by Jeff Bridges says, “Do you know what I find interesting about humans? You are at your best, when things are at their worst.” Kind of sums it up for our strength as Americans.
I dont even think were generous at all, we are just some greedy people expecting something in return,
ps: Id help these ppl in need if i really could but Im broke and needed too
In times of need and crisis the human spirit is at it’s best,It makes me proud when i see so many giving and generous people in this wonderful world.Unfortunately we only see it when times are tough but humanity is at it’s best when the chips are down,it is truly inspirational and breathtaking!
Compassion is a human characteristic, not unique to Americans or any other nation, to support those affected by disaster.
There are any number of other questions to ask – why is that charity necessary for example.
And to compare China with USA, simply because they both have large economies is weak, biased journalism.
http://www.oecd.org/investment/aidstatistics/aidstatisticsdonoraidataglance.htm
It’s because of evolution. Kindness is just a byproduct of evolution. It is in our genes to help each other in times of need. For example, a mother’s son may be on a street and a bus is coming his way. It is natural for the mother to take the hit and save her offspring’s life.
And that is PRECISELY why the Wealthy need to start helping out a little more!
My area was affected but not nearly to the extent of our neighbor state NJ… to some degree they were probably a shield for my area just to the west of them, having taken the initial blow of the strongest part of that thing. Always should try to help a neighbor in need like that, even if you can’t do a lot. Jersey we’ve got your back, literally.
Honestly I have no idea, I’ve yet to donate a single thing to a charity in my life, I hate even paying my taxes in all honesty. I think that if you work you should keep the money you earn and use it for yourself, if everyone did that I doubt we would need to give each-other money anyways as we would each have enough in savings.
It depends on the person, you can’t generalize society as a whole, some may call me greedy but I’ve yet to steal money from another person directly and all the money I have I’ve worked for, as I said… people should focus on themselves, if they live in a coastal city it’s their own fault and moving is always an option, they knew the risks when they moved themselves and their families there.
I know that all of us are troubled or born to trouble at some point and time in our lives. To be merciful and show generosity is part of our make-up. We want to be treated kind, as we should want to treat others the same. Our human frailties have always needed someone or thing to gird us up! We don’t and can’t stand alone. Our senses calls for comfort and hope!
Thing about a cross. Aste the vertical symbolizes God and aste the horizon symbolizes brotherhood.
I believe its because we generally feel others pain and when we see it in disastrous numbers and displayed on television or on the news we really do want to reach out and help and not just be observers.
Although it was designed by James Hoban, the labor was actually done by slaves. It was built for free.
I believe it is because God said, “It is better to give than to receive.”
Some people think that if they are generous that they will get more in return just because they were nice.
Because we have far and above the most money other than a few groups who are much smaller . i.e. Norway.
“Even in rough economic times Americans are still one of the most generous countries in the world.”
In my country we say that too
i don’t like it
hi guyes i am so cool and so r u guyes
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