Charity begins at home...

but should not stop there.

These are the words of Thomas Fuller a 17th century cleric and you know if I am quoting a vicar then it's about to get serious!

As I type this message to the faithful few, the Children In Need telethon is at full speed ahead on the telly. It's been a week to think about charity, what with the awful situation in the Philippines, and this morning on a BBC Nottingham web page, debate about charity was heated.

Someone had suggested that part of the money raised tonight should be given to children in the Philippines rather than just kept for children in the UK.

This suggestion seemed to bring to the surface all the xenophobia and little Englander rantings that I detest.  Comments like:

We shouldn't support the Philippines, what have they ever done for us?
Why not let Asia deal with an Asian problem?
There are children in this country who need the money more!

I could go on but it makes me sick to the stomach to even write them down.

My answer, which I posted on the web page was, why not donate to Children in Need for the UK based children and if you want to support the disaster fund just donate to them. Too sensible?

I have donated to the DEC fund, how could I not after hearing the stories about children standing under trees crying because the dead and rotting body of their mother was wedged among the branches or how all the children in one street were killed by the storm surge.

(There are children in this country who need the money more)

I may donate to Children In Need too as I am fortunate enough to have the resources at my disposal - I know some people are really struggling here thanks to the austere times we live in...there were several of them on the web complaining about that this morning too. Obviously not that austere a time if they have not had to forego their mobile phones and computers.

As the day has gone on I got more and more wound up by the sheer cold heartedness of some people who seem to think that children in need of clean water and basic food are less worthy than a child in the UK who may well have a genuine need but for something less basic.

But it's the xenophobia and sometimes outright racist attitude that some contributors displayed that is hardest to swallow.

But then it struck me - Children in Need raise money for children in the UK and I get the feeling that some of those racists who were talking about 'charity beginning at home' forgot something.

Not all children in need in the UK are white, nor are they necessarily British because some of them will be immigrant children or refugee children.

That made me laugh out loud - a real LOL moment.

IF (big if), IF the people who were talking about wanting their money to stay in this country, IF they actually donated some of there xenophobic pounds to the pot, how would they feel if all of their donations went too support a project like...the Romani Cultural and Arts Company...or Bristol Refugee Rights...or (there are others of course.)

Oh dear, have I let the cat out of the bag?

Charity begins at home but should not stop there.

This country is still a wealthy nation, we don't get battered by cyclones and hurricanes (and having your wheelie bin blown down the street is not as bad as having your city laid waste).

I don't grudge the children in the UK or anywhere, a chance for a better life but donating to the DEC appeal is a chance to grant the continuation of a life - full stop.

I hope Children in Need does well, I hope all the mouthy idiots put their hands in their pockets.

£30 million in 3 days for the DEC - we are a kind and wonderful people and obviously generous.

The act of giving is what counts, and really it's not even charity because we can afford it. It's only real charity if you give more than you can afford.

It's just common human decency to offer a helping hand.

Friday night rant ends - it's your money, you can put it where your mouth is or leave it in your pocket as far as I'm concerned.

It's your life.

Glass of clean water anyone?                Now where did I put that tap?