So it started when I posted this..
At first I started getting comments like this..
Then I logged out of Facebook and went to work. Several hours later I got a text that said I should check my Facebook again. When I checked again, it looked like this..
You can see where I responded.
What you can't see are all of the Facebook messages I had gotten. Most of the messages were from people who agreed with me and supported me. A few were from people who disagreed with me. One was someone who strongly disagreed with me and let me know it.
So let's talk about it. Let's talk about Breast Cancer.
Let's get this out there first - My grandma had breast cancer and is currently in remission. In the 2nd photo the pink arrow is pointing to one of my best friend's mom, who is also in remission from breast cancer. I've known many who lost the battle with cancer, not breast. I've also witnessed first hand the slow decline of someone dying of cancer. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.
I just want to get it out there that I've experienced breast cancer and cancer in general.
Having said that, I stand by my original Facebook post. I admit I wrote it out of annoyance based on some other things I had seen on Facebook that day. Typical and I probably should've let it roll off my shoulders. I didn't. I also may have phrased it incorrectly.
I 100% support Breast Cancer Awareness.
Finding a cure for breast cancer or any cancer for that matter costs money. It just does and the only thing I support more than cancer awareness is finding the cure to cancer.
My problem with the pink ribbons and the pink socks is that breast cancer foundations rarely see any of that money. My dad could wear a pink tie every single day in October to support breast cancer, but what is that really doing? Raising awareness? This is 2013, people are aware.
I have a huge problem with people jumping up on their soap box and preaching about making a difference, without actually doing anything to make a difference.
Practice what you preach is all I'm saying.
Now, remember what I said in this post. Believe in something, believe in it with all your heart, and then stand by your belief, but respect someone else doing the same.
Having said that, let's discuss! Thoughts?
For further reading I was also sent these 2 articles:
This one is from a woman who's been there and she has a very interesting perspective on Breast Cancer Awareness month and National No Bra Day!
This one is about how much money the Pink NFL merchandise is actually raising for Breast Cancer.. and how much it isn't.
Highly recommend them both! Good reads! Especially the first one!
Amen, girl! I totally agree with you on this one. in this day and age, we are all aware that breast cancer exists. it's great that there is a month dedicated to awareness for this specific cancer, but wearing pink does not help doctors find a cure or even give them the resources to try and do so. there are also so many different kinds of cancer and other deadly diseases that get zero attention. it all very confusing, but something I think a lot of people are afraid of questioning.
ReplyDeleteI am so with you that people need to back up and support their stances more often. its easy to type something on Facebook or Twitter, but its another thing to live by your own words - even when other people may challenge you and disagree with you. great post!
xo
i am with you, instead of spending money to make the pink accessories why not just use that money to put towards a cure.
ReplyDeletei agree with you, the awareness is VERY publicized. no one doesn't know that it exists, so the overabundance of pink can get to be a bit much. just donate instead of buying pink stuff.
ReplyDeleteI rarely buy anything that's pink just because it states it's for breast cancer. I donate to breast cancer directly, and do any of the breast cancer walks that are around my area.
ReplyDelete"This is 2013, people are aware." EXACTLY.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you - my best friend has cancer and is currently undergoing treatment and no amount of wearing coloured clothes is going to help him - what his doctors need is the funds to help research to find new treatments so Paul and people like him suffering the agony of various forms of cancer can be cured from this hideous disease.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for sharing the post about national no bra day is was a really moving post and one that truly makes you think about how it must be for those suffering to see all the hoohaa happening but nothing really being done to help.
I am an active donater to various cancer charities and will never pass a collection box or person collecting in the street for cancer charities. x
I agree that people should just donate directly to the foundations. I think buying a pink hammer likely only contributes a couple of pennies to the research and development around cancer. Totally agree- awareness is important. Raising money directly for cancer would allow real awareness campaigns, too.
ReplyDeleteI was gonna comment about the NFL.. but then i finish scrolling down the page! lol People are better off donating to the actually website, then buying products.. bc more money goes to everyone EXCEPT what they claim it's going too...
ReplyDeletegreat post, I do agree with you.. that goes for most to all causes as well..
Totally agree. I felt that you were very clear that there's nothing wrong with purchasing pink gear, but that people should make it a priority to direct their purchases towards companies that are contributing donations to various foundations! Also, you have a fabulous point. It seems that our culture is really very quick to "jump on the bandwagon" to support an issue by not wearing shoes for a day, writing "love" on our arms in sharpie, or wearing one specific color for a whole day, but then quickly forget about the cause the next day. Let us be more concerned with the actual cause, rather than the appearance of caring about said cause! Love your thoughts on this and I think you handled the dissension gracefully!
ReplyDeleteI found this post because someone shared it on Twitter. I completely agree and actually wrote something very similar on my blog yesterday except I was talking about the article everyone has been sharing about the 15 year old boy, Davion, who went to a church asking for someone to adopt him. I'm an advocate for adoption, foster care, and orphan care. While I do share a lot of stories, I also back it up with action. I want others to do the same. It's easy to sit behind your computer and share something or as you speak of wear pink, but more needs to be done to help these causes. You can say you believe in and care about something all day long, but where you spend your money and your time-those are the things you truly believe in and care for.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on this. I think more money is spent on awareness than actual funding for finding a cure.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you too!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your initial post. Although awareness is just as important I feel that by wearing pink or using pink things people are doing the BARE minimum to support this cause. Yes, any type of awareness and publicity is good, but I think donating directly serves a much better purpose.
ReplyDelete