Just Wanted To Make Sure

[twyacht]

LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT;

IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.
IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.
IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.
BUT, IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET:

A JOB,
A DRIVERS LICENSE,
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
WELFARE,
FOOD STAMPS,
CREDIT CARDS,
SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
FREE EDUCATION,
FREE HEALTH CARE,
A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON,
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN  YOUR  LANGUAGE,
THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON'T
      GET ENOUGH RESPECT AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN VOTE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION.

Probably posted already but I was just concerned, I might have missed something.

[bulldog75]

  You are right, and we have veterans that freeze to death on our own streets.

[philw]

yep  that is about right.   

[Timothy]

You are right, and we have vetrans that freeze to death on our own streets.

They say that 1 in 4 homeless people are Veterans....I've already started buying poppy's from the Vets.

[WatchManUSA]

We have all heard the phrase, "You get what you pay for."

[Sponsor]

[PABLO DEL NORTE]

  YEAH, GO FIGGER   MY WIFE & I WORK OUR BUTS OFF, YET WE CAN'T QUALIFY FOR A NEW HOUSE, NEW TRUCK, NEW ATV, ANY OF THE '' FREE EDUCATION'', BUT DAMN!!  FIND A _____ _____ ILLEGAL & THEY QUALIFY FOR ALL THAT STUFF. 

[MikeBjerum]

They say that 1 in 4 homeless people are Veterans....I've already started buying poppy's from the Vets.

Timothy,

I always buy a poppy or two, but this is not where I focus.  We have switched all our giving methods.  For veterans I give direct to a cause or group.  I give to our two local Legions and our two local VFW groups.  I would rather support them locally, and let them decide where the best use of my money would be.  After talking to our local people selling the poppies, I have learned that they can do more with the regular donations than the poppy sales.

By giving money to our local group I can be assured that a local vet in need gets help, food, medical transportation, a cane, a walker, a wheelchair, their house painted or repaired, or an evening out with his family.  When I send it off, I not only don't know where it is going, but I don't know how much is spent in overhead.

My first real eyeopener in these issues came with the local food shelf.  It is true that Second Harvest can do more with my dollar than our community or county food shelves, but when collecting for the local food shelf we learned that it is rare for that Second Harvest food to ever get out to our area.  So I can give $1 to the local food shelf and get $1 worth of food; or I can give $1 to Second Harvest, they purchase $5 worth of food with it, and our local food shelf gets $.50 worth on a good year.  One dollar locally may not be the best bang for the buck, but it goes a lot further toward meeting the needs of the people I sit next to in church and at the park.

Rambling over ... for now ...

Give, give generously, but know where it is going and how it is being used!

[ericire12]

LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT;

IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.
IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.
IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.
BUT, IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET:

A JOB,
A DRIVERS LICENSE,
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
WELFARE,
FOOD STAMPS,
CREDIT CARDS,
SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
FREE EDUCATION,
FREE HEALTH CARE,
A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON,
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN  YOUR  LANGUAGE,
THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON'T
      GET ENOUGH RESPECT AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN VOTE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION.

Probably posted already but I was just concerned, I might have missed something.

Bravo!

[MikeBjerum]

Bravo!

Got lost in the drift ... Sorry, and Thanks for posting tw!

[Timothy]

Timothy,

I always buy a poppy or two, but this is not where I focus.  We have switched all our giving methods.  For veterans I give direct to a cause or group.  I give to our two local Legions and our two local VFW groups.  I would rather support them locally, and let them decide where the best use of my money would be.  After talking to our local people selling the poppies, I have learned that they can do more with the regular donations than the poppy sales.

By giving money to our local group I can be assured that a local vet in need gets help, food, medical transportation, a cane, a walker, a wheelchair, their house painted or repaired, or an evening out with his family.  When I send it off, I not only don't know where it is going, but I don't know how much is spent in overhead.

My first real eyeopener in these issues came with the local food shelf.  It is true that Second Harvest can do more with my dollar than our community or county food shelves, but when collecting for the local food shelf we learned that it is rare for that Second Harvest food to ever get out to our area.  So I can give $1 to the local food shelf and get $1 worth of food; or I can give $1 to Second Harvest, they purchase $5 worth of food with it, and our local food shelf gets $.50 worth on a good year.  One dollar locally may not be the best bang for the buck, but it goes a lot further toward meeting the needs of the people I sit next to in church and at the park.

Rambling over ... for now ...

Give, give generously, but know where it is going and how it is being used!

Good thoughts Mike.  As the saying goes, "Charity begins at home!"

You and I think alike...I'm always hesitant to send money myself until I do the research.  The poppy sales give me a chance to shake the hand of a fellow Vet and thank them or listen to a story.  It's amazing sometimes how much that little gesture can make their day!