The staff at a local United Way office realized that it had never received
a donation from the town's most successful lawyer.  The person in charge
of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute and said, "Our
research shows that out of a yearly income of at least $500,000, you give
not a penny to charity. Wouldn't you like to give back to the community in
some way?"  The lawyer mulled this over for a moment and replied, "First,
Did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness,
and has medical bills that are several times her annual income?" 
Embarrassed, the United Way representative mumbled, "Um... No."  "Or," the
lawyer continued, "that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and
confined to a wheelchair?"  The stricken United Way representative began
to stammer out an apology but was interrupted when the lawyer added, "Or
that my sister's husband died in a traffic accident," the lawyer's voice
rising in indignation, "Leaving her penniless with three children?"  The
humiliated United Way representative, completely beaten, said simply, "I
had no idea..."  On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again, "So if I
don't give any money to them, why should I give any to you?