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The Oxford Advanced
Learners Dictionary defines a philanthropist as a rich person who helps the
poor and those in need, especially by giving money. Apart from monetary needs
other things like clothing, food, scholarships etc are among the things people give
in the name of helping the poor.
We can see in Nigeria and world over, people,
societies, clubs, churches engage in this act of helping the less privileged of
the society. Some would go far to WILL their entire life savings to some people
or group of people, for example the motherless homes, aged homes,
rehabilitation homes at their last days on this Earth. Though some do it in
good spirit others have something else in mind.
But who are the poor? For me, it is one who you
are better than. To the extent you are better of is the extent he is poor to
you. That is to say that poverty is in levels. If the financially poor is rich
in knowledge and freely employs his wealth of knowledge to help the rich
financially then he qualifies a philanthropist as well. By this we find an
unconscious exercise of this act daily by an average human being on the street,
as he dolls out a kobo or cent to the people he considers less privileged or
employs his wisdom, experience to assist another.
While
some do it as a responsibility, pity, concern, for show, or fame, for
corresponding sowing and reaping benefit which is a principle of the bible, some
persons do it for political reasons. For instance, when you see a young vibrant
man with wads who has neglected his community or group of people suddenly turns
to undertake projects like grading road without tarring it or sinking a
borehole watch it he has started nursing political ambition. That is Africa.
Two incidences cited in the bible give us a good
understanding of what should be a drive for this act of philanthropic gestures.
"Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he
entered into Capernaum...And when they came to Jesus, they besought him
instantly, saying, that he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loves
our Nation, and he has built us a synagogue.[Luke7;1-7] Another scripture that
will assist us is from Luke 10:30-35 "And Jesus answering said, a certain
man went down from..but a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he
was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him..I will repay thee. From the
two cited scriptures the two actors had love, compassion as their main drives
for the actions. The first man loved his nation at least being a centurion and
his people demonstrated in building a synagogue for them. The second man loved
and had compassion for his fellow human being that necessitated his footing the
hospital bill.
Now, we know that some of our religious acclaimed philanthropists
must have drawn their inspirations from
this or other teachings whether Christians or Moslems because building of synagogues,
mosques, cathedrals are commonly found
among our people and sending of relieves to victims of some sort hence their
accreditation. We must pause to ask, who is really a philanthropist? Is he one that loves and cares for outsiders
but not his immediate community, families and very close relations? They hear
his largesse with the ear only. Right there with him are starving tens and
hundreds, drop outs due to inability to cope with cost of education, unemployed
willing to work but could not be helped. He turns his eyes to other side with
all his money and connections. This individual has his compound surrounded with
high walls and under lock and keep such that even an ant will find it difficult
to go in. He is not in talking terms with anybody except his praise singers who
employ the means to reach him. May be the community has queried and suspected
his life style and wealth. Can
he be one who is ready to WILL his life
savings to an animal pet but would not give a dime to another because of his
race, color, religion or faith despite his known need? He would want his pet to
live than the individual and will do everything possible within his reach to
dispose him.
What of a person who engaged in trading adulterated
and expired products, made his money, and later donate money or establish a
foundation for orphans whose parents are victims of his wicked trade?
Related to the above
is one who killed others for money rituals and dole out to people whose breadwinners
might be minting machines in the wardrobe of the acclaimed philanthropist or
one who used his position to steal the Nation dry of the money meant for the
entire wellbeing of her people only to build factories in his name to employ
the same people he has willfully robbed.
Can he also be one who gives in return for what
has been give him or things he intends to gain from one he gave to or a person
who through his company concentrate on donating to institutions which Tax
Authority included in the list of allowable expenses and not bothered about
others outside the category?
I am sure it is none of the mentioned
categories of persons considering the virtues of people in our case study and he
that aspires to be called a philanthropist should learn that true charity begins
from home without dissimulation, discriminatory, and sacrificial too.
Therefore, before you build that high riser that will shelter the world check
out your source and motives.
Iwuji Okechukwu iwujio@yahoo.comwww.theinspectors.blog.com
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Authors 
Posted by Robot| 04.07.2008 16:50