Comments on: Oprah and Others – the Saviors of Africa?? http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/ Going off about the world, it's people and the crazy (sometimes stupid) things we do. Sun, 16 Dec 2007 02:20:14 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: L. Monique http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-69 L. Monique Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:56:52 +0000 http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-69 I respect Rochelle's opinion and Melba's agreement, but just because its your money, doesn't allow you the luxury of being frivalent with it. It's my body, but it doesn't make it right if I choose to share it with everyone in Tucson. It's basketball players and football player's money, but they still look crazy for going out and buying 15 cars and a 18000 square foot house when it's only them and a girlfriend. I don't know. There are so many people out there with money, who can actually help. And in the blog, I acknowledged Oprah's efforts at helping and creating opportunities with her money. However, I feel $40 million dollars is excessive, irresponsibly so. Yes, she has more money and can keep giving if she choose, but it saddens me that she has so much to give and so much of it was just given to one school. All I'm saying. Thanks ladies for stopping by and weighing in on Oprah and her dinero. I respect Rochelle’s opinion and Melba’s agreement, but just because its your money, doesn’t allow you the luxury of being frivalent with it. It’s my body, but it doesn’t make it right if I choose to share it with everyone in Tucson. It’s basketball players and football player’s money, but they still look crazy for going out and buying 15 cars and a 18000 square foot house when it’s only them and a girlfriend. I don’t know. There are so many people out there with money, who can actually help. And in the blog, I acknowledged Oprah’s efforts at helping and creating opportunities with her money. However, I feel $40 million dollars is excessive, irresponsibly so. Yes, she has more money and can keep giving if she choose, but it saddens me that she has so much to give and so much of it was just given to one school. All I’m saying. Thanks ladies for stopping by and weighing in on Oprah and her dinero.

]]> By: melba http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-58 melba Fri, 19 Jan 2007 15:24:56 +0000 http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-58 Rochelle, you said everything I was going to say, but much more articulate! Rochelle, you said everything I was going to say, but much more articulate!

]]> By: Rochelle http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-46 Rochelle Wed, 10 Jan 2007 06:17:47 +0000 http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-46 I appreciate your opinion however I would like to add that Oprah has vowed to make sure all of the girls that attend her school go to college. I highly doubt that she will abandoned them after they finish her "boarding school". If you know anything about Oprah, you know that will not happen. Also once these girls are finish, a spot will be open for new girls so over the years there will be more than just a few "privileged" girls who have the opportunity to better themselves and hopefully their communities. Personally I applaud Oprah for what she is doing in Africa. Yeah, sure she could have opened a school in the many many troubled areas right here in the United States of America but this has been a dream of hers for some time (according to her). When something moves and motivates to you the way she explains building this school has for her, I don't blame her for going all out. I mean, have we forgotten its her money and she can do whatever she wants with it. My reasons for saying this is because Oprah along with Melinda and Bill Gates (Microsoft owner and wife) have contributed more to "our" schools than any single entity has ever done. So I would say, she also cares deeply for the kids at home. She is a huge advocate for child laws and have even on several occasions went to Congress fighting for their rights. Being from Chicago, I have watched Oprah for years, even before she was popular, in Chicago and she has always been for the kids here in America and their rights and laws pertaining to them. About 6 yrs ago, Oprah gave millions to inner city schools in the Chicago and Michigan areas, her angel network has a division specifically for "America Schools". She has, since the early 80's, given 10 scholarships a year for a deserving seniors to go to college, all expenses paid for their entire 4 years. Thats 10 students a year! She did a show not too long ago where she provided an update on some of the students she sponsored. She really does keep in touch with them or at least her staff does! I'm saying all this to say: The media hypes up anything they think will get people talking. I think its appalling for them to criticize what someone else does with their own money especially when it for the good of human beings not matter what continent they happen to live on! How often do see other famous and wealthy people put so much money into something to help others. I think all others who are blessed enough to make more money than its humanly possible to spend should start giving back as well! Thats all folks!!! I appreciate your opinion however I would like to add that Oprah has vowed to make sure all of the girls that attend her school go to college. I highly doubt that she will abandoned them after they finish her “boarding school”. If you know anything about Oprah, you know that will not happen. Also once these girls are finish, a spot will be open for new girls so over the years there will be more than just a few “privileged” girls who have the opportunity to better themselves and hopefully their communities.
Personally I applaud Oprah for what she is doing in Africa. Yeah, sure she could have opened a school in the many many troubled areas right here in the United States of America but this has been a dream of hers for some time (according to her). When something moves and motivates to you the way she explains building this school has for her, I don’t blame her for going all out. I mean, have we forgotten its her money and she can do whatever she wants with it. My reasons for saying this is because Oprah along with Melinda and Bill Gates (Microsoft owner and wife) have contributed more to “our” schools than any single entity has ever done. So I would say, she also cares deeply for the kids at home. She is a huge advocate for child laws and have even on several occasions went to Congress fighting for their rights. Being from Chicago, I have watched Oprah for years, even before she was popular, in Chicago and she has always been for the kids here in America and their rights and laws pertaining to them.

