To be proud of DS over this (warning, naughty parent/Operation CHristmas CHild-related)

[SolidGoldYESBROKEMYSPACEBAR]

Ds is 8 and his school will persist in the poxy Samaritans' Purse appeal though I have written and complained at least twice (if you don't already know, it's a racist rightwing evangelical organisation, culturally insensitive, despised by most aid charities and a waste of resources.). I have never contributed to it and never will, and have explained to DS that it's a bad organisation run by bad people, and that good people (like those at his school) don't always understand that sometimes bad people pretend to be good...

Anyway, today, according to DS, one of the teachers asked the DC to guess how many shoeboxes they were going to get this year/how many they hoped for. DS raised his hand and said...... 'ZERO'

That's m'boooy!

High five to your ds! :)

DD's school have just sent The Leaflet home today asking for donations for OCC.

I will be making my objections known.

Good boy!

Loving your DS's work

I had the leaflet as well.

I sincerely hope DS2 will also say zero when asked about our contribution.

I have gently told him he is not to harass his classmates if their families decide to contribute but I am still very proud of him

Good for him!

We have been asked about this, what is it and why is it bad. Genuinally curious as never heard of before and something didn't sit right

Ooh please give us more info. I remember doing these shoeboxes when i was at school and was planning on doing them with my son once he's a bit older. Thought it would be nice to teach him about giving to those less.forunate than himself and a good way of him getting involved and helping to choose items for the box. but now im alarmed at what your saying! Never heard of it being not quite what it seems.

Oh for goodness sake.... Try doing something positive instead of pouring cold water over a charity that millions benefit from!

Oh please explain more! I've never done one but didn't realise they were bad!

Luckily the school only supports local charities, in particular the local homeless shelter.

They're not "bad". It's a Christian charity. I wonder if the op would feel as strongly about Islamic charities? It's a shame - are charities ONLY allowed to operate if they're atheist?!

I haven't heard of it either. Why is it so bad. Despised by most aid charities. That's quite a strong phrase.

If you don't agree with it then just don't contribute no need for him to be rude

I've not contributed since I found out they use these boxes as a vehicle to push their beliefs in places where it is culturally offensive to do so, as though their true aim is not charity but recruitment.

They also attach conditions to issuing the boxes ie insisting potential recipients must attend a Christian service to get the box. Again, not always appropriate in many countries. Therefore discriminating against children who's families are of another faith.

No toomanydaisies charities don't need to be atheist but they do need to not push another religion onto people in need. (who may be pefectly happy with their own religion thank you very much.)

Pushing Christian literature on Muslim children because it's Christmas (which obviously they don't celebrate) is just as offensive as if a Muslim charity attempted to convert Christian families who are in desperate need.

There was another long thread on this recently for those after more info - I shall see if I can find it....

Here it is:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1596783-not-to-contribute-to-the-Shoebox-Appeal

OK, quick rundown of the reasons why this appeal is a crock of shit that no-one should support.

It's pointless. Most of the recipients don't celebrate Christmas and need clean water and food, not plastic tat from a pound shop (that was probably made by slave labour, maybe in their own countries)

It's a waste of resources air-freighting the crap over there.

It's divisive: there are not going to be enough for every kid in a village to get one.

Samaritan's Purse is quite blatant in its AMerican literature that the aim is to peddle own-brand mythology; the English publicity soft-pedals this in a dishonest fashion.

The founders are on record making racist and culturally insensitive remarks about other mythologies.

There are rumours about sticky fingers in the till and the Charities COmmision don't think much of them.

If you want to teach your DC about giving at Christmas, why not contact local charities, perhaps for the homeless or vulnerably housed, or refuges? Or get your DC to sort out a selection of toys they no longer play with to give to the charity shop.

I spent time in Africa where, in August, children were still showing me with pride the beautifully cared for crayola crayons they had received in a shoe box.
I prefer to teach my children it is always better to give and making smug moral judgements that deprive children would not make me proud. Whilst I feel the attitudes are not always admirable it is better to do a little good than none at all.

These people have a good reputation if people want to do something.
Backpack Project

Better to do some good than none at all? It's that principle that kept the hideous JS protected all his life.

But let's just focus on the bit of good that's done and ignore the dark side of their business hey?

This has made me so incredibly angry. Solidgold- with your ill informed comments you are preventing many children from receiving pleasure and feeling cared for. Your comments above are ridiculous!

1. Just because someone needs clean water should they not have a gift also? Or do you think the poor should only have the essentials?
2. It's a waste of resources giving presents to those who may never have had any? WHAT?I bet your kids have water AND gifts?

Yes, they may have a religious agenda, but I am guessing in their minds this is also doing the right thing?
Congratulations on teaching your son to be totally short sighted and mean-spirited.I assume you tell him not to give money to the homeless because they 'will spend it on drugs and alcohol'.
I wonder if those who are so anti this charity will actually do what they say and give to a local group?
I have never posted anything like this before but I couldn't believe what I was reading.

Comparing it to JS is even more ridiculous and is actually inflammatory in a very childish point-scoring type way. Grow up.