I increase my monthly donation by $25 per month. That's enough to buy a 10kg bag of rice each month - enough for 50 bowls of rice.
To pay for that $25 I have Thai once a month less.
The utility of 50 bowls of rice to a family that's just had their village destroyed and is now homeless and without food and water, is much greater than me having some Thai takeaway. You can substitute that Thai with anything else - 6 cups of coffee, a night out at the movies, anything - and you still can't make that value equation change. Obviously many Australians will be struggling as is with their finances already so this doesn't apply to them. The appeal is for those who can spare help to give help.
Most Syrian refugees are people just like you and me. People who grow up, raise a family, then grow old and die. I know I'd appreciate some help in their situation, so why not give a bit.
I know there are complex moral issues at play sometimes, say if they were Jihadists who wanted to kill us should we still show them compassion, etc. But I don't see that here.
If I'm missing something I really don't mind someone letting me know what it is.
