One of the Reasons I Have No Use for Organized Religion
I hate ranting about this today of all days, when we ought to be looking forward to children dressed as goblins and wizards and ghosts, or going to parties in costumes lovingly crafted for the huge entrance, but I just read something this morning that really has me pissed off.
As many of you know, everybody's dungeon master, E. Gary Gygax passed away this past March. His favorite charity was the Christian Children's Fund, and so, this past GenCon raised over $17,000 for this charity in Gary's memory.
Only to have the charity turn the money down.
That's right True Believers; the organization will take your hard earned dollars in a second, but no money connected to Dungeons and Dragons. The site where I found out about this is here on the Giant in the Playground site: www.giantitp.com/
The story is quoted here:
" 10/31/2008
As has been reported by a few other gaming blogs and news sites, the Charity Auction at this year's GenCon Indianapolis was held to benefit Gary Gygax's favorite charity, which I will not name here for reasons that will soon become obvious. The fine folks at GenCon raised over $17,000 for this charity, which helps starving children in impovershed areas of the world--only to have that money actually turned down by the charity. The charity refused due to the fact that the money was raised partly by the sales of Dungeons and Dragons materials, which as we all know, puts an irrevocable taint of evil on the filthy lucre that us demon-worshipping gamers might want to use to, say, donate to starving children. Not only is this a slap in the face to every gamer, but it is especially insulting to Mr. Gygax himself, who I understand donated to their cause many times over the years. Plus, I'm sure the children who would have gotten food or clean drinking water with that money would be sort of upset, too.
I bring this story to your attention not simply so that you might let the people at this charity know how you feel (especially if you have donated to it before, as many did in the wake of Mr. Gygax's passing), but so that you would be aware that there is an alternative charity that I would personally recommend (based on our own charitable giving) if you have a desire to donate money to help starving children. Plan USA is a worldwide charity aimed at helping those who live in poverty and/or have suffered from a natural disaster, particularly with monthly sponsorships of individual children. Since the money of D&D players is clearly not welcome at this other charity, I can't recommend Plan USA highly enough to those interested in giving anyway. At least if you choose to donate through them, there's no chance your generous gifts to the starving children of the world will be rejected due to your weekend hobby.
(Incidentally, GenCon was also able to find another worthy charity with an entirely different focus, the Fisher House Foundation, that was willing to accept the money given in good faith by GenCon attendees.) "
I don't know if this is the charity that I see on the TV all the time, begging for your sponsorship, but they must not need the money that badly if they can afford to turn down this much fundage. Gary was a contributor and supporter of this charity, and to hear this malarkey just pisses me off. The mind-set of too many religious folks who still believe that Dungeons and Dragons is evil makes me wonder what a bunch of close minded boneheads these people are, and how many people are blindly following this pack, just because they would rather not think for themselves.
I don't want you to think that I am against religious people; a good number of folks, my best friend in the realm Chris Dull included, are deeply religious, and haven't condemned me for my weekend habit. I also remember my very first GenCon convention I attended when it was still at Lake Geneva; a large crowd of the Moral Majority decided that they would picket the sight, calling us all sorts of names. One attendee to the con, a Catholic priest from one of the western states (Nevada maybe) wanted to go out there and see about making peace. His friends were understandably concerned, and after overhearing this discussion, and the Father's insistance to go out there, I asked him to bear with me, and allow me to go find a few "friends"; five sailors, three 'zoomies' (Air Force personnel), a good number of dogfaces (Army) and four, BIG Marines.
Did I mention these four lads were BIG? Like bench-press a farking Buick big.
The plan was simple; we were going to go out there with some of the gamers, and the 'goon' squad. We all promised to behave, and allow the Padre to speak his piece. If it hit the fan, the sailors and Air Force guys would get the Father and the gamers out of there, the army guys would provide cover-fire (so to speak) for our escape, and the Marines would do what Marines do best: unleash hell.
Long story short; the peace was kept. The priest was allowed to speak his mind. The zealots called us satanists, and the few trouble makers they had just itching to bust our pointy little noggins had their minds changed for them by the Army and Marine guys. I have no doubt that with a word from the priest, there would have been a @$$-whuppin' of biblical proportions (you guys today would call it Epic!). We were saddened by their attitudes, but we at least tried, and we were better for it. I did have to go buy a few cases of beer to cheer the guys up, but we were very good friends before it was over with.
