#Philanthropy

A ritual of feigning sympathy for others’ misfortune while keeping one’s conscience as spotless as a white shirt. Far from the strict give and take, it is mostly a strategic move aiming for the crown of reciprocity. It can be called a stage for self-performance under the mask of goodwill. Tears and praise from recipients serve as the perfect spice for the donor’s self-esteem. Charitable acts often function as a showcase in the “I’m such a good person” frame.

Charity is the ceremony of nurturing one’s superiority under the noble pretext of saving the less fortunate. Its true reward lies in the dual gifts of gratitude and tax deductions. Each act of giving is sowed into the fertile soil of self-satisfaction, growing under applause and receipts. On the stage called goodwill, the performance’s final act is to bask in the spotlight of one’s own praise.

A donation is a ceremony to drape mercy over others’ hardship while illuminating one’s own conscience. Whether small or large, it becomes the ultimate self-affirmation device by collecting likes on social media. The promise of giving without expectation is often broken with attached proof photos. The hand that extends help usually clutches its own name badge.

A random act of kindness is hailed as a selfless gift bestowed upon strangers, yet often serves as a breeding ground for self-satisfaction and social posturing. It conjures the image of an earthbound hero, crafts social media backdrops, and ultimately gets rationalized as an investment in one’s own conscience. True altruism is rare, and more often resembled by a deposit into the bank account of personal gain. In this impermanent world, goodwill is but a token cast with an unspoken expectation of return.