Good for you Oprah!

“Good for you Oprah for building the school in Africa! Critics are bashing her for spending $40 million on a South African school that is more like a luxury spa complete with movie theaters, beauty parlors and huge dorm rooms.

It's your money you spend or give how ever you want to.”

“It's a girls only school Nigal.
They need those beauty parlors.
LOL”

“LOL..but did you see WHY she didn't do it in America?...She said all the kids ask for is Ipods Cellphones etc.

LOL the GIMME Generation grows.”

“"I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools (in America) that I just stopped going. If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa.they ask for uniforms so they can go to school."

-Oprah”

“I say allow foriegners to immigrate and export our debris...heck if junior wants to "get down" and kill, why not let him do it in some third world hell hole where at least we are thinning out the human debris.”

“nice to see xl's hatriotism hasnt waned”

“This from a Women who gives away cars to everyone in her audience? If anything, she's a #&%!$ing Pillar of the goddam problem! Biggest #&%!$ing hypocrite on the goddam planet!

She needs to be brought down in the most painful and unpleasant of ways.”

“Please tell us how you feel, bear. Please don't hold back. LOL”

““This from a Women who gives away cars to everyone in her audience? If anything, she's a #&%!$ing Pillar of the goddam problem! Biggest #&%!$ing hypocrite on the goddam planet!

She needs to be brought down in the most painful and unpleasant of ways.”

Why does this make her a hypocrite and why would you wish bad things for others?”

“It's her cash; she can spent how she pleases. I'd like to see her invest it here in America, but I respect her decision.”

“Whoa, easy on the stark-raving-madness there, bearmagnet! LOL!”

“She embodies american excess and commercialism in the worst way. How the #&%!$ can we expect Youth to act completely opposite from celebrities? Bombard our youth with tales of lavish lifestyles and we expect them to be practicle? We expect children to be practicle anyway?

Why are you starting fuegos?

:D”

“Good point, bear...however I would still wager to guess you've had too much coffee today. Or crack.
:-D
last edited: 1/04/07 10:44:39 AM”

“She earned it.
She can spend it as she likes.”

“She embodies american excess and commercialism in the worst way. How the #&%!$ can we expect Youth to act completely opposite from celebrities? Bombard our youth with tales of lavish lifestyles and we expect them to be practicle? We expect children to be practicle anyway?

It all depends on your outlook on life. Youth can also look at Oprah and say, "Dayum! I guess that American Dream thing really can happen. Look at her! She worked her way up from next to nothing for years and now she makes millions a year and gives away almost as much as she makes ($50 million just last year).". When I look at successful people like her it tells me if we tap our full potential we can achieve anything including our wildest dreams. And once we achieve our wildest dreams we should help others achieve their's as well. Yeah, what a bich. LOL!

Why are you starting fuegos?

I am very knowledgeable about TT and knew it would end there. Actually it was a very positive thread until your post. Smiles! :)”

“perhaps Lyra and I agree SS. But the absolute hypocricy of her and the Everything Oprah mentality drives me bonkers!

:p

By Denise Williams

Tina Turner, Chris Rock, Sydney Poitier, Mariah Carey and Mary J Blige were all present at Oprah Winfrey's Hollywood-style opening of her leadership academy in Henley-on-Klip, Meyerton, on Tuesday.

The event officially opening the academy, set to house and educate girls from disadvantaged communities, teemed with local and international celebrities including Nobel laureates, ambassadors, musicians, actors and media personalities.

Nobel laureate, Kenyan born Wangari Maathai, former US ambassador to South Africa Dr Andrew Young, Quincy Jones, Babyface, Holly Robinson Pete, Kimberly Elise, who acted alongside Winfrey in the
film Beloved, all appeared stylishly clad at the glitzy event.

Local businessman Tokyo Sexwale was also present and Nelson Mandela is expected to attend although he had not yet arrived by midday.


An appearance by US media personality Diane Sawyer is also expected.

The number of celebrities was matched by tight security at the event.

Comedian and actor Chris Rock told Sapa it was great to see the opening of a school like Winfrey's in his lifetime.

Soul musician Babyface said the event was all about what the school meant for the girls and he was proud to be part of Winfrey's dream.

Guests were also treated to a performance by two-time Grammy Award winner and 12-time Grammy Award nominee India Arie. - Sapa

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=iol1167740381414B263

Maybe one day soon all South African children will want limo's and ipods too?”

“Again I agree 100% with all of you. None of you have a clue of what you're saying.”

“I am very knowledgeable about TT and knew it would end there. Actually it was a very positive thread until your post. Smiles! :)”
Nigal
11:53:18 AM
1/04/07

Why would the Devil ever get his hands dirty when he knows which strings to pluck?

;)”

“I'm goin' Forest Gump now...

Sometimes a good deed is just that, a good deed. And that's all I have to say about that.”

