To Help Syrian Refugees, Give Cash to the Women
A new initiative introduced by the White House and some of America’s prominent tech firms designed to increase aid to Syrian refugees has generated an outpour of support from the public. On Tuesday October 7 th Kickstarter launched a campaign to raise $1,225,000 for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). By the time the campaign finished, they raised nearly $1.8 million from 27,669 supporters. Donors could give $15 to purchase a sleeping bag, or $160 to help build shelters. Instacart also got in the game, allowing customers to donate food to refugees after purchasing their own groceries. These campaigns display the amazing power of collective action, the influence of the tech sector, and the deep compassion moving Americans who feel a sense of moral obligation to come to the aid of the stranger in a time of crisis. While I am happy to witness this beautiful movement of empathy and action, there is still a flaw in the end product that needs to be addressed. Like most aid...