This story is archived
Clarance Page: Oprah's Truth Does Not Hurt »
Posted by: stephen-johnson 2 years, 11 months agoOprah Winfrey's poke at the short-sighted materialism of some low-income students has delighted conservative commentators, but that doesn't mean she's wrong. Liberals love to "speak truth to power," but the powerless need to hear the truth, too. Knowledge, after all, is power. Don't keep it to yourself, I say. Spread it around. That
Read Full Story at realclearpolitics.com »
This Story is Archived and Commenting is Closed
Comments: 40
-
Mintyfunk
Jan. 8, 2007, 10:43 a.m.Great post Stephen! Hopefully internal criticism from individuals like Oprah and Badillo, will help create an environment within those communities that places more emphasis on learning. Knowledge is the stepping stone out of poverty for many of those youths.
-
-
jeffery1
Jan. 8, 2007, 8:04 p.m.Something is very wrong with you. Where in the living hell do you get your information from? It isn't from actually knowing anything.
The problem is not in progressivism, it is in materialism that our credit based economy requires. We are taught at an early age and at every level that all needs are solved through acquisition of the proper item, on credit if you don't have the cash.
Materialsm is not progressive or liberal, it is inherently conservative and is celebrated by the likes of Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand. It is the celebration of your right to determine your economic situation and the right of the producer to entice the consumer to acquire.
Most liberals/progressives do not abhore capitalism nor profits but predatory capitalism and unearned or unethically acquired profits. George Soros, a liberal/progressive, is a great example of how a progressive thinks about money and could tell you a thing or two about economic responsibility.
-
blksentra2
Jan. 9, 2007, 1:41 a.m.I agree with what is said.
In the younger culture, we are taught to worship money, expensive clothes, and/or expensive cars. This is a very misleading assumption that is blindly pulled over young peoples eyes.
If you pay attention to most music videos (that are either Rap or R & B) you will know what I'm talking about.
I hate to say it, but Oprah is right on that one. African-American, and other minority children are very misled on the core values. They should be taught by their parents that education is the most important thing they can possess. Once you learn something, NO ONE can take that knowledge away from you!
-
-
SusanParrish
Jan. 8, 2007, 11:04 a.m.Wow, that is an amazing article! I hope everyone takes a minute to read it. I agree with the author, Americans do undervalue the importance of education, kids see it as something to interrupt their ability to have fun, rather than as the path to their future. It is hard to become a success without an education, and not everyone is cut out to be an actor!
-
amazed
Jan. 8, 2007, 2:36 p.m.We need more of this type of dialog if we are to end the racial tensions in this country. ANYONE of any race who doesn't finish school, or having finished school, didn't bother to take the time to get an education while they were there is bound to be rather unsuccessful in life. When applied to poor white folk, this is understood. When proferred as a possible part of the problem of the large minority underclass, the reply, more often than not is that the one making this observation is a racist.
It's so sad and we're not doing anyone -- the ones stuck in poverty or the rest of society that has to deal with the underachieving -- a service to pretend that functional illiteracy is not largely at the roots of their problems.
If this counts as "blame the victim", oh well...if the shoe fits...
-
Tango57
Jan. 8, 2007, 10:33 p.m.It's not science when kid's see what we value as a society, entertainment. That's where the big money is. It will always be that way, unless we at some point de-value entertainment, music, sports etc..
With youtube and myspace I don't see that changing any time soon. Do you?
-
-
Eagle_Eye
Jan. 8, 2007, 3:08 p.m.Our kids don't know anything except that which they are taught "by parents, peers, teachers and other role models. "
Now that is hitting the nail on the head!!! Todays youth is so materialistic, but we have to blame the role models they have today as much. Also I see parents today just caving into their kids wants with out much responsibility.
There are good parents and kids out there, unfortunatly not as many as we need for the nation to continue to be number 1. China will soon over take us and education is one of the reasons.
-
vidman04
Jan. 8, 2007, 4:36 p.m.Great post! If we could just get rappers and other people of influence to say these things (education is good, parents need to get involved), instead of the trash they spout, maybe the kids would finally "get it". We can only hope some good will come of this.
