Oprahs new school??????

[jontyB]

@ Debbie@: Oprah was involved in every aspect of the school, including selection of the teachers and the curriculum. A few of teh articles I read gave me the disticnt impression that this venture's primary intention is not to educate but an intent to instill a specifc world view and set of morals...

Err.. Wrong. The schools will all follow the standard South African educational curriculum, and the graduates will matriculate as per normal.

 

[Xarog]

Xarog, 'more for show'? What do you base this on?

Do you have any information on how this school came about, or the ways in which Oprah has been involved?

You're right, I only see the media side of it. I don't like it very much. The few time's I've seen Oprah's shows have left me with an odd feeling that I was just part of the mob watching the gladiator fights in Rome.

Well obviously neither of us can answer that question without substantial research. I think its safe to say that R175 000 (thats your figure of 1 million dollars devided by 40) to build a school is just ridiculous though. Thats not to mention running costs.

To build and equip a school of even basic quality would run into the millions of rand. At least a fair chunk of 1 million dollars to be sure.

I may be wrong but I some how doubt it.

The total donation is $40 million.

I pray for the day more south africans become more like oprah.

Why?

 

[jontyB]

You're right, I only see the media side of it. I don't like it very much. The few time's I've seen Oprah's shows have left me with an odd feeling that I was just part of the mob watching the gladiator fights in Rome.

I don't think any one talk show host has ever given every single audience member a house during one of their shows. Oh wait - Oprah has. She's also given cars, holidays, the list goes on

 

[Natas]

I pray for the day more south africans become more like oprah.

I'm sorry, I dont know why but people just dont see it. Oprah is evil. Apparently people who have worked on the show says she makes fun of the people in her audience. that she laughs at, and throws away gifts people have given her because they are cheap.

I saw the episode of Oprah where her so-called best friend had started her own talk show. Her BFF rigged it so that her first show would be on the oprah show. During the show Oprah made various bitchy comments about the set and couldn't find one nice thing to say about her friend's show. This all culmiated in what was a very aquard momment. Her BFF directed the camera to the chair that she would sit in during the show, indicating that this was the chair that Oprah had previously indicated she should get. Her BFF, looking for one posiitve comment, asked Oprah whether she liked the chair. It sounds like a stupid point, but Oprah couldnt even give a positive comment about an ordinary chair.

Oprah does what she does for the money and power. She used to be a crack head. When she gives someone a house or sends someone to college its not becuase she wants to, its because of teh favourbale response she gets and how much MORE moeny that act will generate.... Ultimately her only goal is money and power. Everything "good" that she does is only to further her own interests.....in other words...there already are plenty of people like Oprah in SOuth Africa...they just cant afford to go as big as what she does...thats all

 

[Xarog]

http://www.treasury.gov.za/documents/mtbps/2006/adjustments/15 education.pdf

Enjoy.

Well, for one thing the numbers read as if the budget was R14 million, which can' t be right... Also, it doesn't say how many schools there are, and so the amounts are rather hard to put into context.

 

[Natas]

Err.. Wrong. The schools will all follow the standard South African educational curriculum, and the graduates will matriculate as per normal.

I'm not talking about the nuts and bolts.....I'm talking about the little things that will impart a sense of morality on the students.....

 

[Xarog]

I don't think any one talk show host has ever given every single audience member a house during one of their shows. Oh wait - Oprah has. She's also given cars, holidays, the list goes on

The Romans gave presents to the mob too, you know.

 

[jontyB]

Well, for one thing the numbers read as if the budget was R14 million, which can' t be right... Also, it doesn't say how many schools there are, and so the amounts are rather hard to put into context.

The figures are in units of millions unless otherwise indicated.

 

[Nick333]

The total donation is $40 million.

Sorry, I misread the post I originally replied to.

 

[Natas]

http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/herlife/features/993668.htm

This article puts what I am trying to say in better words. But in addition to this, my opinion remains that Oprah is motivated primarily by profit and hunger for more power. She is NOT a nice person.....neither am I..and if I were in her position....I would do the exact same thing......people think thats its not possible for someone who acts that nice to be evil..but I can do...and if it would make me MORE money and MAKE me MORE POWERFUL..I would be nice...I would build a school like Oprah is doing...and I would make sure that the people coming out of that school end up being powerful, that they think like me and were instilled with a powerful sense of duty towards ME, willing to do my bidding and be swayed by my opinions

 

[Lycanthrope]

Natas, I think you're taking the whole spawn of Satan; minion mastery thing a bit far, but I get what you're saying and I agree

 

[d0b33]

I don't think any one talk show host has ever given every single audience member a house during one of their shows. Oh wait - Oprah has. She's also given cars, holidays, the list goes on

Oprah hasn't given it away, her show is popular (*** knows why)
and advertisers plug there products by donating them

 

[derekc]

Yes spend $1 mil on diff schools then you have to manage all those schools to make sure the money goes to the right place. The next thing you know it is that R6.5 mil has gone to some gov official. Look at what happened to Ithuteng when Oprah donated funds to them. The funds were misappropriated and now there's an investigation.

