Should Oprah Have Given Her Money to African Schoolgirls?

A. Hermitt
Much of America is outraged over Oprah Winfrey's decision to open a new school in South Africa for poor and needy girls. Even the rich and famous have vilified her.

~According to msnbc.com, many people believed "Oprah shouldn't be reaching back, at least not in this way". They would prefer that she give smaller amounts of money to more children. (This is America's approach to mediocrity)

~Celean Jacobson (AP) writes, "Winfrey rejected suggestions the school was elitist and unnecessarily luxurious". Bloggers, writers, and even the rich and famous have argued with either Oprah's choice or the way she has carried it out.

~Rush Limbaugh is quoted as calling Oprah Cosy-esque. Because she chose Africa over America for the school as she felt Americans do not appreciate education.

People are being mean spirited in their comments about her, some are being downright hateful. Frankly, I think that they should put up, or shut up.

~To all the columnists telling Oprah where to put her money... where are you putting yours. No doubt, you are spending it on yourself.

~To all the Famous people who are angry that she has "turned her back on inner city blacks... what have you done? Writing the occasional check to clear your conscious for being rich does not count.

~To those who think they could do it better, please do. Give the kind of money Oprah does. Oh, you can't... oh.
There is no monopoly on doing good for others. If you want philanthropy done, do it! However, do not sit on your duff speculating about how someone should give away their own money.

Frankly if I were Oprah, in addition to giving my money away to whomever I pleased, I would also:

~Get used to the sound of crinkling paper as my mattress and pillows would be stuffed with dollar bills instead of feathers or foam. I would have my blankets made out of money as well.

~Plant my gardens with origami flowers made of money, and plant it pots of coin soul.

~Have my money sewn together into fabric from which my clothes would be fashioned.

~Design my home with framed money, and dollar decopauged items.

~Tell people to mind their own business.

If you were as wealthy as Oprah Winfrey was what would you do with her millions that would better someone's life... Would you do some things the same or different, and why?

Published by A. Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is an artist by nature and an educator by necessity. As a homeschooling mom of 10 years, she stays current in all things educational, and cutting edge to help her homeschool her children, and...  View profile

15 Comments

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  • Your name12/30/2008

    Oprah makes me want to puke, but she's right that American children do not appreciate education. Actually, it's not just the children, their parents also find it easier and more fun to stare at the television instead of reading. I can see why she didn't try to cultivate a bunch of American teens and try to persuade them not to get into drugs or have kids while still in their teens.

  • penutbutterjellytime1015/15/2008

    i love you #1 fan your great

  • bdog-13 5/15/2008

    i love you oprah your the best

  • bdog-135/15/2008

    you the best thank you for helping all of those needy people

  • jkjm;lj;k;j;g12/3/2007

    oprah you rock.i love you.

  • stoptalkin10/10/2007

    I LOVE OPARH!! If you are talking bad about oparh then shut the F*%& up!

  • Nice Child5/29/2007

    She is doing the right thing.

  • Rodney4/30/2007

    I am a big fan of oprah and I think that she has earned all her money and dont criticize her because if you get rich you never know what you would do

  • Alfie Wace1/17/2007

    I agree with Catherine that Oprah has the right to spend her money where she pleases, BUT I am so tired of OUR money being spent overseas! Oprah, Branjolina, Madonna, Bill Gates to name a few have all earned their incomes primarily from their American fanbase/customers. How about helping out the poor folks in good old USofA? Do we not want to admit that there is poverty here as well?

  • Darla Dixon1/17/2007

    I haven't heard any criticisms so far. I think it's great that she did this. It's her money after all. It does bring media attention to the fact that there are children in the world who are hungering for education and place extreme value on it. I try to get my kids to see the blessing of the education they are getting, instead of whining and moaning about school.

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