"Hurricane Relief" - Great note from Paul Myers

Hurricane Relief

Copyright TalkBiz, Inc. 2005
www.talkbiznews.com


No, I'm not going to tell you that you need to get out there and do something to help those folks. You've heard it all before. If you're inclined to help, you're already doing it.

I'd like to warn you about some scams going around where unscrupulous people (mostly spammers, if you can believe that) want to turn your desire to help to their personal benefit. They know that, when it comes to helping others, you're more likely to give a stranger the benefit of the doubt.

Be careful.

Jim and Audri Lanford have put together a brief and eye-opening piece that explains some of what you've got to look out for.

http://www.scambusters.org/hurricanekatrinascams.html

Read it. While you're at it, subscribe.

You'll be very glad you did.

....

Armand Morin sent out a note recently in which he blasted someone for offering links to various agencies where you can donate and be sure your money's going to actually help someone who needs it.

The guy (not Armand, the one he blasted) required that you opt-in to a list in order to get those links. Armand called this dude a "marketing scumbag."

I got three words for you, Armand:

"Preach it, Bro!"

If you want to contribute, or find out what else you can do to help out, here are some numbers for you:

American Red Cross: 800-435-7669
Salvation Army: 800-725-2769
United Way: 800-272-4630
MercyCorps: 888-256-1900
Habitat for Humanity: 800-422-4828
America's Second Harvest: 800-771-2303

....

I'm not going to discuss the job the state and Federal governments are doing. I don't use that kind of language in this newsletter.

If you can do something in your community to help people get through this or get back on their feet, that may be your best bet.

A lot of local churches, of all denominations, are organizing relief drives. That may be a good place to check out if you're wondering what you can do to help, but just don't know how to start.

....

On the subject of religious organizations and their response to this disaster, I have a few comments. I'm not a religious guy, but I've always believed that the best neighbors you can have are real libertarians or true Christians. (Either group can be of virtually any religion, if you think about it.)

Note that I said **true* Christians.

There's another variety out there that I call "Born Against" Christians. A lot of those people are saying that this disaster is a message from on high.

Well, I've got a message for them.

To the alleged "Christians" who believe "this is God's
punishment on the people of New Orleans for their
wickedness and evil," I offer this thought:

If you believe that your God punishes the wicked by
drowning the poor, the sick, the very old and the very
young, alone in their beds and their attics...

If you believe that your God requires that mothers watch
as their children die of dehydration as penance for
the "sins" of others...

If you believe that your God would willingly drive people
to starvation, hopelessness and despair to make a point...

If you believe any of this, I suggest that you might be
confused. True, there is an entity in the Christian faith
that would do all of these things, but...

Its name is not God.

....

A friend of mine pointed out that there are people from various faiths, not all Christian, that think Katrina is the Hammer of God, smiting the Sinners of New Orleans. He's probably right, but the only ones I hear talking this nonsense claim to be Christian.

Most of them are middle-aged white folk, twisting their religion to justify their hate and spite and prejudice.

Speaking as a middle-aged white guy, and on behalf of sane middle-aged white folk everywhere, I'd like to apologize for the behavior of these cretins.

We don't like them either.

....

If you're one of those people and want to try and sell me on your ideas about God, visit http://www.buy-paul-a-beer.com and tell me all about it. ***


"Get Ready For The Storm"
=======================

Sounds like I'm a little late, don't it?

For those of you who aren't familiar with that part of the world, there's a scary and little-mentioned fact that you need to know about hurricanes. They have an actual season.
And there's almost three months left to it.

....

There are a lot of other types of storms. There are tornadoes and tsunamis, snow storms and ice storms, and all the private and personal storms of life.

Take some time and plan what you'd do in an emergency that required you to leave your home - or to stay in it - for an extended period.

....

If you're the kind who likes to help out others, the best thing you can do is build your business faster, and put something aside for that, too.

I've spoken to a lot of people lately who'd like to help out the folks in the South but can't. They don't have it to give.

My advice: Start a project that's designed to build up a reserve. If you need it yourself, it'll be there. If you don't, you can help someone else when they need it.

Either way, you'll be prepared.

....

Think about it.

The best thing you can do for others, and yourself, is to have the resources to deal with whatever life throws at you.

Get going. Get ready.

And enjoy life. It's the best preparation you can make.

Paul
www.talkbiznews.com

*** Yep. Beer, the Yankees and the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans,
all on one page. That ought to freak the crazies out. ;)


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