GIVING

REVIEW OF THE BOOK ‘GIVING’, A BOOK WRITTEN BY BILL CLINTON

Giving denotes an action in which two things are involved; the giving, and the receiving. But its connotation is fraught with many shades ranging from the positives to the negatives. On the side of the positives we can count gestures such as giving flowers, giving money, giving alms, giving a hand, giving hope, etc,  to mention but a few. On the flip side, giving a slap, a frown, a push, etc, qualify as part of the negatives.

According to Thesaurus, ‘giving is the act of giving. This amazingly simple definition is not so simple to actualize. The act of giving, (age-long and a manifestation of Love) can be traced to the beginning of creation. But the most remarkable account of giving is the one demonstrated by the Almighty Jehovah by giving to us (humanity), Jesus (The Christ), so that man can live forever.  - John 3:16.

Bill Clinton in this book gives a compelling message to humanity that everyone can give and heal the world. This is summarized in his words that ‘ ... almost everyone – regardless of income, available time, age, and skills – can do something useful for others and, in the process, strengthen the fabric of our shared humanity’.

 The book celebrates humanity and chronicles the simple and complex acts of giving by individuals, organizations and Governments to solve problems and save lives, as according to Bill Clinton  ‘…amidst all our wealth, there are people who are hungry, homeless, jobless, ill, disabled, desperate, isolated, and ignored… the modern world, for all its blessings, is unequal, unstable, and unsustainable….’ He opines that our common humanity is more important than our interesting differences.

Givers are emerging everywhere as evidenced in the growth of private citizens doing public good. In the United State of America – The Gates Foundation has given a third of its fortune, The Clinton Foundation is doing so much, Warren Buffet is bent on giving over 95% of his fortune, Oprah Winfrey is firing from all cylinders, Chris Hohn and wife, Jamie Cooper-Hohn are saving many a lives from HIV/AIDS through the efforts of their Foundation. Between these few stupendously wealthy individuals is a staggering estimate of over $500billion already given to humanity. In Asia, Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh gives meaning to the poor by improving their lives by availing them small loans. In Africa, Wangari  Maathai of Kenya is saving the eco-system through her conservationist movement. Ordinary People are also giving as demonstrated in the action of the Dutch Postcode Lottery in which many winners emerge and 50% of all winnings go to charities. NGOs and the internet are also meeting the daunting task of coordinating the efforts of several small givers.

Zell Kravinsky of Pennsylvania gave his kidney to a stranger even after he had given almost all his $45million made from his real estate to charity. As to how much we should all give ‘applies to money, gifts, time, things, reconciliation and new beginnings. If we just all gave according to our ability, the positive impact would be staggering’. The reasons for giving are in part to satisfy Moral and Religious obligations as well as the joy it brings.

Indeed, as concluded by Bill Clinton, ‘…all kinds of giving can make a profoundly positive difference, that everyone has something valuable to give, and that countless individuals and organizations are asking for help…. Believer or nonbeliever, we all live in an interdependent world in which our survival depends upon an understanding that our common humanity is more important than our interesting and inevitable differences and that everyone matters.’ This point becomes essential to note especially as modern culture, politics and media become characterized by self destruction, personal attacks and demeaning others.

Giving is the way forward!