Posted on 04/22/2010 12:32:12 AM PDT by neverbluffer
In watching American Idol this evening, something struck me that I wondered if others noticed.
Tonight was charity night known as American Idol Gives Back! Obviously, the goal is to give back and help others in need.
The show started off with a message from the Obama's.
One of the featured people in need was a single mother and children, one of whom was burned by a neighborhood kid.
While they were showing pictures of this family in need of financial assistance, I could not help but notice a CELL PHONE in the child's lap and a CELL PHONE EARPIECE in his ear.
Did anyone notice this? I am all for asissting people who need help, but dont tell me that you are that poor when you have a new cell phone in your hands and bluetooth headset in your ear!
Then, another family from California was shown. The father is a teacher in California. They showed the fanily in their home which did not look like they were poverty stricken, nice fireplace, living room etc. Was not a palace, but certainly not a home of a family in poverty.
How is someone on a teacher salary in California classified as poverty?
Am I wrong here?
I’m surprised you could hang in there once O came on.
I knew it was going to be all Kumbaya once I saw them on the show...
Just another bunch of Narcissists clamoring for attention.
I knew someone was going to shake their finger at the family of five - father a teacher, and a stay-at-home mother with three kids under 8. “They live in a house! They wear clean clothes! How dare they go to a food bank!”
Nice and judgmental of you, pal. Why don’t you do an audit of their house and taxes to see if they qualify for your “needy enough” certification. The parents said it themselves; They do what they can on a teacher’s salary, but with five of them being supported, sometimes they need some help. They never claimed to be in poverty.
Would you rather they raise 3 kids in a project? A Section 8 apartment? How about if they eat beans on toast every day? How broke do they have to be before you cut them a break?
They aren’t taking any of your tax dollars. They’re working and not on welfare. If they truly believe that the dented cans and stale rolls that they get at a food bank are helping them, then I, for one, am glad to see them get it. It was given in charity and accepted in a spirit of gratitude. If you don’t want them to get a “hand-out,” then don’t give a donation.
Or better yet, do a check to see if they are what you consider to be deserving.
Perhaps you do not want to believe that a math teacher with three kids can’t afford to pay his mortgage and buy enough food to feed the all. I can.
i wonder how much US celeberities are willing to give their own money for the poor
Yes, I dont think that is the definition of needy, especially when it is broadcasted all over the country for the purpose of donations from people in bad economy.
Im sorry, but if you can afford a cell phone, you aint that poor!
If you have a teaching job, you aint that poor.
Maybe not well off, but definitely not poverty stricken.
I laughed out loud when Elton John told everyone to stop AIDS and that Queen chick asked him what can we do. He stammered around in a awkward moment and then said buy and use condoms and be sure and get checked for HIV. I kept waiting for him to say , and you men out there, quit poking other men in the back side, but I guess he didn’t think of that solution. (solution not meant as a pun) LOL
If you have a decent roof over your head and food on your table, you should not be asking for handouts.
I have three friends, married, with kids this year that lost their houses. My son has come home from work in tears this year because he knows men eating crackers and peanut butter days on end for dinner. (And yes, we give away groceries). I’ve lived in basements with drippy pipes overheads and my kids sharing all one bed, with no heat and eating macaroni everynight. And I can’t complain because I have friends that were raised with dirt floors and beans every day of their lives.
I can’t believe what is considered poverty nowadays, and what people will ask handouts for.
I’m a newbie and all but I wish people wouldn’t get so mean on these threads ! “Pal” was just pointing out that one of the kids ( under 8 !!) had a cell phone and a blue-tooth.
Now THOSE are priorities for a struggling family!
Cell phones are free to anyone on any type of public assistance. They have a 60-minute per month limit, but they are free.
If that family is the worst example of needy in this country, we are doing pretty good. It must be because they are being featured on a telethon.
[eating macaroni every night...]
You had macaroni? I had to eat the box macaroni came in.
Obamas america.
Give "BACK"?????
What and when did "American Idol" take things from people, that need to be given back?
Hmmm????
He's a fag. What do you expect?
I live in California, and teachers I know make excellent money. Then again, it's expensive to live in this state. I didn't watch the show last night, but I wonder what this teacher's situation is? Was his pay lowered for some reason? When he and his wife chose to have the three kids, I assume they thought they could support them. What happened?
Feds or states funding this? I had no idea.
Here’s one program I found:
https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/home.aspx
I’ve also seen organizations that collect old cellphones for refurbishing and donations.
Despite being down on their luck, some people still believe in dressing decently and keeping a clean house and surroundings. The “trappings” you see may have been acquired at a time when things were better financially.
It’s really easy to look at someone, think they’re doing just fine, and start pointing accusatory fingers when in fact they may be on the verge of losing everything. Assume all you want, but keep in mind that you’ll never really know the whole story about a family you see for a few minutes on a TV show.
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