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Like I said in my last post, I have not been writing on my blog much. But that hasn’t stopped me from browsing blogs, which I do from time to time between work, and other writing.

I stopped by this post today, which got me sad and disgusted, because I could not understand how a “lady” can give out trash in the name of charity.

So, be warned, this one is going to be a rant.

Granted, there are too many needy people, and if you tried to see to the needs of everyone, you will end up a pauper yourself. Granted, there are times in your life when you cannot afford charity, or are not thinking of it.

But to invite people to your home, giving them trash in the name of charity……well, that leaves me grasping for words. And mind you, I am a wordsmith.

I wish I could find this woman, and ask her the question Project Why is all about: “WHY, WHY in the name of all that is good and sane, WHY did you do such a dastardly thing?”

I tried to do my best, which was not much, to make up for this humiliation suffered by those who are trying their best to help others, by donating what I can afford at the moment to their cause.

You can donate too.

For this organization and the children it supports, each dollar and cent counts. What they do not need are acts of charity Cinderella’s stepmother would be proud of.

Now, I know this post won’t be popular. After all, it is not about Singapore and Donatella Versace (my most popular post, for some strange reason). But this whole thing had me riled, and I had to get it off my chest.

And maybe, just maybe, to check out if the world is made of a majority of good people who have their hearts in the right place.

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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  • Mental Mist says:

    I have to say, I am not very surprised. We are a heavily class conscious nation. Inferior people = inferior stuff. I remember a relative of mine at whose home I got severely yelled at for giving the maid a cup of tea in the same mug we use to drink tea. Evolution of thought would be faster if there were some semblance of economic or cultural equity, sorry, I will stop ranting too 🙁

  • Ovidia says:

    Thank you for the kindness & confidence booster! I guess what also worries me is also that my standard of ‘can use’ may be lower than that of most other people!

  • Ovidia says:

    I went & read too–the problem (for me) is, I find it difficult to draw a line & you may find me guilty of this too. (Partly because I find it difficult to throw anything away)

    Like old & used clothes–T shirts for example. I only ‘need’ about 6 & passed the others (worn, not new) ones to foreign domestic workers on my block. I was afraid they would be offended at first, but they didn’t seem to be, especially a very sweet girl from Myanmar who said shyly that ‘old also I want’ & since then have passed her/them stuff you would probably consider ‘garbage’. Mostly clothes & food I’ve been given (like brands essence of chicken I can’t eat & chocolates that I shouldn’t…)
    I’m not ‘wealthy’ but in material terms have more than them. None of the things I pass on are new or even in prime condition–it’s really stuff I don’t need. ‘trash’ in other words.

    You see why I’m so torn? On one hand I feel angry at the woman in the post, on the other hand I’m afraid I’m just not realising I’m her seen from another pov.

    Ovidia, you certainly are not like the woman in the post. Look at what she sent:
    “dirty and torn clothes, broken toys – half a Barbie doll, half a chess board etc – dusty and stained lampshades, broken shoes and even stained and tattered undergarments”

    While the things you passed on were worn, not torn, t-shirts, not stained undergarments, food and chocolate, not half a chess-set or half a barbie doll.

    For me, I think it is ok to give away things that can still be used. I myself give away clothes I or my husband won’t wear any more because (sigh) we have outgrown them, or even a faded bedsheet or two. But the things I give are not torn and stained, and can be used with dignity.

    There is even an organization in India which takes clothes in donation, makes them wearable, packs them, and gives it to those who do not have clothes….you can check it out at http://www.goonj.info

    So, no, do not feel torn. All you do is give something away which others can use although you can’t.

    Problem with this woman was she gave away things nobody could use, and called it charity, actually getting people to come to her house and collect it.

    You and she are very different, believe me.

  • I went and read and commented. That is just awful. Wealthy people, are they born with as little regard for others in proportion to their riches?

    Thanks, Annie. Thankyou so much.