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Sunday, November 22, 2009
Walking for What?
I know this may not be a popular opinion, but it's my blog, so what the heck. A friend of mine made a facebook post about teenagers going on a thirty hour fast to raise money to feed the hungry. First of all, let me say that I applaud these kids for thinking of someone other than themselves, which is a challenge for all of us, especially when we're teenagers. But I just don't get it.
At the end of the day (or the thirty hours) you've done nothing but starve yourself, which in my opinion isn't healthy. I know some people think fasting is healthy, but I do not. It's the same think with 'Walks' for something. Okay, you've walked for three days and given yourself blisters and sore muscles. But what if that time was spent picking up trash, painting elderly people's homes, clearing out a vacant lot and turning it into a playground, organizing programs for underprivileged kids? Doing something productive and lasting?
That's what I'm talking about. Yes, you've raised money and that's great. But what if you used that time/effort to actually DO something other than walk or not eat. Like I said, just my two cents.
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3 comments:
I agree with you, Jana!
Well, I think a 30-hour fast for teenagers is just plain stupid and not a good idea since eating disorders are rampant at that age. When we were kids, one of the churches used to do a dinner where they served bread/crackers and water to make a similar point that a lot of children in the world went without adequate food. Kids got the message and weren't starved for 30 hours.
And the three-day walks for breast cancer -- I don't get that either. I get the Susan G. Komen Walk/Run's because I have survivor friends who do them every year and raise a lot of money for the cause.
But I don't see the need for people to bruise/blister/and put themselves through a large ordeal for the cause.
I'm with you! Spend the time DOING something!
I think that Runs that raise money are different because it's a competition type thing that draws athletes in who want to participate in that sport. They train to do it and it's their 'thing'.
I would rather pledge a certain dollar amount for every hour that kids went door to door to collect canned goods rather than just fasting. And you make a good point about eating disorders, Becky.
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