Oprah/Africa

renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
Didn't really fit with the other post, but something really REALLY ticked me off yesterday. some special came on where she funded some school in africa, and gave toys and clothes and shoes and school bags, etc.
I don't get why she did that for Africa, when there are so many kids here in the states that could have benefited from her wallet. I just don't understand it.
I'd love to find other's gut reaction to this. let me know if i'm off base here
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
I think that is a good "gut" reaction, but you have to go beyond that. Oprah gives much money to the needy in the US as well, and she has chosen to also help needy individuals in her ancestral homeland. Many people do this. I am Jewish, and am involved in charities in the US, but I also give to organizations that support needy people in Israel, which I regard as my ancestral homeland/refuge. While the concept of a nation is still important, anyone who suffers is my brother.
 
natemd

natemd

Member
Originally Posted by renogaw
Didn't really fit with the other post, but something really REALLY ticked me off yesterday. some special came on where she funded some school in africa, and gave toys and clothes and shoes and school bags, etc.
I don't get why she did that for Africa, when there are so many kids here in the states that could have benefited from her wallet. I just don't understand it.
I'd love to find other's gut reaction to this. let me know if i'm off base here
I agree with this sentiment. I know its a good thing that all these famous people are using their money to at least help people in need. However, it truly annoys me that they are the first people to complain about the ineffectiveness of our government and the horrible state that our country is in and yet never do anything about it themselves. I mean, don't get me wrong these other countries need help to and are just as deserving but how about a little help for the people on our own soil?
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
oh, i agree that they benefit and may need the help as well, and maybe the dollar goes a longer way there, but we're so worried about other countries that we don't care about our home soil. lets face it, and thinking totally selfish here, if we educate our kids better than other countries, it will only make the us stronger in the long run. and, we seriously need all the help we can get right now when it comes to that.
 
natemd

natemd

Member
Originally Posted by renogaw
oh, i agree that they benefit and may need the help as well, and maybe the dollar goes a longer way there, but we're so worried about other countries that we don't care about our home soil. lets face it, and thinking totally selfish here, if we educate our kids better than other countries, it will only make the us stronger in the long run. and, we seriously need all the help we can get right now when it comes to that.
Lol, that is a whole different can of worms for me that i'm also very passionate about.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
In my opinion people should be allowed to give time & money to any charity that pleases them. If Bono wants to help AIDs victims in Africa or Bill Gates wants to exterminate Polio from the world they should be able to. Bully for them I say. I will admit that I prefer giving my time & money to local charities and causes but I don't disparage anyone that prefers giving to foreign causes.
The only time I have trouble with charity is when the goverment takes money from my paycheck and forces me to give my money to charities.
 
natemd

natemd

Member
I agree that they should be able to give money to whom ever they would like to give money. I am just saying that it would be nice if more people living in America would focus on fixing our problems at home first.
Renogaw- I'm in definate agreement with you, I believe that education in this country has definatly fallen through the cracks in most areas so to speak.
 
jerthunter

jerthunter

Active Member
I personally do not think people born in the US are any more deserving of charity from private citizens.
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
I actually think those in africa MAY be more deserving, but we have our own problems that should be fixed before worrying about educating and clothing people outside the country. Problem is i don't want my gov't money going towards it because i also think people here put it on themselves way too much. that's why charities are there, and i think it would be better if we worried about things at home first is all.
 
jerthunter

jerthunter

Active Member
Originally Posted by renogaw
I actually think those in africa MAY be more deserving, but we have our own problems that should be fixed before worrying about educating and clothing people outside the country. Problem is i don't want my gov't money going towards it because i also think people here put it on themselves way too much. that's why charities are there, and i think it would be better if we worried about things at home first is all.
I guess I do not understand the situation. It appears that this is about Oprah, using her own money, to take on a project outside of the US and not our tax dollars.
 
jerthunter

jerthunter

Active Member
Originally Posted by renogaw
guess i went on a rant a little.
That is fine. I too have a issue with how much of our tax dollars are spent but that is such a huge problem I do not think it will ever be fully addressed to my satisfaction.
 
rylan1

rylan1

Active Member
She's gotten some critisism here in states about her school in Africa. My opinion is she can give to whatever cause/charity she wants... its her money. Second, she said that she chose Africa because she gives to countless places here in America that goes unrecongized. She also chose Africa because she felt they are more appreciating there. Our schools are palaces compared to there, and children in Africa will still get up at 5am to walk 10 miles to go to school... and we complain about standing at bus stops. Those sentiments on why she wouldn't spend $ here are in my opinion ...selfish.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by renogaw
guess i went on a rant a little. (sorta misunderstood bang guy's post and just reread it)
I agree 100% that government monies should be spent here first.
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
I saw few minutes of that charity special, while making a great momentary impact on those kids lives giving them one month of food and some clothes does little to actually alleviate the overall problems. its more of a "feel good" thing than a solution.
Honestly, if she really wanted to help with the real problems she should have been handing out boxes of condoms in those food baskets with illustrated instructions on how to use them, to help prevent the spread of hiv/aids.
at this point the only solution is prevention and education. eating well for a month is not going to prevent any of those kids from dying of aids.
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
Originally Posted by Dogstar
How much do you think she pays the U.S. in taxes each year...I think a lot more than me or you.

yup, but those taxes are reduced by giving to charities for outside the states
 
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