“to an extent i agree with bm, but that doesnt mean she shouldnt build schools for poor african girls if thats what she thinks she should do. now i wanna know what shes gonna do for poor african boys”

“And giving away 50 mil means she gave away 3% of her net worth? Good for her but I think she can really afford it, no?

She's gonna build a co-ed school, CB. Wait for the opening on Entertainment Tonight.”

“I was told the cars, etc. that she gives away on her "show" are provided by the sponsors - meaning - it's advertising.

I wonder if the 40 mil for the school was hers.”

“I believe it was done through her charity The Angel Network.

http://www.oprah.com/uyl/angel/uyl_angel_about.jhtml”

“if i ever do anything nice for anybody, im defineitely not telling bearmagnet about it”

“About the car thing: the recipients still had to pay all of the associated taxes, much to their chagrin. Some of these people couldn't accept the cars because of that.”

“I see what BM is saying. She says ameraicans kids aren't worth her money as they want ipods and this and that. But all the TV shows is the life styles of the rich and kids want to be part of it. What she should be doing is coming up with a program to teach kids the value of a dollar and how hard work can accomplish something. Develop something and teach something like that and you've accomplished something.”

“"She says ameraicans kids aren't worth her money as they want ipods and this and that."

She never said that. She said she was frustrated by inner city American kids. I think many give to poorer nations for a variety of reasons. The money goes a LOT further in a poor country and you can do a lot more with less. the needs in poorer countries are much more dire than here. Let's face it, the vast majority of kids in America don't have to worry about clean water, food, or medicine like an African child does. Being poor in America is a lot different than being poor in a 3rd world country. And to be completely honest with you, yes, I personally feel the children in poorer countries are not only more appreciative but more motivated than American children.

"But all the TV shows is the life styles of the rich and kids want to be part of it. What she should be doing is coming up with a program to teach kids the value of a dollar and how hard work can accomplish something. Develop something and teach something like that and you've accomplished something.”

That's not Oprah job. The parents should be teaching their kids the value of a dollar, not Oprah. She is in the entertainment industry. That is what she does. If you check out the programs listed on her web site it's easy to see she does a lot of fluff and good happy stories on her show and her show is much more positive than most shows.
last edited: 1/04/07 12:01:23 PM”

“And what is Oprah's message? How many people listen to Oprah as if it's "The Word"?

message: I'm so frustrated with inner city schools/youth that it's time to give up on them.

Way to go Oprah!”

“I sure wish I had the means to embody American excess...sigh...”

“And what is Oprah's message? How many people listen to Oprah as if it's "The Word"?

I know of no one that does.

message: I'm so frustrated with inner city schools/youth that it's time to give up on them.

Again, that's not what she said. If she kept getting the same answers to the question "What do you need?" and she gets "iPod and sneakers.", it would tell me that the kid's needs are met to the point they don't need my money. I'm sure that if she was getting the answer"Books, water, indoor plumbing or food,", she would still be in there raising money for them.”

“Here's an interesting study done by Cronell University in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

CU researchers' study shows Americans aren't as nice as they think
By Roger Segelken

..."Most people are overly optimistic about themselves," Dunning said. "As it turns out, we don't know as much about our own moral nature as we know about others'."

It has long been known -- both in psychological research and in everyday life -- that people commonly feel "holier than thou," believing that they are more moral, kind and altruistic than the typical person, the psychology professor said.

"We knew something had to be wrong when the average person thinks he or she's a better person than the average person, when the majority of Americans consider themselves to be members of an elite moral minority," said Epley, who conducted a series of revealing experiments about subjects' perception versus the reality of their moral behavior. "We wanted to know whether people feel holier than thou because they underestimate others' moral goodness, or because they overestimate their own." (See brief descriptions of the experiments, below).

Each experiment asked college students at Cornell to predict how they would behave when faced with one of several moral dilemmas, and to make the same predictions for their peers. Again and again, people predicted that they would be more generous and kind than others. Yet when the time came to put their money where their mouths were, most kept their wallet in their pockets....”

“i can't stand oprah, but in this case i agree with nigal 100%.

it's her friggin money, she can do WTF she wants with it, whether that's buying a hum-vee for oj simpson or donating it to poor kids.

and other nations vs. our kids-
i remember a study done not too long ago when they asked kids the ol' genie in a bottle question. pretty much without exception, US kids wanted stuff. money and the usual. non-us kids (especially african and asian) just wanted the chance to earn stuff - i.e., to be smarter, healthier, ect.

screw american kids i say. buncha freeloadin gimme, gimme, gimme, punk-ass-biches.”

“"I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I stopped going," she said. "The sense that you need to learn just isn't there. If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don't ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school."

Oprah

many people follow her and Her Word. her message can easily be interpreted as I stated.”

“And if you don't think people follow her as the Word than check out Oprah's Book Club as a beautiful example of what her following is capable of.”

“So this school is supposed to be lavishly appointed? I wonder what her reasoning is behind that. Education can be financed on the cheap in destitute areas. What reasons would she have to focus on a single lavish school instead of a network of simple, cheap schools which would serve far more children?”

