The Hypocrisy of Charity

Among the alternatives to terror is charity, one of the names (and practices) of non-love today.  When, confronted with the starving child, we are told:  “For the price of a couple of cappuccinos, you can save her life!”, the true message is:  For the price of a couple of cappuccinos, you can continue in your ignorant and pleasurable life, not only not feeling any guilt, but even feeling good for having participated in the struggle against suffering!”  [Bertolt] Brecht’s line from his Badener Lebrstuck vom Einverstandnis are today more relevant than ever:

When there is no longer any violence, there is no need for help

Therefore you should not demand help, but abolish violence.

Help and violence form a whole

And the whole has to be changed.

Zizek, Living in the End Times, page 117