3 December 2019 — 1228 mst

Today is Tin-Cupping Tuesday — give if you can,
but don't let the beggars make you feel guilty

“Giving Tuesday,” the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, was invented in 2011 by a thirsty for money Maryland theatre company. Its operating premise is that after spending the Friday after Thanksgiving buying gifts for kin and friends, shoppers have a moral obligation to donate to worthy causes, and should be reminded of that moral obligation by designating the next Tuesday as a universally recognized day for writing checks to charities. It’s an effective fundraising technique.

It’s also a considerable annoyance. My morning email traffic was dominated by messages from nonprofits, and politicians, reminding me that today is a sacred day for giving, that giving is a moral obligation, and hey, sinner, we do good things, so Buddy will you send a dime? Giving will cleanse your soul. Don’t be selfish.

I agree. Don’t be selfish. But don’t be stupid, either. “Giving Tuesday” is just another gimmick for raising money. If you send a dime, you’ll be thanked and asked to send another and another and another. The asking — the shameless, sophisticated, begging — never ceases. It’s no more moral to make a charitable contribution today than it is on any other day, and it’s not sinful to keep your checkbook closed because your highest priority and moral obligation is staying solvent for the good of your family. You won’t go to Hell if you keep your greenbacks in your wallet instead of depositing them in a multi-million-dollar budget nonprofit’s tin cup.