The other day there were cops in front of my local grocery store cajoling people to put money in the Salvation Army bucket. This might be worse:
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« More on Science Online 2010 | Main | Question with boldness even the existence of a God; »
My bell is bigger than your bell
Posted on: January 3, 2010 7:58 PM, by Greg Laden
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Comments
Hmmm. The Salvation Army guy does not have rhythm.
Posted by: Moopheus | January 3, 2010 10:01 PM
He better stay away from the IQ people because they'll kill him as an outlier.
Posted by: Irene | January 3, 2010 10:07 PM
Ahh. Bells. I do so love the sound of them. Specially without the sound of police.
Hey, wait a minute, mister! I've got a nickel!
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | January 3, 2010 10:18 PM
That reminds me of the Snark:
This was charming no doubt: but they quickly found out
That the Captain they trusted so well
Had only one notion for crossing the ocean,
And that was to tinkle his bell.
I always refuse to give anything to the Salvation Army - I tell 'em in public that I do not support paramilitary organizations and that religious paramilitary organizations are the worst.
Posted by: MadScientist | January 3, 2010 11:00 PM
BTW, the origin of that, according to Wikipedia:
That's some goofy shit right there.
Posted by: Nemo | January 4, 2010 1:07 AM
Just in case you were confused about what your spare change supports. Hint: this organization isn't about thrift stores.
Posted by: aporeticus | January 4, 2010 2:51 AM
@aporeticus: Wow - that's some pretty scary shit in the link. Like most religious organizations, the Salvation Army wants to tell everyone how to live their life. Their own website provides a very good list of the best reasons not to give them so much as a penny. They even promise to harass women who have had an abortion - what horrible beasts they are.
Posted by: MadScientist | January 4, 2010 4:38 AM
The big downtown shelter in Austin, Texas looks like a prison. The "street" population will tell you that it has a similar vibe. This city, and surely most, have better places to help the disadvantaged and homeless. If you want to help, please do a little homework first.
Posted by: Marlon | January 4, 2010 5:16 AM
This one is difficult for me. There are many things about the Salvation Army that I don't like. However, about 12 years ago, when we had gone for grocery help for one month, they arranged for us to be "adopted" by another family for Christmas presents for our kids. At least in the one in my city, they didn't ask for our religious background nor make any other stipulations other than to ask for things that the kids really wanted. And they delivered. They hadn't cared that I was an atheist, nor that I wasn't teaching my kids about their Jesus. They never told us who the other family was, and they also sent gives for me and the kids' mom.
It was a much better Christmas with them taking care of us that way, but then the other things that they support make me cringe.
Posted by: Frank Cornish | January 4, 2010 7:20 AM
Emergency workers such as police and fire personnel should never be shaking people down for money. It creates unavoidable imaginings as to what might happen if you don't give in to their extortion.
The Salvation Army is not just a charity, it is a religion, so police involvement fails on grounds of church|state separation.
Posted by: Virgil Samms | January 4, 2010 9:31 AM
Granted the Salvation Army is a religious organization. The choice is yours to contribute to the kettle.
On the other hand, when people donate to the Red Kettles, all of that money stays in that area to be given back to the community as aid in the form of help with utility bills, rent, mortgage or other absolute necessities to continue living in their home or apartment.
As one of the earlier posters stated, there is no questions about your religious affiliations or lack there of. Just the usual ones about need and whether you have accessed any other sources in the area.
In addition, the one in my area has food assistance available as well as listings of other resources available in the area.
Before I decided to ring a bell for them I looked into what the money would go to. There was no attempt to 'convert' anyone to their way of belief, just an invitation to services. That I do not feel is out of reason when working for an organization.
This is one religious organization I will continue to contribute to.
Posted by: Elena | January 4, 2010 11:46 AM
In various Latin American countries I have encountered road blocks manned by young ladies, accompanied by police or national guard with machine guns, soliciting for the Red Cross, or some other worthy cause.
Posted by: Jim Thomerson | January 4, 2010 1:46 PM
Elana,
There are plenty of worthy charitable organizations which do not spend any of their money or efforts proselytizing.
The Salvation Army thinks saving your soul is more important than saving your physical body.
Christianity is a sick, guilt ridden death cult. I will give what little extra cash I have to organizations that don't tell you that you are going to hell if you have sex with the wrong person or if you don't worship a guy that died 2000 years ago if he existed at all.
What you do with your cash is of course your business.
Posted by: Lance | January 4, 2010 2:12 PM
Love bell choirs. I can understand one's annoyance at being forced to listen to them, much like the idiot who thinks his rap music should shake windows a block away, but this looks like Christmas caroling to me and I don't have a problem with that.
I DO have a problem with the Salvation Army. The religious component is only a minor issue to me. After working in the nonprofit industry (albeit relatively briefly), I am very, very careful about which organizations I support financially.
Posted by: badrescher | January 4, 2010 2:19 PM
Unlike some people commenting here, I don't have a problem with the Salvation Army. Sure, they're a religious organization, but they do genuinely help people in our community, and other communities where they exist. I can't always give them money at Christmas time, but I don't feel bad when I can, and the tinkling bells, for me, have always spelled "Christmas season". I can't imagine that time of year without those bells, though some "upscale" malls and stores have tried to ban them as being too "tacky". Oh, and they are, at the very least, temporary employment for some people who are looking for work.
Anne G
Posted by: Anne Gilbert | January 4, 2010 3:18 PM
Posted by: Virgil Samms | January 4, 2010 3:19 PM