Many churches of late have donated their money and their sweat to the Haiti relief effort.  Major religious organizations are pouring into earthquake-ravaged nation, filling the coffers of their  local affiliates for those in need.

But that money and that food came from Jesus–

It came from Christian Americans who, while trying to do something good in the world, also have no problem putting in a good word for The Lord.  Several Christian organizations have struggled with assisting the needy worldwide, while attempting to do so without mentioning God.  G. Jeffrey MacDonald’s article in The Houston Belief Blog does an excellent job of highlighting the problem.  He states that last September
more than 20 religious institutions, from Scientologists to Buddhists to Catholics, agreed to a set of guidelines that urged relief groups to refrain from imposing moral values or engaging in inappropriate evangelism.
I commend the efforts of those who wish to do good simply for the sake of doing good.  Oftentimes, I’ve spoken with my evangelical friends about the work they do in other countries.  There typically Bibles attached, homes are visited with information packets about Jesus, and individuals who have received help are “encouraged” to visit the church to learn more about the Lord.

But we all know that an organization is made up of many parts; its the foot soldiers that really decide if rules will be followed.  It’s the relief workers–not the organization spokesperson, that must balance faith and food.

Haitian Voodoo priests of late have sounded the alarm recently, claiming that Christian relief organizations are favoring Haitians who are Christian over those who practice the voodoo tradition.  Michael Sheridan’s article on the subject also quoted the Haitian “supreme master” as saying that the Christian relief workers
“Take everything they get to their own people.”
Relief organizations are denying such claims and say that they are working hard to make sure food is distributed equally without regard to personal faith.  I contend however that the problem doesn’t lie with the organization, or even those on the ground in the ravaged country: the problem of proselytizing is embedded in the faith itself.  There’s no fixing this problem without shunning religious mandate, for the Bible requires one to go out into the world and preach the “good word.”

Writer’s such as Valerie Tarico agree.  Her “Solar Powered Bibles for Haiti..” article expressed her dismay at those relief groups who are using Haiti to win souls for Christ.  Her opening paragraph neatly packages the issue:
While Doctors without Borders was struggling to get anesthetics for amputations into Haiti, an Albuquerque group queued up aid of their own sort: 600 solar powered talking Bibles. Even now, food, water, and medicine are having trouble reaching Haitians because of damaged transportation facilities and supply lines, but the missionary group says some of their Bibles are “on the way.”
Of course the polite thing to do at this point is recognize that “good Christians” would never participate in such disgusting, overt behavior.  But I don’t think that’s really the case.  A “good Christian” would in fact welcome the bringing of food with the bringing of the Lord.

Not only does this reinforce the validity of their faith, but it cements the idea of Jesus and goodness to those who have no other frame of reference.  Mark 16:15 is clear on the subject: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  It would be  a lost opportunity for a person of faith not to share the remarkable story of how they came to be standing in front of them.  Right?

Right.

That is why I chose my donation organizations carefully.  My children and I spoke about the need to donate, and the need to do so without coercion.  Instead of donating to the school’s chosen organization (which after a bit of research was found to channel money to Haiti via religious means), we opted for the Non-Believers Giving Aid Program, a consortium of secular organizations channeling 100% of donated funds to the people of Haiti.

We wanted our girls to give, but to give with the intent only to help.

It’s of the utmost moral shortcoming to use a time of tragedy for personal, political, or religious gain.  Yes, we are Americans, and in America everyone is trying to make a quick buck.

But I would think that given the pedestal religion is sat upon, it would rise above America’s greedy intentions.  No religious person, if they truly want to help another simply because they deem themselves morally upright, should ever proselytize while assisting the starving, the out-of-doors, and the sheer desolate people of our planet.

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It is only fitting that President Obama pay some special attention to education in the coming year: American students are out of school almost 30% longer than most kids in the developed world.  And what’s worse, the cognitive skills of those students who manage to stay in school are outpaced by nearly 25 nations, many of them without our vast resources.

The “No Child Left Behind” legislation, enacted in 2002, was designed to change America’s dismal education standards.  Since then, there has been serious progress on the front to educate America’s youth, and there has also been negative consequences that the legislation did not intend.

Though Obama has released few details about the overhaul, it is supposed to relax the rigid standards (and completely unobtainable  goals) set by NCLB, namely that all children in America be literate by 2014.  It is also readjusted to focus on more parameters when qualifying a school as “failing.”

But while most educators scorn NCLB, I find it difficult to agree that the legislation was completely negative.  In many ways, NCLB forced all educators (and teachers of educators) to prove that their methods were positively effecting classroom learning.  The standards I’ve set for students in my AP English class are tough–and I can thank becoming a teacher in the era of NCLB for that. Read more »

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