-
LABELDUDE
Jan. 8, 2007, 5:26 p.m.UH, just a sec here. "...The controversy will help him sell a few more books, too. Puerto Ricans certainly are not the only Americans who need to read it." Did he say, "read it"? This "book" needs to be in POP-UP form; pictures and a lot of three letter words. Better yet, how 'bout a video game or some jive rapper yellin about a MoFo edication.
Actually Opra Windfree has a good idea just the wrong continent. Why not pick some extremely promising kids out of South Central or, God Save Us, some Hillbillie kids (don't know if it's even legal to help them) and reward them at a young age with the education those Africans are going to get. The reward has to be as close to the desired behavior as you can get it.
-
RedstateLib
Jan. 8, 2007, 8:28 p.m.She said in an interview that she plans to in this country and others. She started there because she already is doing so much in this country and has so many causes here. She wants to spread it around a little.
-
-
guud
Jan. 8, 2007, 5:54 p.m.In America materialism rules! Ever watch Oprah's giveaways? Kids are saturated with acquiring "THE" new thingy. Oprah and her ilk expect all poor people to be hyper-exceptional. Most people, of any ethnic group, are just about average. A small percentage will be exceptional and some below average. Your Oprah-Cosby-ites presuppose that the majority of needy people are well above-average in intelligence, drive and perseverance. If so, I too would expect all poor people to pull themselves up from the tentacles of racism, indifference, poor education (preparation), below average parents and intolerable neighborhoods and environments.
-
guud
Jan. 8, 2007, 5:54 p.m.The average person is not exceptional, and that is not a cause to denounce them! Exceptional means just that - rare, and above the norm. Any underprivileged person who, despite the negative factors that bathe their lives, rises above to prevail should be commended, rewarded and given opportunities. But those who wallow in their miserable condition, without the foresight or means to elevate their lives, should not be summarily dismissed by the wreck less words from the mouths of so-called celebrities.
-
spectrum
Jan. 8, 2007, 6:11 p.m.thanks guud, I don't believe I have ever heard it put so well. Only the exceptional poor are ever addressed. The average or below are not considered, only the super achievers. It takes all levels of ability to create an average. All children need attention. I think you hit the nail for sure. but what sells papers? Oprah is a tv show. The mundane dosen't pay.
-
-
royal-m
Jan. 8, 2007, 6:36 p.m.DavidHalko...the porblem isn't the existance of profit or competition, its the idea that this is the goal, and that it entitles someone to be political and socially powerful as well. Kids learn what they see from adults who value these things over all else.
the idea that the only goal is to weed out the less than genius and not to teach everyone how to suceed to some degree is a problem. Profit without accomplishment is empty, fun to be sure but not very special or noteworthy....I think establishing a school anywhere is great, but educating more people in modest surroundings is a superior goal to educating the next generations of Ivy league anything, as is changing attitudes among these children, so called materialistic kids
-
RedstateLib
Jan. 8, 2007, 8:32 p.m.Lets not kid ourselves this issue of materialism is not simply a poor issue. If you do not believe that young people from more affluent families lord there material advantages over those with less you are kidding yourselves. That comes from parents teaching their kids that those who have are better than those who have not.
-
RASSRASS
Jan. 8, 2007, 9:12 p.m.I agree with that last comment about providing students with an education they can have respect for. It's really easy for people to sit on their high horses, and spit blame at the people down in the trenches - it's their fault they are down there. Fact is we don't have a choice in the circumstances/values were are born into; if we did I believe we would all elected to be wealthy and morally upstanding individuals. Unfortunately, many people get quagmired into a never ending cycle of poverty. If I am working 2 jobs and still barely affording to make ends meet, does it mean I don't value education if I am too tired to help my child with homework. Quite frankly, I believe children should be able to do their homework without the assistance of parents. Matter of fact there has never been a time in my teaching career when I actually wanted parents to help with the homework I assign. Have teachers called poor parents who indicated that they don't care about their children's education?
-
LiberalsSmell
Jan. 8, 2007, 10:36 p.m."Oprah Winfrey's poke at the short-sighted materialism of some low-income students has delighted conservative commentators, but that doesn't mean she's wrong."
-Because we all know that conservative commentators are inherently wrong the rest of the time, right? Even when they try to be fair, they're condescending. Subconcious or subliminal, the media bias continues...
