Komen for the Cure - Pittsburgh Goes Wrong
The local community has enjoyed a long association with what is now called Komen for the Cure - Pittsburgh, a well-intentioned charity which seeks to diminish the scourge of breast cancer.
It saddens me to note that the organization has apparently descended into an "anything for donations" credo and demonstrated poor judgment through a misguided effort to spur additional revenue: a tacky and tasteless display of hundreds of donated bras which currently pollutes the view of a significant portion of the river on the North Shore as they hang on fencing between the Riverwalk and the water.
The planks of dignified and civil society are being yanked away one by one, but even in this era of "anything goes", I would not have expected an organization that is associated with many individuals of distinction to seek to offend and disgust.
I look forward to the day that our beautiful river can again be observed in a picturesque setting without the landscape being soiled by a tawdry display: no class.
Roger
8:16 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Three points:
(1) I don't care about the hanging of the bras. This is trivial and will pass away soon.
(2) I do care about Komen and crew supporting Planned Parenthood's activities, albeit small. After the exposure a few months ago, they lost their credibility. The change of mind because of public pressure demonstrated no conviction.
(3) Nobody ever reveals the destination of monies that flow to these causes. There are many events over the year, such as 5K run, charity walks, etc, that are held for the expressed purpose of gathering funds. However, nobody every reports where the funds go, and the effectiveness of their use. Oh yes, the sweeping statement, "breast cancer research ..." is usually tagged with the event, but nobody ever provides specifics. The cause sounds admirable, but if it is worthwhile, why aren't the organizers forthcoming about how the funds will be used, and the impact of funds collected at previous events? The silence is reason for pause on the value of these events.
BTW, the pink garb for NFL players on Sunday was really pretty silly. Anybody who is not aware of breast cancer has been hiding under a rock.
Parent #2
8:39 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Completely agree with you on all counts except #1. This reminds me of code pink/planned parenthood activities. It's ashame they have chosen this path, as the author points out, but not surprising.
Terry Jones
9:53 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Bras hanging on a fence? Surely we can express our awareness of Breast Cancer in a more dignified way. When a family member passed due to Breast Cancer we as a family walked in the Susan Komen 3 mile walk and we proudly wore her picture on our shirts. We donated money in her name and because she left her small children behind, we make sure we get our check up every year so we can see our children graduate.
Ed M
11:36 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Really Oren??? This bothers you??? Have you been to the North Shore to see this???? How is this different from someone hanging their laundry out to dry???
Robert Ritter
9:18 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I agree with the commenters. "Breast cancer awareness" has become a marketing machine used by many for-profit enterprises to sell products. Komen and its machine are more concerned with selling yogurt, cereal, pink t-shirts and the like. Two cents from every purchase goes to research, and you are suckered into feeling good about your purchase. Even our children are turned into shills as the USC youth cheerleaders used pink poms for "awareness", while no one is sure how much - if any - of the significant cost of the poms was actually donated to a cancer-related cause. I have a very good friend who succumbed to breast cancer despite doing everything possible including early detection, and I feel like all of this tasteless rampant marketing trivializes her fight. There are plenty of other worthy causes out there that are not shoved in our face for the primary goal of selling stuff. Reggie Wayne breaks the NFL uniform code if he doesn't wear his pink garb to support breast cancer awareness, but he is prohibited from wearing orange gloves to support blood cancer research and awareness and show solidarity for his hospital-bound coach. There is something wrong with that.
Roger
8:25 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Robert, I have come to the same conclusion -- marketing machine, with no accountability. Think of all the money associated with the products that have the name, pink, or some other identifying mark. This would include importers (yes, I expect most of the apparel items are imported), distribution, marketing, retail, etc.
I am seeing ads for a fundraisers to make money to promote the awareness cause. So, the money has stepped one increment back. Rather than the money going to cancer research, now the money is going to the promotion of raising money for the cancer research.
Accountability has long since passed the cause. This is in no way to minimize the impact of breast cancer, and the need to move forward with finding cures, diagnosis, etc. But, the issue has taken on a life of its own, one that gets further and further from the destination.