Most of the news coverage lately has been concerned with the recent hurricane and all of the damage that it did, both in buildings and in people’s lives.

But I’ve also noticed some reports about the celebrities that have gotten involved. First, I heard some people questioning why the rich and famous weren’t getting involved like they’d done for the people affected by the tsunami. Now I hear griping about them becoming involved because they’re only doing it for their own benefit.

I personally think it’s great that they’re out there working to raise money to help their fellow Americans. It’s something we all should be doing. If I were in great need of help, I don’t think I’d care what political party the help came from or whether the people helping me were black, white, brown or polka dotted (well, I’d have to take a second look at the polka-dotted folks).

For whatever reason, people will give more and more often if a famous person they admire is asking for the money instead of the average person living down the street. It may not be fair, but that’s the way it is.

I prefer to believe that the celebrities involved are doing it because they have hearts and truly care. Famous people are still human beings. Though many are surrounded by entourages and are constantly being told how wonderful they are, maybe they haven’t gotten such swelled heads and egos that they have forgotten that the rest of us don’t go on publicity tours and walk down red carpets.

Why must we always assume the worst or accuse others of not caring? We may think something should have been done differently or not done at all, but can’t we give others a little credit for trying?

It seems as though we have all become so judgmental and so quick to jump to conclusions. Words and actions can be slanted and misconstrued in different ways to convey different meanings if someone so desires.

Unfortunately, some people are cruel and don’t care, but by and large most people have good hearts and are trying. We should at least wait until we have some proof of deliberate wrong before we condemn others, and not do it simply because “they” said something was so. Who in the heck are “they” anyway and why are we giving away our power to think for ourselves?

We’re supposed to be better than that.