Melvin's blog

Nshima & Curry

Melvin's  Blog

Nshima & Curry

BEING THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO CARES

I was planning to make my usual predictions for the New Year
in this column, but instead I'm going to make only one
prediction: I predict that you, my loyal reader, will do
something to help the victims of the tsunami, if you haven't
already. How do I know this? Well, for one, you are my
favorite reader, it's about time I told you. You're not the
type of person who lets people suffer without trying to
help. You have such a kind heart, you even thought about
sending money to Janet Jackson, so she could buy herself a
bra that doesn't rip.

You're not the type of person who's clueless about what's
happening in the rest of the world. You even tried to
correct the half-drunk college student at your local bar who
said, "Tsunami? Isn't that some kind of Japanese dish? I
don't know about you, but I like my fish cooked."

You: "No, a tsunami is a very large wave in the ocean caused
by ..."

Student: "Let me guess. It's caused by Japanese sumo
wrestlers jumping into the ocean without warning anyone."

You: "Hey, do you have something against the Japanese?"

Student: "Well, they're the ones who made my alarm clock. It
wakes me up every day at noon."

Even if you can't always get other people to think straight,
you're the type of person who doesn't get discouraged, who
doesn't say, "Well, my friends aren't interested, so why
should I organize a bake sale to raise money for the tsunami
victims? Why should I wash my neighbors' cars? Why should I
auction off my Pamela Anderson poster, video, T-shirt and
life-size blowup doll?"

You're determined to do your part, because your donation
could make a huge difference in the life of one person in
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand or another affected
country. Your donation could bring a smile to one of those
distraught people you've seen on TV, the ones who've made
you realize what misfortune really means -- it's not losing
a football game, it's not getting stuck in traffic on your
way to the mall, and it's certainly not being unable to
afford butt-reduction surgery.

You realize that this is a time for everyone to come
together for a good cause, even liberals and conservatives.
You may be a conservative, but you're willing to give
liberally. You may be a liberal, but you recognize the
enormousness of this disaster, even if Fox News Channel
keeps giving you "conservative estimates."

You realize that this is a time when the race, nationality,
religion or social class of the victims shouldn't matter, a
time when humans should just care about other humans. A
Muslim mother in Indonesia burying her children squeezes
your heart as much as a Hindu mother in India does. A Sri
Lankan girl who has lost her entire family brings tears to
your eyes, makes you want to reach out and hug your
television set.

It's going to take years for them to recover and your
money -- whatever you can give, even a few dollars -- will
help them do it. That's why you're going to empty your jars
of pennies, that's why you're going to search your couch for
lost change, that's why you're going to stop taking regular
baths until your co-workers cough up some money.

I'd expect nothing less from my favorite reader.

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