October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month, has just passed. In the spirit of "giving back", many stores are making new merchandise to lure buyers into purchasing these products with the guarantee that the company will give a percentage to breast cancer research. These companies and stores are manipulating people's emotions, trying to assuage customer's guilt of spending just a little too much, and consoling themselves with the fact that an entire 0.0005% is going to a good cause. The stores draw in more customers, Americans get to lay aside their guilt, and the money that is sent to research really is beneficial, no matter how sarcastic I've been about it for the last paragraph. It's seems like a win-win situation for everyone, doesn't it? Don't get me wrong- I'm all for supporting research for breast cancer and all cancer, as I have family members who are battling with these diseases at this current moment. However, I think it's unethnical to try and get people to donate to charities out of guilt. This will lead to a distorted view of what giving is really all about. The search for a cure shouldn't be about someone buying a pink ribbon bracelet during an afterthought, but should be about trying to help our fellow human beings have better quality lives.