The Secret Reasons We Give

Along with the graphic images and gut-wrenching stories that accompany the massive disaster we simply refer to as "Haiti" come a fair number of analyses on giving, generosity, and philanthropy.

One article caught my eye.

The issue: what is the real reason people give money to charity? Some suggestions by the author:

• guilt
• the desire to boost our social status
• the need to feel good about ourselves

It made me ask myself why I am really doing what I am doing here in Nicaragua. Tough question -- COPOUT ALERT! -- I really need more time to think about it.

Nevertheless, what immediately sprung to my mind was the effort here in Nicaragua to raise funds for the Haitian relief effort. Here we have citizens in what some people consider to be the second-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere (Nicaragua) helping the poorest (Haiti).

Analyze that!