So a very well-known and presumably influential radio host went off on a rant recently that was, by itself, fairly unremarkable. Pretty garden-variety radio blather. But in the middle of it, this broadcaster veered weirdly into our arena, and called nonprofit employees “lazy idiots” and “rapists, in terms of finance and the economy.”
Sigh.
I’m not mentioning the broadcaster’s name, because that’s all he really cares about (you can Google it, if you must). Believe me, that’s all that matters – that we talk about him. These are people who believe nothing, stand for nothing and have no principles other than relentlessly promoting themselves and padding their bank accounts. All they want is attention. They say crazy things, people pay attention to them, everyone yells, they use this “nontroversy” to point out how important they are and the cycle repeats.
It’s not true, of course. If those people went away, they wouldn’t be missed. They’d be replaced in five seconds. Or not. But we’d all soldier on without missing a beat.
But if the nation’s nonprofit employees went away? You’d miss them. The people who care for the homeless, who work with developmentally disabled kids, who help single moms in addiction recovery heal their families, who feed the hungry and clothe the needy and care for the sick – they’d be tough to replace. It’s awfully important work that we do here, and we’re honored to do it. The good people who work for RHD are a constant source of amazement to me. We’re blessed, absolutely blessed, to have the people here be a part of our mission. I can’t thank them enough.
And here, even though I ought to rise above this petty nonsense and ignore it, is why I’m writing today. I’m not going to talk about this particular broadcaster, or his ilk. I’m going to point out some things about the good people who work for RHD:
People like Donna Torrisi, who runs one of the finest nurse-managed health centers in the country. RHD’s Family Practice and Counseling Network cares for thousands of uninsured and underinsured people effectively and efficiently, and saves the taxpayers money in the process.
Not lazy idiots.
During Tennessee’s historic flood, RHD caregivers stayed with their clients and made sure they were safe – even as their own homes were washed away.
Not lazy idiots.
RHD’s Family House programs are one of a handful in the country that work with mothers and children together in a residential setting. They heal families, do terrific and effective work, and prompt dozens of moms to say: “Without Family House, I wouldn’t be alive today.”
Not lazy idiots.
RHD’s Brothers’ Keepers employs ex-offenders, brings back troubled neighborhoods and gives people a second chance – sometimes, when no one else will.
Not lazy idiots.
RHD's Endow-A-Home helps homeless mothers become homeowners (and taxpayers, which ought to mean something these days). It has one of the best success rates in the country.
Not lazy idiots.
There are hundreds of stories like these at RHD, and I’m sure they are there at nonprofits across the country. These people do the work of the angels, and they often do it for not a lot of money. They do it because they know the work is vital and important and upon which people depend.
They are not lazy idiots.
Also, not fat. Just saying …