It doesn't seem to matter that your intentions are honourable, there always seems to be somebody out there that will find a reason to be critical of what you are doing.
Take for example the Rotary Club of Chatham in Miramichi, New Brunswick. They are holding a huge raffle to raise money for the French Fort Cove Eco-Center, which will showcase Miramichi’s history and culture while promoting education and environmental awareness.
The problem, according to some know-it-all do-gooders, is the prize being raffled off - a Limited Edition 2005 Hummer H2 SUT. They suggest the gas guzzling vehicle is an inappropriate prize for a campaign to raise money for an ecological center. Even the Sierra Club is crying foul. A Rotary Club spokesperson countered that their cause is a good one and to be successful they need a prize that is unique and will attract attention. Only 25 of the Hummers will be available in Canada.
It is hard to imagine how some people have nothing better to do than to find something negative about such a positive project. Rotary Clubs are reknowned worldwide for the good that they do. Of course, the Sierra Club could be just trying to get headlines for their cause as they have vigorously opposed the Hummer since it was first introduced on the market.
However, they don't seem to be able to see the forest for the trees. Any negative environmental impact of one Hummer raffled off by the Chatham Rotary Club will surely be negated a thousand-fold by the positive impact of their support for the French Fort Cove Eco-Center. This Center will help change attitudes and educate the young, which will provide a long-term positive environmental legacy.
Perhaps we should be critical of the good that groups like the Sierra Club do in raising environmental awareness. After all, they use all the conveniences of modern society to get out their message, and these tools (paper products, technology, transportation) all have an impact on the environment.
But I guess the old mantra, "the end justifies the means" only applies to do- gooders like them.
Visit Ordinary Joe for more opinions of ordinary people.
Article comments
1 - Tan The Man
The criticisms make sense. It's like PETA killing animals in the name of saving them. (Kind of a bad example but you see where I'm going with it)
2 - Lisa McKay
Ordinary Joe, do you seriously *not* see the inappropriateness of raffling off a Hummer to benefit an ecological center?
3 - Tan The Man
It would kind of be appropriate if it was a hybrid Hummer. Imagine the sales figures...
4 - Ordinary Joe
Lisa, you proved my point. Can't see the forest for the trees...or just being overly critical? By the way, I think Hummers are disgusting.
OJ
5 - Lisa McKay
I guess I have to come down on the side of it *not* being overly critical, Joe. Raffling off something that is detrimental to the environment in order to raise money for an environmental cause makes no sense to me at all.
6 - Dave Nalle
>>>It would kind of be appropriate if it was a hybrid Hummer. Imagine the sales figures...<<
Which begs the question, where the hell ARE the hybrid Hummers? The army has them, yet they aren't on the commercial market as far as I can tell. What gives?
Dave
7 - Duane
It is obviously not hypercritical to criticize this major screwup.
It's like raffling off a pecan pie at rally dedicated to healthy eating.
It's like raffling off a Playstation 2 at a reading awareness meeting.
It's like raffling off a Madonna boxed set at a music appreciation club meeting.
etc., etc.
It's just blatantly stupid. Maybe it is a publicity stunt.