I recall the 1983 to 1985 Ethiopian famine that affected 8 million people and killed between half a million to a million people. It was such a dramatic and tragic loss of life, it propelled Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to organize a very successful benefits concert, Live Aid. The two-venue benefit concert and music based fundraising initiative was held 40 years ago, with the successful release of the charity single: “Do They Know it’s Christmas” in December 1984. Live Aid was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. Simultaneous concerts were also held in: the Soviet Union, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere. An estimated 2 billion people in 150 nations watched the Live Aid broadcast. 

Looking back at the 1980s Ethiopian famine caused by local conflict, today’s world is much worse; it is beset by many more hungry people, in many more places around the globe where conflicts rage. I wish for a greater sense of caring and sharing of our nation’s bounty with our own hungry, as well as many poor of the world. Hunger, like the indifference that takes root in many human hearts, is a constant shadow for many around the world. As I fight crowded traffic lanes on our roads, many of them headed to our malls, I think of the giving potential of each one of us. 

Talk of hunger at Christmas is a bit of a killjoy. It’s a time to give to loved ones; a time to show our love for them, we think. Sadly though, our post Black Friday buying spree often means an addition to much that we already have. How many pairs of socks, shoes, gloves does one need, I wonder. We often hoard stuff we no longer need or have no use for. 

As the Live Aid concert of 40 years ago shows, there exists an alternative to our almost compulsive buying. We can charitably donate a great deal with what we use to buy gifts at this time of the year. Doing so gives us the satisfaction that what we gave was actually needed, and that it made other families’ lives more bearable.

Much of what we buy in our malls and from Amazon is plastic, wrapped in layers and layers of the same stuff. It is hard to calculate the weight of plastic delivered to our landfills, or when incinerated, the tonnage of carbon dioxide added to our air pollution. An alternative to plastic gifts might be to send a few dollars to: Heifer International, UNICEF or UTSS — Under the Same Sun, to protect kids with albinism — organizations our charitable, selfless neighbors support. Or support our homeless citizens where we live — with shelter, food, clothing and therapy for mental illness.  

The habit of giving is a curious thing. Like the habit of logical thinking, the habit of exercising among others, can be grown. The more we give or donate the easier it gets. And don’t believe that those who consider giving to needy people have a character flaw. 

Our leaders have guided the nation to ways of charitable giving; many have been shining examples of such leadership throughout our nation’s history. We must of course deal with the moment we find ourselves living in; as hard as I try not to think of the current administration’s regression into uncharitable behavior, I can’t help but consider the harm done by Trump’s refusal to send food American farmers had earmarked for countless hungry mouths across the world. 

2025’s Ebeneezer Scrooge would be played by Donald Trump. It is a sad comparison; one that betrays this great nation’s history of benevolence and charitable giving. And why did the administration forbid sharing medicines and foods in USAID’s warehouses around the world? Hard to read misers’ hearts and minds. 

 As I lament the extravagance of some who have more than they will ever need, I also celebrate those who open their wallets, homes and hearts to a world that is so full of “want.” I am also reminded of, and I highly recommend, Tolstoy’s story: “How Much Land does a Man Need?” The answer would surprise you. You only need enough land to be buried in. 

Alas, even our billionaires only need six feet of land, if that. If they are to be remembered as good people, they should remember to share with others while still among the living.

Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships; co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and an activist for minority students ‘STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies and is featured on the podcast, “Never Again.”