Forget About Our Own Neighborhoods.... Let's Help Third World Countries!

Recently there has been plenty of media attention dedicated helping eliminate AIDS in Africa. Many companies have announced that they will be creating products whose proceeds will go to fight AIDS in Africa through (PRODUCT) ^RED. Even the president has asked congress in his State of the Union Address that $1.5 billion of American taxpayers' money be sent to the cause over the next five years as well. Everyone is being begged to stop the genocide in Darfur, but no one cares about the suffering in their own backyards.

(PRODUCT) ^RED was created by U2 singer Bono and DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) Chairman Bobby Shriver in 2006. Now of course AIDS in Africa is a major issue there, 60% of the HIV/AIDS infected population in the world lives there. These statistics aren't really that staggering considering it is suspected to have originated in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. We can't really expect them to stop the epidemic on their own considering many of the infected are primitive people who didn't excel in being civilized or having economic growth even before the AIDS epidemic. Yes, it's a terrible thing that people are dying. But it's even worse that they continue to pass it to one another and their children when they should know the dangers by now.

I for one, refuse to buy any (RED) products or give money to a cause overseas when there are people here in our own backyards who are dying of starvation and disease. Diseases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease affect millions of helpless Americans each year. Very little can be done to prevent many of these deadly life changing diseases. Even AIDS is still killing Americans who cannot afford the antiretroviral treatment that would prolong their lives.

Many Americans live on our streets begging for a living, but so many people walk by and donate their money overseas, ignoring the pain and suffering of their countrymen. American children are growing up orphans because their parents were killed senselessly in their unsafe neighborhoods. They have to walk to school in fear because drug deals and prostitution are riddling their once safe route.

Even more sad than unsafe neighborhoods is the unsafe homes some children have to live in. So many children are taken away from their parents and shuffled around foster homes in a system that doesn't have the resources and manpower for the load of cases they're forced to deal with. The system is so overloaded or unaware that many children are beaten to death or never get to experience a loving stable home. American children are suffering because there isn't enough money in the system to save them but donating to charities here can change that, instead we're sending our money overseas.

Teens in urban areas eventually turn to drugs and gangs because funding is being cut and they're losing their once free afterschool activities. Even if their parents aren't taking the responsibility, we're creating the next generation for our prisons when we give up on these kids in favor of their foreign counterparts.

Why you may ask is nothing being done here? Well that's because it's not in style to donate money or help charities that aren't "exotic" anymore. Our celebrities are traveling overseas and donating millions to help third world countries but ignore the country that gave them their wealth. Today it sounds more chic to say you donated to Africa or Darfur than to say you drove to your local food bank or soup kitchen and donated your time or canned goods.

In my opinion even our local animal shelters deserve our donations more than third world countries. Ignorant people buy animals who they cannot take care of and just put them out on the streets of many metropolitan areas where they are forced to scavenge for food. So many of these dogs and cats are euthanized because there isn't the resources to find them loving homes. Now they don't have a choice, they can't help that the families who were supposed to love them turned their back and left them. So many of these dogs and cats still have so much life and love left in them even after they've been abused and neglected. Don't believe me? Go to your local animal shelter or turn on your television and watch the shows about animal control in big cities, it's ridiculous.

These third world countries aren't going to change because 10% of your purchase went to foundations dedicated to them. There is nothing that can really be done to save these people. Even after you rid them of AIDS and disease, they're still going to be living in slums because that's what they've done for centuries and there aren't any more resources. They will still fight amongst themselves even without disease because that's what they've always done, and our money won't stop that because it's all they know.

In spite of what is patriotic or sensible, just remember that it's still more in vogue to wear a shirt that says "inspi(RED)" on it or "Darfur" to show you care instead of just giving that 30 dollars you spent to cancer research or a local homeless shelter. By the way, also remember that only 10% of that money went overseas, that's 3 dollars, now pat yourself on the back you stylish humanitarian you! And while you're at it, literally kick the sick old man or starving dog down the street instead of just figuratively doing so in favor of the Africans, that way they'll know that your heart really lies in your shirt or cell phone instead of in your soul.