YourViews
Giving to others should be a higher priority
Christine Wilson is a junior news-editorial journalism and English major.

As I worked the Order of Omega wish card table by The Main last Tuesday, I was surprised by how many people responded negatively when asked to help a child in need.

I was able to bolster the number of participants who filled out a wish card by recruiting friends who walked by. Maybe my friends are nicer than the average TCU student, or perhaps I guilt-tripped them by applying personal pressure. I heard many excuses — I am broke, I have to go to class, or my favorite, the I-don’t-know-you shrug. I have a response to each of these.

First of all, we’re all broke; we’re in college. But these wish cards come from referrals from agencies under the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Service, including the Child Protective Services. These kids are in situations a little more serious than the average TCU student who is broke because he spent too much cash when he made his late-night Whataburger run last Saturday.

Also, on a side note, I am not a betting woman, but if I was, I would bet that most parents would be happy to tack an extra $10 onto the monthly allowance in order to help an underprivileged child’s Christmas wish come true.

Secondly, “I have to go to class” does not work. It only takes about one minute to fill out your information and grab a card, possibly two to five minutes if you like to deliberate on which kid has the coolest name or has a present that you want to shop for.

Lastly, the no-comment-shrug is unacceptable. If you are a Scrooge, just say so. Apparently it is the truth. I guess I am being harsh because I know there are exceptions to all of this.

But as we consider our personal Christmas wish list — DVD player, new laptop, Spring Break trip, digital camera, etc. — let’s think about the kids on those cards who are assessed by caseworkers. They put the stories on the wish cards and each child only gets one card made for them. So, if a kid’s card is not picked up, that child will not receive a present.

The bottom line is, I am hoping that grandma’s pumpkin pie, turkey with stuffing and a little sleep will send TCU students back from their breaks with a little holiday spirit in their hearts.