A hilarious satirical video that makes a statement about the advocation of sustainability and being eco-friendly in a world full of war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvz_xzaMvCQ
April 19, 2011
April 06, 2011
Secret Millionaire Reaction
Secret millionaire has a lot of positives and negatives. Firstly, I will start with the positives about the show. It is amazing that money is being distributed to the less fortunate and that millionaires are able to see have difficult it is for people living in some of the worst cities in America. I also think the episode we watched was very inspirational because of the millionaire’s individual story. The fact that he graduated college and took all he had in his account, which was only $1000.00 and was able to build an empire shows that any one can make it. The show on another note was entertaining and may be something I continue to watch.
On a critically level the this show has made it seem that giving to charity or the less fortunate isn’t something we should do on a regular basis, especially if you are a millionaire. It made me think if the millionaires are just doing it because they are on TV or do they really donate to charity on a regular. It is nice that they donate, but I wonder why the donation couldn’t be larger, these cities and programs defiantly can use more. By capping the amount to donate it makes it seem like it is just a reality show, which it is, instead of the bigger inspirational message of how important it is to help others. Although the donation is amazing, volunteers is truly what these programs need. The fact that the millionaires are there for such short amount a time isn’t good either. I feel that the millionaires didn’t truly get a chance to feel how it is to be poor. What also crossed my mine is the reason why these millionaires are deciding to give money, it is so they can be on TV or are they doing it from the kindness of there heart. Another concern I have is that how do the people feel about this person posing as someone living in poverty and they really turning out to be a millionaire. The millionaires are giving a welfare salary, which millions depend on a daily basis, then goes to volunteer and pose as someone in the community who really cares, but in all actuality has nom idea how hard life really is for them. I don’t understand really why donating to charity needs to publicized. It is not something so amazing, it is what people should do on a regular. The millionaire is looked at as some type of savior or hero to the world just because he decided to give back to the community.
April 05, 2011
Secret Millionaire Reaction
After reading a bit more about Secret Millionaire, I was surprised to see how widely criticized the premise of the show was. Many bloggers and respected media companies (CNN) have commented on the twisted nature of the show, or at least use it as a jump-off for speaking about wealth distribution inequality.
I wonder why the millionaire’s wealth must remain undisclosed to the charities that he is helping until the end of the show. Obviously part of it is for dramatic irony; for this show to make it into a coveted Sunday night time slot, it has to be able to stir up some emotion in its audience. But also, are the producers of the show questioning the altruism of these charitable organizations and those who run them? Secret Millionaire seems to be implying that if the charitable organizations were to know about the wealth of the millionaire and/or the premise of the show, they would behave differently throughout. Does Secret Millionaire suspect that the representatives of the charities would inflate their operating costs or make this short-term volunteer extra-aware of how much their budget has been recently cut? Does Secret Millionaire suspect that the representatives of the charities would try to overplay the importance of their organizations do get a bigger chunk of cash than the other local charities that they are all of the sudden in a competition with? Not only is this offensive, but also I think that the organizations doing the most good are more in need of volunteers, enthusiasm and support than a one-time donation. I’m beginning to see why there are accusations being made toward Secret Millionaire.
In class we said that Secret Millionaire sends an unhealthy message to America: “help others and as a reward, maybe, Secret Millionaire will come to your City.” This reminds me of a point made during the debate concerning Turkey’s accession into the European Union. We were speaking about Turkey acting as a nearly neutral bridge to the Middle East, and its role as a role model to Middle Eastern countries without successful democracies. If Turkey becomes part of the European Union, we may send the unhealthy message that maintaining a successful democracy will be rewarded with accession into the EU is equated with being Western and not Middle Eastern. Likewise, struggling charitable organizations that survive on people who want to “have a stake” and the “stakeless” people that they help should not be shown examples of divine millionaires descending from the heavens of Billionaire Boulevard down to the slums of 8-mile road to give seemingly generous gifts. If anything, America’s “stakeless” masses need to be shown examples of charities that are driven by passionate people and make real differences. For the sake of authenticity, these examples should struggle financially and be in desperate need of volunteers. It should be made clear that these operations struggle a direct result of millions of people being unaware of the serious poverty issues that plagues the United States (and everywhere else).
