American Idol Gives Back

[bev]

American Idol Gives Back.
I don't know how many of you watched American idol this past week, I did, and it was really sad to see how many hungry children there are in this world. Not just in Africa but in the United States also.
One story showed a 12 year old boy (from Africa) whose parents had died, and he was left to raise his little sister, they had to live in a one room shack and had very little to eat. he started to cry when being interviewed as you could imagine, he was I am sure overwhelmed with the responsiblity that he had to take on at such a very young age.
I had tears in my eyes many time those two nights, because this is 2007 and nobody should be going hungry and dying of deseases that a dollar would take care of.
So when you look at your cupboards (I know mine are full) and you tuck your child in at night with a full tummy and they have you to keep them safe and healthy, remember no matter what problems you think that you may have, it's nothing compared to what these poor people have to go through everyday of their life.
I know that I thought about how lucky myself and my whole family are and that any problem I think that I may have is nothing
compared to that 12 year old boy and his little sister and thousands just like them.
So maybe the next time that there is a food drive in your city think of all the hungry people out there and fill up a bag or two. I know that I sure will.

[PogsKlinc]

I wish that they would've just donated to stuff like this without putting a whole show on TV about how generous they are. It was kind of annoying if you ask me.

[Casper]

Very nice what you said, Bev.


I'd like to see a follow-up ... a documentation about what they did with all the money.

[bev]

pogsklinc said:

I wish that they would've just donated to stuff like this without putting a whole show on TV about how generous they are. It was kind of annoying if you ask me.

Pogs, they put it on TV. so that millions of people would donate to a good cause and that people all over the world would see that in this the year 2007 that people are starving and dying of Malaria and Aids, without shows like these I don't think the word would get out to people that need to hear it. It was not unlike the Jerry Lewis telethon that brings in million's of dollars for MS.
It wasn't just the people from American Idol that donated their time and money to the cause, it's people all over the world that can help.
I hope this makes it clearer to you as to why they did what they did

[bev]

casper said:

Very nice what you said, Bev.


I'd like to see a follow-up ... a documentation about what they did with all the money.

Thank you Casper, Yes I hope that they will show in the future what the money has done to help.

[PogsKlinc]

casper said:

I'd like to see a follow-up ... a documentation about what they did with all the money.

I just want to see how much Simon donated.

[Steve]

I understand what you're saying Bev...but I also agree with Pogsklinc that the whole idea seems like they're trying to make it like they're oh so nice and helpful. If people can't realize by now that this kind of stuff is happening in the world, then no offense, but that says ALOT about the closed-mindedness of this country. Watching unbiased news or even looking on the internet you can easily find out about stuff going on around the world. It's funny how a show that promotes commercialism so much like AI does gets so much credit for doing something like this, when it IS great of them to do it, it seems kind of self-appreciating instead of the hundreds of other organizations that there are doing this kind of stuff and not advertising huge TV specials about it.

[bev]

Steve, I agree with you and Pogs to a point. But , why not American Idol doing the show, there are millions of people that watch the show, which is why I am sure that they were asked to do it, it wasn't their idea.
I absolutely agree that people should be aware of the worlds problems, but I also think that a reminder once in awhile never hurts. I give to St. Jude's a couple of times a year, but I know that because they send me a reminder that I am more likely to help out. and they also have specials on TV. once in awhile, and when I see those kids that are going through so much, it makes me want to open the check book more often. It's a sad thing that sometimes we have to be reminded about the poor and the sick on a TV. special, but it works or they wouldn't have to do it, and you're so right about a lot of organization out there doing their part, thank God for them.
I wasn't trying to give American Idol a gold star, I have just been on this earth for a whole lot of years and it breaks my heart to know how so many children are sick are still going hungry and just wanted to remind all of us that are not, what very lucky people we are. That's all.

[sorrycharlie]

spaceman15426 said:

I understand what you're saying Bev...but I also agree with Pogsklinc that the whole idea seems like they're trying to make it like they're oh so nice and helpful. If people can't realize by now that this kind of stuff is happening in the world, then no offense, but that says ALOT about the closed-mindedness of this country. Watching unbiased news or even looking on the internet you can easily find out about stuff going on around the world. It's funny how a show that promotes commercialism so much like AI does gets so much credit for doing something like this, when it IS great of them to do it, it seems kind of self-appreciating instead of the hundreds of other organizations that there are doing this kind of stuff and not advertising huge TV specials about it.

I think that no matter who or which organization does an event like this, people are gonna think that they're doing it to get self-recognition and glory. And that's fine. That should be a question people ask. The important thing is that they do it anyway, no matter what people say about it, and that we realize that a lot of good is coming out of it and we can't really know the hearts of those who participated. It's great that there are a lot of private organizations out there doing this kind of thing every day, but they don't exactly have the kind of money it takes to get the kind of exposure that an avenue such as American Idol could give.

Another thing to remember is that much of the viewership of American Idol is preteens and teens who are possibly hearing about these issues for the first time. After six years, it's about time American Idol did this. It's one of the BEST ways to raise awareness about poverty and suffering around the world, as it's one of the most watched, if not THE most watched television program.

[bev]

Couldn't have said it better myself sorrycharlie, and they did raise 70 million dollars, and that will help a whole lot of people.