Oprah

[Emmsmom]

This is one reason that I do not like her. She recently built a school in Africa and choose to ignore the problems we have here at home. If you go to CNN.com under the latest news ... You will see a link to a video. I think it is really intresting to say the least. She says she quit going to the inner city schools because she was frustrated. She said when she asked the kids what they wanted they say they wanted things like ipods and so on. You really have to watch the video. How sad. She seems to be on a serious ego trip. SAD....

[Janet]

Okay, here goes one of those healthly debates that Rebecca was wanting....LOL

I think Oprah is a great role model and had every right to build the school for those girls in Africa. She has done a lot for kids in the United States, alot of it has been done through her Angel Network.

Why wouldn't she get frustrated. My personal opinion is most American kids do not value an education the way some other other countries do. Yes...alot do go on to higher education, but I do not think that it's because the value the education so much...it's so they get the better jobs and more money to buy all the high dollar items. Please know I'm not saying ALL kids are like that. Education is just not valued as much here.

Why not go and put money out where it is truely appreciated and for a better cause? It's similiar to why would I for instance want to give whatever money I had to some drug addcit who would just blow it away or to someone who would use it to make their life better. It's her choice too. I watched the Video and that lady was grasping for straws to make her point. It isn't Oprah's fault kids want IPods and the like. Yes she gave high dollar items away on her show, what's wrong with that. To be in a position to give away things that some just can not afford...it was her way of showing her appreciation to her audiences throughout the year and to show some of the items she really likes and enjoys.

I think Oprah is wonderful and until she does something so unChristian and against the United States..I will stand by her and my opinion of her.

Okay everyone, what do you all think about Oprah and her school?

[Emmsmom]

Yes, She has give a lot to charities.. (Maybe some I don't even know about) I just think that the way she brushed off the inner school kids was very wrong. I don't know a kid in America that doesn't want things like that. Most of those kids in Africa probably have no clue about ipods and so on. I guess I only see this one way because I simply do not like Oprah. The lady has a point I think. If Oprah wanted to promote education on her show she could. Maybe if those inner city school kids had some of the nice things that she gave to the school in Africa they would look forward to learning.

[RLC12345678]

I can relate to how Oprah feels about the inner city schools here in America. For many years, my family "sponsored" this other family in my hometown. The family consisted of a grandmother who was taking care of 5 grandchildren because the childrens' parents had run off. We bought them Thanksgiving Dinner every year, mowed their lawn, did their flowerbeds in their yard, bought them Christmas Dinner and Christmas presents for all 5 kids, ect. ect. Well, eventually it got to the point where the 5 children would no longer help us mow their lawn or help us with the flower beds and they seemed, to be quite frank, very unappreciative for everything we were doing for them. One Christmas, we walked into their house with a load of food and Christmas presents to find the children talking on brand new cell phones and watching their new Video Ipods (a luxury I can't even afford). They didn't get up to help us get things out of the car. They didn't thank us for bringing them food and presents, and it seemed that they could care less. That was the last time we did anything for that family.

I am sure Oprah feels the very same way as my family did that Christmas. Why do something for someone who doesn't appreciate it?

Oprah has SOOOOO much money...billions and billions of dollars. I really respect that she is actually doing something constructive with her money instead of sitting on it and flaunting it like MOST celebrities do. The world is a better place because of Oprah. As long as she is doing SOMETHING, I honestly could care less whether it is in Africa, the US, or Antarctica.

[rivermom]

I appreciate Oprah and all she's done. She has given plenty and truly shows a compassion for so many. She has changed the lives of so many, it's truly incredible and I have respect for her for all she does.

[Janet]

Originally Posted by Emmsmom

Yes, She has give a lot to charities.. (Maybe some I don't even know about) I just think that the way she brushed off the inner school kids was very wrong. I don't know a kid in America that doesn't want things like that. Most of those kids in Africa probably have no clue about ipods and so on. I guess I only see this one way because I simply do not like Oprah. The lady has a point I think. If Oprah wanted to promote education on her show she could. Maybe if those inner city school kids had some of the nice things that she gave to the school in Africa they would look forward to learning.

Oprah does promote education on her show for kids in our country and others. I watch her show probaby 4 out 5 days and she gives all kinds of scholarships..pays for their housing, books..everything, they don't have to put out a dime. Like you said, you probably don't see the whole picture because you simply don't like her.

[Tink]

Just a sidebar here...

Just in case anyone happened to watch the outtakes of Oprahs show today... there was a young couple on there that got engaged. Peter and colleen...
He surprised her by proposing on the show. Colleen is my niece, who just happens to work for the Oprah show. (Hubbies sisters daughter.)

They actually got married last June, but I heard they were showing the proposal again, but missed it because I was working.

Peter hadn't let on at all what he was planning to do, and only asked that a note be passed to Oprah asking for permission to do this on the show. He hadn't asked anyone beforehand, so everyone was surprised. Faith Hill had been on the show that day, and she was so moved by the proposal that she got all teary eyed over it. This has been the highlight of the past year for Gregs sister and niece. LOL

They are VERY into everything Oprah, so Peter definitely knew what he was doing when he proposed to Colleen there.

[Janet]

How exciting that would be Tink...I had it on, but had seen it before so didn't pay close attention. I wish I would have know your neice was gonna be on theire I would have at least watched that segment closer. I really would like to be in her audience at least one time.