Oprah's African School - Too Much Coverage & Self Promotion?- Page 2
Oprah's African School - Too Much Coverage & Self Promotion?
#25orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 1:52pmi have an almost transparent knowledge of her soul and this is about her, not them starving little bloated colored chilluns.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#26orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 1:54pm
"Does Oprah normally going around spouting scripture or telling people to follow their lives according to it? No. Then what the Bible says really has zero relevance here."
Oprah has thanked God in the past. Now it can be argued that we don't know what "god" she is thanking. However, if she is thanking the God named Jehovah, then the Bible should have some relevance to what she does.
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#27orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 1:57pmYes, but thanking god and piously pointing to the Bible are two different things.
#28orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 2:01pmshe has a full douay-rheims 1899 american edition that she keeps in a warm dark moist place for special occasions.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
#29orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:17pmSpeculating and handing out the verdict are two entirely different things. It would be great if people truly posed questions or tried to look at things from multiple facets or outside the box. It would be revolutionary if this happened more often.
keen on kean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/06
#30orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:38pmI am no Bible thumper nor do I expect or want Oprah to be - my point simply is that for millenia the nature of charity has been associated with good works that are done selflessly, and not with an eye to secondary gains. The result may be the same, but it is the character of the person doing the work that seems to be the issue here.
#31orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:40pm
The first time I heard about this, I immediately thought of how Oprah never does anything privately. Her donations and charity work is almost always public. There's a difference between drawing attention to a cause, and drawing attention to your own contributions to said cause.
I used to admire her for the good things she has done, but not so much anymore. I would be more inclined to support the idea of this school if it was not a girls only leadership academy. Why not just a school for boys AND girls? One where they can learn skills, not just leadership. Also, the location. Why not a poorer country? Why not one that needs help more than South Africa?
Eh...
#32orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:42pm
I respect the woman.
Do I think she is an egoist and self-serving sometimes? Absolutely.
But, still, forgetting her occasional shameless self-promotion, she does a lot of good, so I respect her.
*Edited for spelling
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#33orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:42pmand the person doing the work here has the power to move mountains by simply attaching her brand name to the project. So, why WOULDN'T she?
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#34orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:59pm
I used to admire her for the good things she has done, but not so much anymore. I would be more inclined to support the idea of this school if it was not a girls only leadership academy. Why not just a school for boys AND girls? One where they can learn skills, not just leadership. Also, the location. Why not a poorer country? Why not one that needs help more than South Africa?
You're being facetious and I just missed it, right?
snl89
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/05
#35orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 6:05pmI really admire oprah. Sure, she's promoting it a lot- and maybe she does have a little bit of a big ego sometimes, but she still does SO much good for others. She's one of the few people with TONS of money that actually seems to put a pretty darn good portion of that money to good use to help people who aren't as fortunate. And she also uses the power that she has to raise a lot of money and support for different causes too. So, the way I see it, I just don't mind if she's promoting it a little too much. It's a good cause- it deserves lots of promotion :)
#36orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 6:46pmSNL, that's the point. I am sure there are others who, like Oprah, donate tons of money BUT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY AREN'T ADVERTISING IT IN A PRIME TIME SPECIAL.
#37orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 6:54pm
And clearly you miss the point.
It would be grand if Oprah was merely giving money. But the fact that she is giving money AND AND AND putting her big promotin' name on it in a big ol way ALSO gives the project attention so that others can learn of and support the cause. So that maybe if this country starts to realize how bad a problem Africa is they can yell loud enough to get Congress and our President to start making changes--seeing how we are such an altruistic country.
It's just beyond me that you can't grasp this simple concept.
Same was said about Al Gore and global warming with his big splashy self promoted Hollywood motion picture. But guess what? Since his film has ignited great discussion and exposure to the issue, we actually had George Bush FINALLY take the matter seriously in his State of the Union speech. And maybe this country will start making changes.
Updated On: 2/26/07 at 06:54 PM
#38orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 7:00pmJerby, I do get it. But while you accuse me of making assumptions a certain way, you too are making assumptions that the reason she is doing it is to give the project attention. It is probably a bit of both. I don't doubt that her intentions are good and I don't doubt that she thinks her name will bring attention to the issue. I do also think that the lady has a massive ego and likes it stroked and is stroking it by heavily promoting this school by blasting her actions across the media including during ever prime time commercial break. The fact that she named the school after herself proves my point as well. I think what she did for these girls is wonderful and I think that Oprah thinks that what she did for herself is wonderful too. She can do one without doing the other.
#39orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 7:09pm
Well then I suppose you recognize that your opinion is possibly wrong as all hell seeing how you admit that neither of us knows for certain her motivations.
I only know that guilty of ego or not, she's making a huge difference in the world. That her promoting does affect people in a good way. So, who gives a s*** if her motivations are 100% innocent.
I just think most people leap to the assumption that everyone on TV and in Hollywood is out for themselves and actually knowing people in the business, I see how this is often NOT the way people operate. I see people who are truly caring and know they have the power, fame, and money to do great things.
Updated On: 2/26/07 at 07:09 PM
snl89
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/05
#40orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 10:08pmpianoman, I understand what you mean, I def do. I'm sure she's not the perfect person and that she's doing some of it just to promote her image and everything, but in the end does it really matter? Like jrb was saying, if she just gave the money anonymously then she herself would be helping but why just do that when she can also do that AND use her fame to draw attention so that OTHER people help as well? Even if she IS doing it for selfish reasons (which I really dont think she is, at LEAST not entirely), its still drawing attention to a good cause that wouldn't otherwise really be known. So its good no matter what :)
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#41orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 10:49pm
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Provide a child with education and give them hope and you are changing the world for the better.
It matters not to me WHY she is doing this. It matters to me that it's being done.
The girls are beautiful. Their eyes sparkle with dreams coming true.
#42orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:00pmI agree, addy.
#43orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:00pm
I watched the last half of the special.
Those girls are all inspiring.
What a gift they are, and what a gift Oprah has given them.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#44orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:07pm
I was so moved by it. Absolutely overwhelmed with hope and joy.
I hope this inspires others to try to make a difference.
All of us.
In whatever way we can.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#45orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:08pmGirl.. where have you been?
brdlwyr
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
#46orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:29pmAddy, my wife and I were brought to tears.
#47orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:41pmI have nothing new to add because jrb has already said everything I feel about this. But, I'd just like to say how much respect and admiration I have for Oprah and all that she does.
#48orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:43pm
I agree.
Oprah is a beautiful person. I think I respect her more than anyone else in the world.
snl89
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/05
#49orca eats africans before school
Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:49pm
it was really one of the most touching things I have ever seen on tv, and I wish every single person could see it. It makes you have so much gratitude for the things you have, and for the oppurtunities that you're given.
both oprah and all those girls are amazing, and they inspire me to be a better person :)
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