Sunday, November 01, 2009

Top value

Here's someone's list of values. Do we share these values? I'm not sure why the billboards (Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, Muhammed Ali, Wayne Gretzky, Whoopi Goldberg, the Dalai Lama, etc.) and the witty television spots sponsored by these people don't make me happier. If they were commercials for Kodak or Hallmark, they wouldn't give me the willies the same way. The brief "About Us" on their website - In this day and age, it can be hard to believe an organization’s only goal is to encourage others to do good—but that really is why we exist. - makes me suspicious, too. Who is the Foundation for a Better Life? An unidentified benefactor pays for all of it, says the website. Is s/he like the forgiveness-fetishists at the Fetzer Institute, or the proto-fascist movement built on virtuous citizen's groups in Frank Capra's "Meet John Doe"? Actually, trusty Wikipedia tells us who the benefactor is, and where he's coming from. Hate to have to say I told you so.