Greetings Bill,
It's unfair to point to an accusatory finger at Geoff for having
instigated the most recent negative publicity simply because he has
developed relationships with the media. There is also the matter of
when one party says something that's really negative, there is not
mandatory for the other party to also go south. Sometimes it's best
to let petty stuff remain petty and not conflate the importance of
such matters.
I feel a need to clarify that an effort to provide assistance to the
people of Greensburg is extremely laudable. I've known Geoff for
some time and I believe his heart is pretty-much always in the right
place---and that a consensus of among those that know Geoff would
concur.
============
On Jul 13, 2007, at 1:48 AM, Bill wrote:
Darryl,
I noticed and I'm sure most people that are concerned did as well.
Notkin is the media guy who has in my opinion gotten carried away.
Their chest beating over Brenham meteorites was fun when Steve
found the big one. It's old news now. I wish him, Steve, nothing
but success in the future. I hope he finds that elusive piece of
the rarest of the rare we all dream about. In the mean time I'll
puke if I hear more hype.
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 21:38:42 -0400
To: [email protected]
Subject: [meteorite-list] Fwd: Out in Left Field
folks,
i hope you noticed the email below was posted to the list two days
ago.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Darryl Pitt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: July 7, 2007 11:39:48 AM EDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Grandstanding?
this is terribly offensive.
as i previously wrote, one does not have to be a benefactor to a
charity to be critical of the manner in which the charity's
mission is conducted.
darren has eloquently addressed the problems here. and i still
can't wrap my brain around why the media was invited to this
internal fracas.
On Jul 7, 2007, at 9:56 AM, Darren Garrison wrote:
On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 03:11:47 EDT, you wrote:
Darren!
Did you contribute anything?
No, you don't need to respond.
And I wouldn't. That would be hypocritical of me, one way or the
other.
.
The people of Greensburg need a lot more help, and using a large
check is a
way to get some attention to this cause.
It worked! You are all talking about it!
And you have the leadership of the town (and probably a part of
the citizenry)
offended, and a negative newspaper article about the squabble
going out for all
the world to see showing backbiting amongst various meteorite
collectors that is
par for course for the list. Now, no matter what, there is going
to be some
bitterness remembered for an act of charity. Not all publicity
is good
publicity.
I mentioned before (and some will choose to ignore that and only
pay attention
to the critical part) that "All the time, effort, and donations
put into
collecting that money was nobile and admirable." And the thought
behind the
large cardboard check are pure, too, I'm sure. But how people
would react to it
wasn't as well thought out, I would think (and sorry if that
offends those who
worked hard on this).
Thesis 1: Being able to give to charity makes you feel good.
Thesis 2: Having been reduced to needing charity makes you feel bad.
Thesis 3: A public presenting of a large check to a town official
implies a need
for a public reaction-- applause, a heartfelt thank you,
acknowledgement of your
being able to help and their needing it.
I imagine that, being in a small, non-rich community in the
middle of nowhere in
the middle of nowhere, the people of Haviland are pretty proud
and independant
minded. I imagine that they are humuliated to be reduced to
having to accept
handouts from strangers just to keep rooves over their heads,
food in their
stomachs, and clothes on their backs. Helping them is good.
Helping them makes
you feel good. Having some sort of ceremonial closure to the
long hours and the
money you spent collecting money makes you feel good. But being
explicitly and
publicly reminded that they NEED the charity of strangers does
NOT make the
people being donated to feel good. Sure, they are happy that
people do look out
for each other, and that they are getting help. But they feel
horrible that
they NEED help.
I just think that large cardboard checks are an item for HAPPY
occasion--
lottery and contest winners, mostly. A charitable donation to
the survivors of
a destroyed is NOT a happy occasion. It is a solemn,
embarrassing, and sad one
for those who were actually affected by the tornado. And those
always blessed
enough to be the ones GIVING charity instead of having to ever be
the ones
accepting charity Just Don't Get It.
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