About 6 yrs ago, Oprah gave millions to inner city schools in the Chicago and Michigan areas, her angel network has a division specifically for “America Schools”. She has, since the early 80’s, given 10 scholarships a year for a deserving seniors to go to college, all expenses paid for their entire 4 years. Thats 10 students a year! She did a show not too long ago where she provided an update on some of the students she sponsored. She really does keep in touch with them or at least her staff does!

I’m saying all this to say: The media hypes up anything they think will get people talking. I think its appalling for them to criticize what someone else does with their own money especially when it for the good of human beings not matter what continent they happen to live on!

How often do see other famous and wealthy people put so much money into something to help others. I think all others who are blessed enough to make more money than its humanly possible to spend should start giving back as well!

Thats all folks!!!

]]> By: vjp http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-39 vjp Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:44:53 +0000 http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-39 Thanks for this post. You said what many of us are thinking. Oprah can be "frustrated" with our schools but unless she and others are willing to help now, they are in for a wild ride in a few years when these kids are grown. Thanks for this post. You said what many of us are thinking. Oprah can be “frustrated” with our schools but unless she and others are willing to help now, they are in for a wild ride in a few years when these kids are grown.

]]> By: L. Monique http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-38 L. Monique Mon, 08 Jan 2007 23:39:11 +0000 http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-38 AAAAAMEENN!!! AAAAAMEENN!!!

]]> By: Michele Sabatier http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-37 Michele Sabatier Mon, 08 Jan 2007 23:35:30 +0000 http://lmonique.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/oprahandafrica/#comment-37 I agree with your point -- and it's brave of you to make a point that is so "not correct" these days. My additional frustration is that in flat-out numbers there are even more U.S. kids in rural poverty (and the resulting horrible schools) than there are in the U.S. inner cities. But as you know, these kids are just not the flavor of the month for our blessed media stars. And what does it say about Oprah that she gives up on U.S. schools because she "became frustrated?" Those kids, and the kids in poor rural schools can't just flit to the next, more chic, problem when they become frustrated with their lives. The net rate of infection from AIDS is higher in Washington DC than in most of Africa. So, Bono, and your (RED) iPod, and (RED) Gap jeans, whatcha gonna do about that? I agree with your point — and it’s brave of you to make a point that is so “not correct” these days. My additional frustration is that in flat-out numbers there are even more U.S. kids in rural poverty (and the resulting horrible schools) than there are in the U.S. inner cities.

But as you know, these kids are just not the flavor of the month for our blessed media stars. And what does it say about Oprah that she gives up on U.S. schools because she “became frustrated?” Those kids, and the kids in poor rural schools can’t just flit to the next, more chic, problem when they become frustrated with their lives.

The net rate of infection from AIDS is higher in Washington DC than in most of Africa. So, Bono, and your (RED) iPod, and (RED) Gap jeans, whatcha gonna do about that?

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