“Now the Star-bellied Sneetches had bellies with stars.

The Plain-bellied Sneetches had none upon thars.”

“so mutt and bmag are mad cause when oprah donated her money to poor african kids, she didn't optimize her spending?

is that the problem here?”

“I can tell when all reason has left a discussion. LOL!

Go ahead, last word goes to you.”

“careful, mutt. you sound like a commie there

not that theres anything wrong with that!”

“Please read all my comments sacco.”

““So this school is supposed to be lavishly appointed? I wonder what her reasoning is behind that. Education can be financed on the cheap in destitute areas. What reasons would she have to focus on a single lavish school instead of a network of simple, cheap schools which would serve far more children?”

The school is called a "leadership school" and she has talked about giving the students scholarships to any university they want to go to. So this may have been the point to it. Her charity has started over 34 schools in 10 different countries too.

I've also heard she had changed her will so all of her money goes to charities when she dies.
last edited: 1/04/07 1:14:20 PM”

“I'm just a firm believer in fixing your home's problems before throwing money outside it.

I bet she'd get the same "ipod response" if she asked Kids in some of the worst inner city schools in DC that question.

I bet those same kids would love her if she bought them working Air conditioners for their school.”

“Sacco, I'm not mad - just curious as to what her reasoning was. Nigal may have answered that.”

“I hope those little girls get educated, grow up, and come here and live off us. We need more four-inners.”

“I bet those same kids would love her if she bought them working Air conditioners for their school.”
bearmagnet

And seeing as how some of the worst school districts are noted for spending more per student than anywhere in the world....the problem is the schools are overloaded with Administrators..PAPER PUSHERS...encouraged by .....NEA and other unions.

Has anyone stopped to wonder why "celebs" are always doing this type of stuff? I heard one 'reformed" celebrity talking about the attitude. He said most times it comes from feeling "inadequte" for what they are being paid. As this actor said, "It hit me one morning I was making millions for playing people I wasn't? I saw no value in my life and I wondered where I went wrong."

Regardless what bear et al say, the fact is it IS her money, and I will bet that a signifcantly higher percentage will get to those kids (actual SERVICE DELIVERY) than would have ever gotten out of New York if it had gone to the UN or out of Washington if it had gone to The US government.

Bear is it the fact that you are a bit envious? I know it is a common problem with libbies, they want to help so bad, but they are unable to give of their own money, they realize that taking a gun to their neighbor's head and getting the money is a crime ......so they hide behind the anonymity of GOVERNMENT to take the gun and stick it to their neighbor's head to get the money.”

“Africians tend to do great when they come to the USA.
They still believe hard work will get them ahead and make that so.”

“Yes I am envious, xl. I always wanted to be a large African American Women.

And I'm sure South Africa's government is a model of efficiency and void of all corruption, and lacking in welfare state. Probably a Libertarians wet dream, yes?

and as for the rest of that last paragraph, xl, you're so cute sometimes.”

“To be sure, the project is a godsend to a nation where 75% of the children drop out of school by age 12 and only 5% do well enough to go to college. For Winfrey, educating South African girls is not only about charity, but about social change.


Her school, which cost 40mil, will take in 152 for now, and max out at 400. Guess it'll put a huge dent in those stats, eh?

And tell me, those stats, better or worse than US inner city schools?”

“I guess you have to compare either quantity or quality.....I am seeing kids graduate with ...well a good government indoctrination and thats about all

Then again in S.A. they won't haver to worry about working hard to be successful and being told they are UNCLE TOMing, or BEIN' White.
last edited: 1/04/07 2:13:14 PM”

“In sub-Saharan Africa, there are more than 12 million children orphaned by AIDS, not including the millions of children whose parents are terminally ill. While overall school enrollment rates have risen to approximately 66% in the continent, AIDS-affected children have been systematically left behind. Recent surveys from Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania show that orphans are more likely to withdraw from school, less likely to be at an age-appropriate grade, and less likely to have limited family resources spent on their education.

The Human Rights Watch report documents how children suffer de facto discrimination in access to education from the moment HIV/AIDS afflicts their family. Children leave school to perform household labor or to bereave their parents’ death. Many cannot afford school fees because their parents are too sick to earn a living. While some countries, such as Kenya and Uganda, have abolished primary school fees, schools repeatedly refuse admission to AIDS-affected children who cannot afford to pay for books, uniforms, and other school-related expenses.

Orphans and other AIDS-affected children said they had to leave school for reasons like failing to produce a birth certificate or failing to bring a desk to class. In many cases, they were being cared for by widows who had been stripped of their property when their husbands died of AIDS. In others, volunteers from community-based organizations resorted to pooling meager resources to provide orphans with basic necessities. Many orphans have eked out a living in the street or lived in households headed by other children.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/10/07/safric11838.htm

Question: she did say the school was gonna 'behave' like a normal SA school, no?
last edited: 1/04/07 2:15:59 PM”