Oprah can do whatever she likes in the funds. To her, black and female children has not been given enough chance and she designated the money to that cause. IMO I think it's better to help a certain number of kids rather than spread the donation and not much can be done.

What I dont understand is that some ppl on this forum are slamming people who do charity and are willing to give out money. Philanthropist or not, they are trying to help and are certainly welcome to try and make a change in this country rather than sit back and criticise everything that happens in this country.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Where there is evil, there is good, where there is good, there is evil. Yin and Yang

 

[Highflyer_GP]

I think it's more like good cannot exist without evil, and vice versa

 

[Lycanthrope]

Same thing Pedantic little *censored*

 

[Xarog]

What I dont understand is that some ppl on this forum are slamming people who do charity and are willing to give out money. Philanthropist or not, they are trying to help and are certainly welcome to try and make a change in this country rather than sit back and criticise everything that happens in this country.

I can't speak for the others, but for my part it is simply because that donation was possible in the first place because of the economic warfare the first world wages against the so-called developing world.

Without economic imperialism, we wouldn't really need to rely on such donations for underpriviledged kids.

 

[Bageloo]

Oprah has always helped disadvantaged S Africans and indeed she's a true humanitarian. Many who sought refuge in the US during the apartheid days will tell you that the Oprah provided numerous scholarships to needy South Africans. Many of them went on to become writers, journalists and are contributing positively towards our country. Much of that is not in the public domain and therefore this could not be construed as a publicity stunt. The Oprah show has a global presence and that's enough publicity to last a billion lifetimes for any one individual. As for the motives, same as for the missionars. Most of today's S African leaders are a product of missionary education(almost said position there, which would also be true). I'm sure the creteria is not so much "race", rather "need". It's a given that black kids will always occupy the first 40, 100, or even 10000 spots when the criteria is need.

Natas, whatever Oprah did to you? Or are you such a bitter human being, that you don't see the difference between good and evil?

 

[Lycanthrope]

Good and evil have very little to do with any of this. Natas makes a good point. Oprah helps the unfortunate black kids of South Africa. Why not the unfortunate kids in Korea? Why not the black kids in Ethiopia? Yeah, a "soft spot for South Africa"...

Mother Theresa was a humanitarian. Mother Theresa didn't have money, she helped people from the bottom of her heart and soul and did the best that she could with her bare hands. Not wads of cash.

Yes, money is nice and it makes the world go 'round, but it doesn't teach morals, respect, decency, integrity or honour.

It's the whole "give a man a fish" scenario. Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day, teach him how to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime... Or until his back breaks or until he gets eaten by a shark.

Those kids will get spoiled, some of them will do wonderfully, others won't. That's how it's always been, regardless of where you come from and what your heritage is like. Poor kids work harder than rich kids more often than not.

You say that Natas doesn't see the difference between good and evil, right? What is good and what is evil? A person could be terminally ill and in chronic; severe pain, would you put that person out of their misery? Would you keep them alive? Which action is evil? Which action is good? What category does 'mercy' fall under?

This might not make much sense considering that the context this is in is an all girl school for unfortunate blacks. But I'm sure if you work it the right way in your mind you'll see.

More good could've been done if she helped out underpriveledged schools. Sure, she doesn't have time, effort or "enough love" to cater for '40' schools, but what about 10? Or 15? Some schools take in 1000-2000 kids and squeeze them in. 10 000 kids could've been helped too.

And yeah, yeah, yeah, it's her money from her "private funds" and no one has any right to tell her what to do. But we all have the right to judge and have our own opinions on the matter.

Some people have respect for Oprah, other people can't stand her. This country is more than happy to take in help from other countries, but can't help itself even when simply having Telkom reduce the costs of internet and telephone calls alone could help tens of thousands of kids out with their school projects and see life from a different angle.

Small things tend to mean a lot more than big things. And bleeding to help people will always be more special and gratifying and meaningful than handing over a wad of cash.

 

[chiskop]

I can't speak for the others, but for my part it is simply because that donation was possible in the first place because of the economic warfare the first world wages against the so-called developing world.

Without economic imperialism, we wouldn't really need to rely on such donations for underpriviledged kids.

Yes, yes. But Oprah is a product, rather than the cause of, the unequal balance of the world's wealth. This is a reaction against that [economic imperialism] which may be small on a global scale, although large on an individual scale.

Of all the people in the world that could afford to do something like this, Oprah is probably one of the better role models.

And bleeding to help people will always be more special and gratifying and meaningful than handing over a wad of cash.

I'm sure the girls will find the cash donation more useful than a pint of blood.

And for those who are so mortified at the thought of Oprah helping underpriviledged kids - just don't send your daughters there.