I work at a environmental non-profit whose primary mission is political lobbying for clean water issues. My job is to call members, tell them what the organization is working on, and request financial support.

So I called a member, told him what the organization was working on, and requested his financial support. He was the first call of the day, and I expected it to be one amongst many for the day. But this man said something that will make me remember him forever.

Man: "I don't think I'm gonna give anything, cuz it's just gonna help out the niggers. Those politicians don't give a damn about us whites, we're just disenfranchised."

I paused for a second, but only that. Instead of sputtering, or hanging up, or punching him through the phone, I suprised myself by rebutting his statement.

Me: (paraphrased because I was making shit up on the fly and don't remember my exact phrasing) "The thing is, if you want politicians to do what you want, you gotta tell them. They have to listen to you, because you're vote is what lets them keep their job. They won't do anything you want if you don't tell them what that is. And that's what we do, we make sure they know what you want. It sounds like you're behind the issues I just talked about, do you think you could support us in making sure the politicians listen to what you have to say?"

I got $15 bucks out of him. Then I took him off the list so no one would have to call him again.

But I must ask, is the deed good, or bad? I convinced him to contribute to a progressive cause with positive universal implications. This is good. But I also empowered his beliefs in order to do this. All it takes is that one leap of logic to realize that he can apply the same argument I made to his bigoted, limited ideology, and there's another activist for backward causes to worry about. While I feel this is an improbable outcome, the potential is bad.

Perhaps this really is a _____ deed.