So caller number 1 calls in and starts talking and to my surprise he is AGAINST the relief effort for Haiti. He begins to state and i quote "Why are we helping out others when we have our own problems to take care of ... why do these celebrities suddenly start giving money to Haiti when we're still in a recession." First thought that came to my mind was 'what a douche bag'. In a way I do agree with him in terms that where were the celebrities to help out the common people when this recession started? Forbe's list the top 100 celebrities who earn the most and the current top ten are:
1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Tiger Woods
3. Mel Gibson
4. George Lucas
5. Shaquille O'neal
6. Steven Spielberg
7. Johnny Depp
8. Madonna
9. Elton John
10. Tom Cruise
These people make damn good money and when the crap hit the fan, they were nowhere to be seen. Oprah and Tiger alone make BILLIONS every year and yet they can't seem to spare one cent to help put struggling normal blue and white collar workers. Oprah is for sure a person who gives and gives a lot but for the amount she makes, she can give a lot more. She can single handedly put hundreds if not thousands of kids through college, probably save tons of small business from going bankrupt and save hundreds of homes from getting foreclosed. Maybe not all at once but she is capable. So in that sense I agree with caller number 1... HOWEVER, is this guy out of his freaking mind? The United States has a lot of problems, we all know it either from the news, radio, papers or obnoxious people like caller 1 but is it really more important than the devastation of Haiti? The guy went on to talk about how millions have lost their jobs and what not but millions have DIED in Haiti. People's home may be getting seized by the banks here in the U.S. but they are completely gone in Haiti and took human lives along with it! Yes it is unfortunate for so many people in the U.S. to be struggling but it has only been a few years. People in Haiti have been struggling their entire life. I've read stories of CEOs who went from making $200k to $20k a year. Yes it's sad but people in Haiti will never even see $20k in their life time. They'll be lucky if they can get $2k a year. I seriously do NOT get how selfish people can be and when in a crisis they can only think of themselves. Here's a little food for thought:
1. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more fortunate than the one million people who will not survive this week.
2. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.
3. If you can attend a church or political meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, then you are more blessed than three billion in the world.
4. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in your pocket, then you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
2. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.
3. If you can attend a church or political meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, then you are more blessed than three billion in the world.
4. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in your pocket, then you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
How about them apples eh? TOP 8% of the world's richest if you have a bank account, some bills in the wallet and some change lying around. Saying that the U.S. needs help first is the most selfish thing someone can say in this day and age. That's like telling your friend who's dying of a gun shot wound that you cannot take him to the hospital to save his life because you need to go to walgreens for some cough drops. At one point he did say we need to help education and thats for damn sure when people like him are around. We need better education so people like him don't exist!
Then there was caller number 2. This guy agreed with caller number as well and decided to throw in more ignorant things to say such as, and i quote "What did the Haitians ever do for us, all we got from them was Wyclef." I have to admit that was pretty funny. Defintely made me chuckle but still it's like what can you honestly expect from a 3rd world country. Do you really expect a country with a corrupt government and where the average worker gets about $200 a year come to New Orleans and help them out? That's like asking a small business owner to go and bail out a bank.
All I have to say is that if there is anyone out there who thinks helping dying people is not as important as making sure you can afford a steak dinner now and then is pretty freaking selfish and I high suggest that you take a long walk off a short pier.
