don't give up, don't ever give up!

Written by Ali Hofmeyer, Communications Consultant

Sometimes, it's hard not to think that injustice is inevitable.  We are bombarded with messages of inequality, oppression, and corruption.  Just this morning I read an article on exploitative working conditions in the shrimp industry in Bangladesh.  A comment made in the article said, "In the 21st Century, food produced by forced or bonded labour should not be on our plates." Well absolutely!  Right?  None of us want to profit off of the exploitation of others.  But then you get down to the bare bones of it all, and you realize that it's everywhere.  And asking questions at restaurants about where they purchase their meat or produce makes you one of those kinds of people.

I was listening to a webinar on Tuesday on Donor Retention.  At one point, the speaker was defining levels of donors and ranking them importance.  He referenced the idea that the world will always be full of the "have's & the have not's."  He was saying this in reference to leveraging donor relationships that you can't afford to lose, but it made me stop.  I hated that he said that.  But I hated even more that it seemed to ring true.  The concept made sense in context of what he was talking about.

I don't want to accept that this world will be plagued by poverty and disease and injustice.  I don't believe we must be bound by have's and have not's.  So I will fight for justice.  I will ask those uncomfortable questions.  I will research where I shop for clothes and food.   I will give my time and money to organizations that are fighting for self-sufficiency and equality.  As overwhelming as this world can get, it is never hopeless.  We won't give up, and we hope you never will either.