Our office participates in Salvation Army's adopt a family every Christmas, and their situations are usually real tear jerkers. Last year we had a lady with four kids who lost her husband to a motorcycle accident. This year I'm feeling less than charitable. The family consists of refugees from Iraq who got here a few months ago. Mom and dad are middle aged but can't/don't work apparently because of back injuries so the oldest son in his 20s is providing support for the parents and two younger siblings. I think I will still get the little dude the bike he wants because he's in a crappy situation that's no fault of his but damn, I'm bitter that Uncle Sam will support them for the rest of their lives. I hope those kids grow up and cure cancer or something.

If they're refugees from Iraq, they're probably some form of persecuted Coptic Christian, Kurd, or any other dozens of sects that aren't muslim.

Who knows, you might have the opportunity to shape the next Bobby Jindal or Nikki Haley...