Go smell the charity
February 21st, 2008 by A/CIt is not like me to post on Celebrities… you all know that, but this is one with a difference.
I recently had this sent to me:
Don’t know whether you heard about this, but Denzel Washington and his family visited the troops at Brook Army Medical Centre in San Antonio Texas (BAMC) the other day. This is where soldiers who have been evacuated from Germany come to be hospitalized in the States, especially burn victims. There are some buildings there called Fisher Houses. The Fisher House is a Hotel where soldiers’ families can stay, for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying on base, but as you can imagine, they are almost filled most of the time.
While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He took his cheque book out and wrote a cheque for the full amount right there on the spot. The soldiers overseas were amazed to hear this story and want to get the word out to the American public, because it warmed their hearts to hear it.
I am not sure if the whole story is true, if it is Denzel Washington was not publicity seeking, it makes you wonder though:
“why do we hear about the silly rantings and Antics of Britney, Lindsey, Paris and others, but not very often do we hear of the good things they do?”
can you think of any celebrity who would do this just because they could? and why dont we hear about it if they do?
The celebrity lifestyles comes with some responsibilty to the viewing public, perhaps if more Celebs were prepared to act with some form of self control, they might become role models we can all aspire too or is this just setting the bar to high…
We’ll probably never know if DW’s intention was borne out of publicity seeking or genuine charity. It happened though, and that’s a good thing.
However I do believe that there is a good chance there are plenty of celebs / uber rich who give charity without making a ME ME ME song and dance about it. Why do I think this, because if I was in their shoes that’s how I would do it.
But I’m with you AC, no need to know about those other cartoon characters and their nonsense out there, fame without substance, pathetic. Just seeing ‘poor old’ Britney hit the headlines p!sses me off, it is not newsworthy.
Antics sell papers…or promote shows, whatever. Face it, they wouldn’t put it on tv 24/7 if it people weren’t watching.
Would not disagree with your point of view for a second.
However, one has to question the influence of modern international media and how responsible are they for the dumbing-down of society with this mindless drivel?
Very responsible in my opinion.
G’Day David
Yes I do agree the media have immense influence on society today and shaping the next generation… as well as our own..
even if you and your family dont watch tv you still hear and see the effects … programs aimed at kids with adult type content like Home and Away and neighbours is a prime examples of this….
Ditto my comment on Arvind’s poverty post Chook. Laters!
Thanks for this one AC and news we hadn’t heard so doubtful that DW’s PR crew were involved otherwise it would have been front page glossy checkout store news, right?
He is rumoured to be a humbler man.
I like him better in movies.
There’s a new one he’s starring in with Jack Nicolson, ‘The Bucket List’. Saw the trailer, very smell-the-flowers type. Two guys living their dreams before they die. They even sky-dive, how kewl!
Hum, I just checked. It’s not him duh, it’s Morgan Freeman! But it’s ok, it’s more or less the same. I think. No?
I’ve always been a big DW fan, and hopefully it’s genuine care and he isn’t up to anything or have any other agenda for doing this.
He also does a lot of work with the Boys’ and Girls’ Club which is supposed to work with kids in the inner cities and help keep them on the straight and narrow. I don’t know if this was for publicity but good on him.
I think more celebrities do things like this under cover. I also think it comes from the ones we would least expect it to.
I had heard rumour Jillian about his undercover work with kids but hadnt been able confirm it….
Because of the lack of media coverage I like to think this is genuine act and not a stunt… perhaps a matter of conscience and sincerity instead of all the other nonsense celeb get up to….. I do think it should recive more attention but not in a tabloid way…
now am I missing something here or is this being understood completely wrong.
T
HIS IS A FACILITY FOR THE RELATIVES OF ARMY STAFF WHO ARE INJURED WHILST ON ACTIVE SERVICE DUTY. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THEM OR THEY SHOULD BE IN LOCAL MOTELS FUNDED OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS.
Sorry, I don’t see it as charity, merely a gift to people who are already doing OK, just too tight to pay for a motel when visiting their relatives.
Good Point GIC
but it wasnt so much the act DW did….. but the way he did it and the fact that we only ever hear of the temper trantrums and drug and alchohol abuse of the spoilt little brats but never good or charitible things where the PR is left out…
Kids take these brats as role models rightly or wrong perhaps a change in societies priorities and the celebrities themselves might get other things moving….
I agree about the Government bit Gareth. Not so sure that the families are too tight - it’s possible the ‘family’ will have come from Germany and need more of a ‘home’.
I guess we only know that celebs are doing ‘good’ things when we get to hear about it. Then they get accused of doing it for the publicity. I’m sure there are lots of them that are generous with their money without leaking it to the press (not that I’m saying that’s what happened here).
I am interested in what celebs get up to - I read Hello Magazine - and most of it is pure speculation on the part of the magazine as to what is true and what isn’t, so I read it with that filter on. It does provide me with an escape - and an excuse to drink coffee and eat chocolate whilst reading.