got gifts?

got gifts?: Open any newspaper, turn to any local TV news program and you’ll find a way to “give” to the less fortunate this month.

But who exactly is doing the getting is not very clear, especially on Kaua`i where dozens of articles for programs soliciting contributions, from the Food Bank to the Salvation Army Kettle Bucket Brigade, ply the press without any inking of what the needy, deserving families and kids can do to get these goodies

And there’s a reason- each takes care of their own and only their own. . The “Shop with a Cop” program takes care of victimized kids chosen by the Children’s Justice Center, Toys for tots takes care of military families, and the special newspaper and TV programs take kids whose parents are in the state social service system already.

And the rest goes to the most self-centered of all supposed “charities”- the christian churches.

We know it’s their Big Day tomorrow but apparently self-service is what’s at the center of their lip-service to their “christian charity”.

We got a call from someone recently wondering what she could do to direct some all this “help” to a child she knew whose parents aren’t the religious types and aren’t in the court or welfare system but was nonetheless in need.

And we found out that for the most part if you’re not a christian, forget it.

As anyone who has attempted to get food from the Food Bank on Kaua`i without going to a religious organization knows, it’s impossible. You can’t get food directly from the Food Bank itself and every single current distribution outlet is a christian church or is church affiliated.

And guess what? While most religious organizations protest that, at least in theory they will serve anyone regardless of whether they are members of their own brand of indoctrination and superstition, the fact is that if in practice there is any giving going on outside the faith we couldn’t find it.

The worst part of it is that government resources that are spent on these things. The government is always giving benefits to churches, whether exceptions for zoning and permitting or tax-free status or actual cash contributions.

Supposedly it’s because they “help the community”. But most of the time it’s their own religious community that’s helped and more often than not it serves to expand their sphere of influence.

Lately there’s even these “faith based” government programs which are disguised by being provided for non proselytizing activities. But all the churches have to do is a little robbing of Peter to pay Paul to shift the money around to distribute services to their own members, usually for their own evangelical activities.

Don’t forget- to get the meal, you have to sit through the sermon

In all fairness the Salvation Army doesn’t ask questions and makes it relatively pain free for those who need help. In that, they are the exception that proves the rule. But should people be forced to go to a religious organization if they have strong non-religious feelings?

A major part of freedom of religion is freedom from religion.

Who where and when did any local churches actually seek out non-members for their giving? Where was the effort to alert the non-believers that they are welcome to share in the money solicited from the general public and even government with no religious stings attached?

If there has been an article among these “how to give” features about how to get without going to church we haven’t seen it.

A couple of dozen years ago we were invited by a friend to see a slide show on Japan at the Kapa`a Missionary Church.

Soon it became apparent the presenters had returned from a trip designed to convert the heathen Shinto. And in the middle of the program they showed picture of a beautiful Shinto shrine followed by one showing it burned to the ground.

“Here’s a temple (second slide) that burned to the ground while we were there” she said with a decided expression of joy in her voice. “And they couldn’t understand why we wouldn’t help them rebuild their temple” she said, shaking her head that anyone could be so stupid as to not understand why.

That was greeted with not only knowing smiles exchanged but even derisive laugher.

We got up grabbed the kids and yelled as we walked up the center isle “you people wouldn’t know your own god damn christian charity if it bit ya on the ass”.

We’ll let you go back to your egg nog after an appropriate lyric from “Sunrise”, by Grace Slick and the Jefferson Starship.

Sunrise
Surprise
Civilized Man
You were keeper to me
Now your animal is free
And you're free to die
Die
You're old and your hands are gray
Your old go home and
We've all heard you dirty stories
Two thousand years
Two thousand years
Two thousand years
Of your
God damn
Glory