Anyway, that's my say. I'm disheartened that the Christian Children's Fund did this, and they are poorer for it in more ways than one. I think of all the folks I read about here as open minded and thoughtful people, full of ideas, solutions and words that make the heart feel glad. You all have an epic Halloween, and take care.
As many of you know, everybody's dungeon master, E. Gary Gygax passed away this past March. His favorite charity was the Christian Children's Fund, and so, this past GenCon raised over $17,000 for this charity in Gary's memory.
Only to have the charity turn the money down.
That's right True Believers; the organization will take your hard earned dollars in a second, but no money connected to Dungeons and Dragons. The site where I found out about this is here on the Giant in the Playground site: www.giantitp.com/
The story is quoted here:
" 10/31/2008
As has been reported by a few other gaming blogs and news sites, the Charity Auction at this year's GenCon Indianapolis was held to benefit Gary Gygax's favorite charity, which I will not name here for reasons that will soon become obvious. The fine folks at GenCon raised over $17,000 for this charity, which helps starving children in impovershed areas of the world--only to have that money actually turned down by the charity. The charity refused due to the fact that the money was raised partly by the sales of Dungeons and Dragons materials, which as we all know, puts an irrevocable taint of evil on the filthy lucre that us demon-worshipping gamers might want to use to, say, donate to starving children. Not only is this a slap in the face to every gamer, but it is especially insulting to Mr. Gygax himself, who I understand donated to their cause many times over the years. Plus, I'm sure the children who would have gotten food or clean drinking water with that money would be sort of upset, too.
I bring this story to your attention not simply so that you might let the people at this charity know how you feel (especially if you have donated to it before, as many did in the wake of Mr. Gygax's passing), but so that you would be aware that there is an alternative charity that I would personally recommend (based on our own charitable giving) if you have a desire to donate money to help starving children. Plan USA is a worldwide charity aimed at helping those who live in poverty and/or have suffered from a natural disaster, particularly with monthly sponsorships of individual children. Since the money of D&D players is clearly not welcome at this other charity, I can't recommend Plan USA highly enough to those interested in giving anyway. At least if you choose to donate through them, there's no chance your generous gifts to the starving children of the world will be rejected due to your weekend hobby.
(Incidentally, GenCon was also able to find another worthy charity with an entirely different focus, the Fisher House Foundation, that was willing to accept the money given in good faith by GenCon attendees.) "
I don't know if this is the charity that I see on the TV all the time, begging for your sponsorship, but they must not need the money that badly if they can afford to turn down this much fundage. Gary was a contributor and supporter of this charity, and to hear this malarkey just pisses me off. The mind-set of too many religious folks who still believe that Dungeons and Dragons is evil makes me wonder what a bunch of close minded boneheads these people are, and how many people are blindly following this pack, just because they would rather not think for themselves.
I don't want you to think that I am against religious people; a good number of folks, my best friend in the realm Chris Dull included, are deeply religious, and haven't condemned me for my weekend habit. I also remember my very first GenCon convention I attended when it was still at Lake Geneva; a large crowd of the Moral Majority decided that they would picket the sight, calling us all sorts of names. One attendee to the con, a Catholic priest from one of the western states (Nevada maybe) wanted to go out there and see about making peace. His friends were understandably concerned, and after overhearing this discussion, and the Father's insistance to go out there, I asked him to bear with me, and allow me to go find a few "friends"; five sailors, three 'zoomies' (Air Force personnel), a good number of dogfaces (Army) and four, BIG Marines.
Did I mention these four lads were BIG? Like bench-press a farking Buick big.
The plan was simple; we were going to go out there with some of the gamers, and the 'goon' squad. We all promised to behave, and allow the Padre to speak his piece. If it hit the fan, the sailors and Air Force guys would get the Father and the gamers out of there, the army guys would provide cover-fire (so to speak) for our escape, and the Marines would do what Marines do best: unleash hell.
Long story short; the peace was kept. The priest was allowed to speak his mind. The zealots called us satanists, and the few trouble makers they had just itching to bust our pointy little noggins had their minds changed for them by the Army and Marine guys. I have no doubt that with a word from the priest, there would have been a @$$-whuppin' of biblical proportions (you guys today would call it Epic!). We were saddened by their attitudes, but we at least tried, and we were better for it. I did have to go buy a few cases of beer to cheer the guys up, but we were very good friends before it was over with.
Anyway, that's my say. I'm disheartened that the Christian Children's Fund did this, and they are poorer for it in more ways than one. I think of all the folks I read about here as open minded and thoughtful people, full of ideas, solutions and words that make the heart feel glad. You all have an epic Halloween, and take care.