"Jack" and Jill

Interesting fact: in all the time I've been writing this blog, I haven't had a single comment go to my SPAM comment folder.

I'm one of those bloggers who thinks every one's comments are important, relevant, and worth reading. EVEN IF they are diametrically opposed to my opinion. So, at the outset of my blogging, I didn't set the filter that causes comments to wait on my "approval" before becoming visible.

In other words: I'm not afraid that someone might expose the truth and prove that I was stupid, ignorant or thoughtless when I wrote something. If that happens, AND IT HAS, BELIEVE YOU ME, I will back peddle like the fool I can sometimes be.*

So, imagine my surprise, when I found a comment that had, somehow, automatically ended up in the SPAM folder this past week.

It was signed by "Jack". A fellow blogger.

Jack has one post on his blog. From April 2011. Something about being scammed by someone who has used four different names (at least) to bilk people in the Raleigh (NC?) area out of money.

Try as I might by clicking all the normal buttons on his blog site, I couldn't find any personal information about Jack. Nothing about him owning dogs or being married or living a double life.

The spam comment on my blog contained a direct link to another yet blog site. I clicked on it, looked at all the content, and then did something that I routinely do to see if the person I'm reading commentary from is worth salt: looked for the source of the writing. Once again, just like Jack's blog, there was zilch.

HMMM.

This led me to believe that 1) Jack is a Charles Wang employee 2) Jack is an insider at Smile Train and MIGHT have the true story or 3) he is REALLY Jack Bauer and the much-anticipated "24" movie is almost done. And the whole Smile Train/Operation Smile merger is the plot line. And since I've lived vicariously through this whole, stupid thing, I won't have to pony up a gazillion dollars in tickets and concessions to see it play out on the big screen.**

In the interest of fairness, I'm posting the commentary below. For your edification, as they say, is the "other side of the story".

Yet, for once in my life, I'm siding with the liberal journalism of The New York Times, who has no pony in this race. I do truly believe that this entire merger was poorly thought out, a grab for money from Charles Wang, and that my beloved charity has fallen into the hands of a person who doesn't deserve to be serving at the helm.

Sure, he may have co-chaired the beginnings of Smile Train and ponied up $30 million, but, sadly, it looks like greed has taken over Mr. Wang since. Only God knows if that is really true, because He can read the heart of the man, but evidence supporting this theory seems to prove it to me.***

I'm reminded of the King Solomon story as I write this, where two women claim to be the true mother of a baby. Only after the wise King says he'll split the baby in two, does the REAL Mother say "NO!" and the liar is exposed.

I, for one, believe the real parent in this situation, Brian Mullaney, was forced out by Smile Train.

And, as a consequence, we are withholding money from our favorite charity until Mr. Wang and his other board members decide the decent thing to do, to save the charity they supposedly love, it to walk away.

Sadly, I see Mr. Wang telling Smile Train's contributors "Split the baby, if you must, but I want what is mine!"

So, read on. Decide for yourself.

And, Jack? Please do comment again. I'd love to know who you are and why you are so passionately opposed to the version of the story I believe.

My own little fantasy is that, somehow, some way, I've ended up in the "24" script and I'll finally get my chance to hug Kiefer Sutherland's neck.

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"It is high time that people stop believing everything they read and start looking at the Truth about the Smile Train Merger. The fact is that people love to stir the pot and more importantly they love to help themselves. In the case of this merger, there were people who were not happy that their personal agendas might have to take a backseat to Smile Train’s Mission, which is very specific. There are 2 facts that need to addressed here about Smile Train, Charles Wang and The Legacy Fund. Fact 1 - Charles Wang and Smile Train Mr. Wang was the founding donor of Smile Train, providing over $30 million. This money allowed the organization to make its claim that "100 percent" of donations were going to programs, as this was the start-up grant which afforded Smile Train the ability to claim it was the "most effective charity." Mr. Wang has been the Chairman of Smile Train’s Board of Directors since its inception, and an active fundraiser and recruiter for the organization, bringing others into Smile Train who have contributed more than $65 million, as well as providing introductions and support in China and other countries. These efforts have contributed greatly to the organization's growth and ability to identify and service the hundreds of thousands of children with clefts around the world. Fact 2 – The Legacy Fund It is a standard feature of non-profit mergers to create a temporarily restricted fund within the new organization. Its purpose is to segregate certain assets to ensure the preservation and transition of historic programs post-merger. That is what the Smile Train Legacy Fund was designed to do. The proposed Legacy Fund structure was to have five members of the merged company’s Board lead its oversight. Four of the proposed members were to have been previously associated with Smile Train, including Mark Atkinson who requested to be on the Fund’s oversight committee and subsequently voted against the merger. These directors were the most familiar with Smile Train’s programs and understood the importance of preserving their legacy. Mr. Wang was not going to have oversight or control over the Legacy Fund, nor was he going to serve as an officer or director of the merged organization, nor would he have had any voting rights on the Board of the merged entity or on the Smile Train Legacy Fund Committee.
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*If you don't believe me, you haven't been keeping up with this blog long enough. I've eaten my share of crow, thank you very much.

**SIGH. I'm still reeling from losing President Palmer.

***Even Mike knows the HORRIBLE environment that reportedly existed at Computer Associates. None of his friends would even apply there, it was so bad. Seems that environment might have descended on ST.