The ALS ice bucket challenged has made quite the splash on the Internet recently. For those of you who are not familiar, to take part in this challenge, you must pour a bucket of ice water on your head or donate one hundred dollars to the ALS foundation and then post a photo or video of yourself taking the challenge.
Those who complete the challenge then nominate others to do the same, or at least that is how it originated. Countless celebrities and public figures have taken part in the challenge skyrocketing its popularity.
Like every Internet phenomenon, the ALS ice bucket challenge has been under scrutiny. Because this challenge gives one the option to skip a donation and simply raise awareness, many have asked if the challenge really does benefit ALS research or are people simply participating as a publicity stunt.
The staff of the Xavierite feels that in this case, anything that raises even a little awareness or money for a good cause is beneficial. Of course, in an ideal world, every one that took on the ice bucket challenge would also donate money, but unfortunately that is not within everyone’s means. That being said, we encourage all people who watch others take the ice bucket challenge or accept the challenge themselves take some time to truly education themselves about ALS.
Charity that is forced is not truly charity. Some members of the Xavierite have taken exception to the nomination process of the ice bucket challenge.
Perhaps the notion of nominating a friend and putting them on the spot to donate is not the best way to create awareness or sentimentality to the cause that is being raised.
However, it seems that the new forum for the voice of the people – the Internet – have truly embraced this challenge.
Some have taken to using the ice bucket to promote different causes in cooperation with ALS. Actor Matt Damon performed his ice bucket challenge by using toilet water to remind others that the California area is going through a drought and water needs to be preserved.
To help our readers and to spread awareness of this cause here are some quick ALS facts provided by ALS.org. “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death.”
It is evident that ALS is a serious and devastating condition. Therefore, if the ALS ice bucket challenge continues to spread awareness and to raise money, even in small amounts, then we condone its use to further educate the St. Xavier community and the populace at large.
The Xavierite Staff