We shouldn’t be so quick to blame the millionaires for taking part in the show, because at first glance it seems like a good thing to be a part of. A wealthy hedge fund manager has been wanting to address the problems of wealth inequality that he is contributing to but doesn’t know how. He hears about a show where he is given a chance to give back in an exciting hands-on way. A man of his background wouldn’t think to analyze the situation anymore and kindly signs up. How unfortunate it is that the people who make the most money are in business and other fields of direct economic practicality— fields whose training and practice require no real contemplation of mortality, morality, the human condition, philosophy, and the social problems of the world. I do think we can a little bit more safely bemoan the heartlessness of the shows producers, though.
It would be misleading of my feelings about the show to only speak of its negative impacts in this reaction. There is something to be said about the effects of those warm and fuzzy feelings that we were resisting in class. Many people are as ignorant to the more secondary effects of the show as the aforementioned businessman and after watching, they experience nothing but a genuine feeling that they also want to help out.
I wonder why the millionaire’s wealth must remain undisclosed to the charities that he is helping until the end of the show. Obviously part of it is for dramatic irony; for this show to make it into a coveted Sunday night time slot, it has to be able to stir up some emotion in its audience. But also, are the producers of the show questioning the altruism of these charitable organizations and those who run them? Secret Millionaire seems to be implying that if the charitable organizations were to know about the wealth of the millionaire and/or the premise of the show, they would behave differently throughout. Does Secret Millionaire suspect that the representatives of the charities would inflate their operating costs or make this short-term volunteer extra-aware of how much their budget has been recently cut? Does Secret Millionaire suspect that the representatives of the charities would try to overplay the importance of their organizations do get a bigger chunk of cash than the other local charities that they are all of the sudden in a competition with? Not only is this offensive, but also I think that the organizations doing the most good are more in need of volunteers, enthusiasm and support than a one-time donation. I’m beginning to see why there are accusations being made toward Secret Millionaire.
In class we said that Secret Millionaire sends an unhealthy message to America: “help others and as a reward, maybe, Secret Millionaire will come to your City.” This reminds me of a point made during the debate concerning Turkey’s accession into the European Union. We were speaking about Turkey acting as a nearly neutral bridge to the Middle East, and its role as a role model to Middle Eastern countries without successful democracies. If Turkey becomes part of the European Union, we may send the unhealthy message that maintaining a successful democracy will be rewarded with accession into the EU is equated with being Western and not Middle Eastern. Likewise, struggling charitable organizations that survive on people who want to “have a stake” and the “stakeless” people that they help should not be shown examples of divine millionaires descending from the heavens of Billionaire Boulevard down to the slums of 8-mile road to give seemingly generous gifts. If anything, America’s “stakeless” masses need to be shown examples of charities that are driven by passionate people and make real differences. For the sake of authenticity, these examples should struggle financially and be in desperate need of volunteers. It should be made clear that these operations struggle a direct result of millions of people being unaware of the serious poverty issues that plagues the United States (and everywhere else).
We shouldn’t be so quick to blame the millionaires for taking part in the show, because at first glance it seems like a good thing to be a part of. A wealthy hedge fund manager has been wanting to address the problems of wealth inequality that he is contributing to but doesn’t know how. He hears about a show where he is given a chance to give back in an exciting hands-on way. A man of his background wouldn’t think to analyze the situation anymore and kindly signs up. How unfortunate it is that the people who make the most money are in business and other fields of direct economic practicality— fields whose training and practice require no real contemplation of mortality, morality, the human condition, philosophy, and the social problems of the world. I do think we can a little bit more safely bemoan the heartlessness of the shows producers, though.
It would be misleading of my feelings about the show to only speak of its negative impacts in this reaction. There is something to be said about the effects of those warm and fuzzy feelings that we were resisting in class. Many people are as ignorant to the more secondary effects of the show as the aforementioned businessman and after watching, they experience nothing but a genuine feeling that they also want to help out.
Bill Maher on Secret Millionaire
Watch Bill Maher speak about Secret Millionaire
I don't know where I stand on Bill Maher, but he's certainly entertaining. Note that his net worth is an estimated $23 million. Is this part of the unholy %1 that he speaks about?
I don't know where I stand on Bill Maher, but he's certainly entertaining. Note that his net worth is an estimated $23 million. Is this part of the unholy %1 that he speaks about?
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