Busyknitter

I really need to get this off my chest.

Someone bought me a goat for Christmas.

Now, please don’t get me wrong. I do not begrudge the lady in the Tanzania her goat.

And this is not a rant (or even an attempt to discuss) the pros and cons of development aid; what works, what doesn’t, how much of the cash given gets siphoned off in bribes, kickbacks and the cost of administration. I’m not even going to attempt to question the patronising attitude of the development agencies in the way they seem to mark being a subsistence farmer as the highest possible aspiration of someone who happens to have been born in South-Saharan Africa.

But what’s really got my goat (sorry) is that my someone else’s donation to charity has to be packaged up as a present to me!

I really, honestly wouldn’t have minded if they’d said – “Actually, Busyknitter – I’d rather we didnt exchange presents this year. I’m going to give the money I would have spent to Oxfam”

But no, in this materialistic, consumerist society presents must be given, even if you can’t think of anything that the other person actually wants or needs. And what can be better than to give a present with moral intent, one that will help the receiver become a better person, more aware of people less fortunate than herself.

Smug, sanctimonious claptrap!