fandomhigh | Ethics [Tuesday, September 10, 2013]

Entry tags:

ethics

Ethics [Tuesday, September 10, 2013]

Today the students found themselves in the Danger Shop that had been configured to look like a busy sidewalk in the heart of a major city. "Today we're going to talk about charity," Anakin said when everyone had gathered around. "Some people donate money or time to charitable organizations. Some people give a dollar or two to people who ask for it on the street. Some people figure they've worked very hard for their money and don't owe it to anyone else. There are arguments to be made for either of them, and as I said last week, I'm not here to tell you that you're a terrible person because you don't give ten percent of what you make to the Red Cross or Bruce Wayne's orphanage charity or something.

"What I will tell you is that along this street are panhandlers you can give money to, as well as a food bank where you can either give a donation of money or of time. There's also a coffee shop if you choose not to do any of those activities. Students, feel free to ask each other about the choices you're making--I certainly will--but please don't harague each other if someone makes a choice that isn't yours."

He smiled. "When you're finished with class, I will also give you a list of charities that are across the causeway if helping fake people today inspires you to help real people throughout the next week."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You can help chop food up for lunch, help unload donations in the back or give cash or checks to the person at the front and just keep moving.

Mira was more of a "donate your time" kind of person, so she was stepping in to help wherever she could lend a hand. It started out mostly being unloading things, but she did have some experience feeding large groups back during the war, so she quickly found herself by the food preparation.

"Why here?" Anakin asked from where he was chopping up peppers on a station not too far away.

"Whatever money I have always goes back into my work," Mira said. "So I don't actually have that much to give most of the time. And, anyway, if I'm doing something, I prefer to actually do something."

Anakin nodded. "Fair enough. You've done this before?"

"Now and then on Nar Shaddaa, especially if I was out trying to find some refugees," Mira said. "I did it a lot under different circumstances during the war. Whenever I wasn't with the demolitions, I was making sure the soldiers were taken care of."

Anakin nodded. "During a war there's always more people that need help than people available to give it," he said quietly. "I'm glad you helped out."

"Well, there wasn't really a choice in the matter," Mira said. "It's the Mandalorian way. You're either helping the cause or you're not there at all."

Edited 2013-09-10 19:47 (UTC)

"True," Anakin said, then frowned. "You're a Mandalorian?"

"Yeah, but not one with any strong anti-Jedi feelings or anything," Mira said, as she started stirring a pot of soup very intently. "Well, not against them as a group of people. But there are a few genocidal ones that I'm not crazy about."

Re: Choose Your Adventure: Food Bank

sith_happened - 2013-09-11 08:00 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Choose Your Adventure: Food Bank

notapredator.livejournal.com - 2013-09-11 12:14 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Choose Your Adventure: Food Bank

sith_happened - 2013-09-11 12:23 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Choose Your Adventure: Food Bank

notapredator.livejournal.com - 2013-09-11 12:46 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Choose Your Adventure: Food Bank

sith_happened - 2013-09-11 15:12 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Choose Your Adventure: Food Bank

notapredator.livejournal.com - 2013-09-11 15:15 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Choose Your Adventure: Food Bank

sith_happened - 2013-09-11 15:27 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Choose Your Adventure: Food Bank

notapredator.livejournal.com - 2013-09-11 17:56 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Choose Your Adventure: Food Bank

sith_happened - 2013-09-11 18:43 (UTC) - Expand

Karina had been just going to write a check and get her ass over to the coffee shop because actually stopping by in person wasn't her usual gig, even as Blue Rose, unless it was a carefully planned publicity stunt.

She still gave them the check but, when she saw how understaffed they were, impulsively offered to help.

Which is how Karina found herself chopping up food for meals and ruefully thinking about how she could've just left and gotten herself a coffee or something. Still... this wasn't terrible or anything.

"Have you done this before?" Anakin asked her.

"Once or twice," she admitted, leaving out the circumstances. "I guess since I was already here, I don't mind helping."

Anakin smiled. "I'm pleased to hear that."

She shrugged a little.

"Usually I'd just do my research and then send in an anonymous check," Karina admitted. "But if something I can help out with is right in front of my face, I tend to do it. Kinda silly, huh?"

"Not necessarily," Anakin said. "Why do you prefer anonymity?"

Karina thought about that for a moment before figuring an honest answer wouldn't hurt her.

"I make a lot of money," she said slowly. "More than I can pass off as just having reasonably well-off parents. I don't do anything illegal or anything, but I don't really feel like waving that fact around for various reasons."

Blue Rose could donate publicly, but Karina Lyle was supposed to be a normal high school girl.

Anakin smiled. "That's not the first time I've heard something like that here," he said. "I think it also explains why half the student body seems to have alter-egos who wear spandex and help during invasions..."

Karina made a face. "That's not really my sort of thing."

That was even something like half a truth!

Severe asthma or not, Scott had never let that stop him from engaging in potentially strenuous activity. Like lacrosse. Or lifting heavy boxes. He knew his own limits well enough that he had no problem heading to the back to help unload boxes.

Anakin smiled at him from his spot in the kitchen. "You've done this before?"

"Something like it, yeah," Scott replied.

"Is it a regular thing, or just around the holidays?" Anakin asked.

"I don't know if I'd call it regular, but- I think a lot of people forget that the people who need the Food Bank during the holidays need it the rest of the year too," Scott explained.

Anakin nodded. "They do," he agreed, "especially in the summertime when schools stop serving lunch for their children."

Anakin'd had his share of hungry days on Tatooine, and that was something that stuck with you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only