-
bill-smith
Jan. 8, 2007, 10:55 p.m.Great article and some really good points being made.
Do we as a society value our material possessions? Yes. I don't believe that is even a debateable point. Do we value our "stuff" more than our educations? Unfortunatly, I have to answer in the affirmative here also. Is that true of all people? No, of course not - especially here, we're reading and writing after all! lol.
The problem isn't that parents don't help there children with homework - maybe they should, maybe they shouldn't, it's a moot point. The problem is that too many parents don't care if their children are doing their homework, or their classwork, or anything. Too many parents show through their lack of involvement that education is not important. It is all too common for parents not to be involved. This lack of involement is precieved by some students as a lack of caring about them and their education.
I believe, or maybe I should say this is what I understand the point of the article to be.
-
NelsonR
Jan. 8, 2007, 11:03 p.m.Rush Limbaugh, is he still around? I thought I saw him at an illegal pharmacy. Reminds me of the recent comment directed at another individual, "Moral Authority".
Kudo's to Oprah for having her money work for those that need it most. It's her money, allow her to spend her money, which brings a smile to her face. Again, Kudo's Oprah.
For all those American in the top 10% of income, take note of this story. I do not think you can take money with you when you, go up, or down, there! (Heaven or Hell).
-
stephen-johnson
Jan. 8, 2007, 11:52 p.m.I'm surprised that I didn't get busted for spelling "Clarance" Page's name wrong. ;-)
-
jerryskid1
Jan. 9, 2007, 12:44 a.m.I'm tired of student's who don't have the basics like a pencil and a notebook, BUT have a razor cell phone, ipod, psp, etc.... Don't blame the students, blame the parents.
-
Bluevirage
Jan. 9, 2007, 2:29 a.m.When Oprah came to Baltimore, she refused to donate any money to the schools here. She said it would be like using it for toilet paper.
Has it ever occured to this woman or others to actually step in and try and change the educational system within the school systems?
Or to try and get the students who want to excell or learn out of bad classroom environments?
I say this because while I attended local schools I had only a few teachers who cared. A lot of them did not and let the classroom be chaotic when all I wanted was to be left alone to learn something.
The American school system in too many areas is broken. And the way classes are handled by some teachers is a joke. If we want real change, if we want students to learn, stop pointing out the problems without offering solutions.
Offer solutions while pointing out the problems. Otherwise stories like this do nothing to help people. And no I do not have any solutions other than what has been said before by other people.
-
unorthodoxic
Jan. 9, 2007, 10:03 a.m.Here is a solution. Start with a rebuttable presumption that in a controversey between a teacher and a student, the teacher is right. That would be a tremendous first step. When a student doesn't come to school with a written excuse, realize that it is the child who erred, not the teacher who "didn't motivate" that student. Recognize that students need to get a good night's sleep, eat something more nutritious than fast food, and spend less time with ipods, e games, and tv. Actually discuss some of the CONTENT of the child's schoolwork. Learning can be interesting if you give it a chance. If the child sees that the parents are interested in a school subject, it will take on value. Encourage civil language in the home, it will carry over. Encourage true self esteem based upon achievement, not entitlement. And finally, teach children that it is not what others think or do, but how they respect themselves and others that will determine their future.
-
-
Justice4All
Jan. 9, 2007, 5 a.m.What about Cosbys more recent comments where he said "white people still want to own us as slaves".
He started off doing a good thing, but caved in to the criticism and ended up lashing out at white people for black peoples problems.
-
MarshAngel
Jan. 9, 2007, 7:53 a.m.It seems to me is that the problem is that education is free and predetermined by location which adds to the problem. How can you teach a culture which values the expensive but useless to value something free and valuable that is treated cheaply?
If you want a better education system, apply the same capitalistic methods to it that work in other fields to bring in the best and brightest to learn and to teach. Let the money talk. Let schools and students compete for better students and teachers and the money that goes with each student... maybe then Americans won't take it for granted.
All over the world people in poorer schools get better educations simply because they want it more and they know they're at school to be educated not to socialize. Get that concept through to American children and you won't keep throwing money at a system that is made faulty by the people in it and less so by the facilities.
-
spkguy
Jan. 9, 2007, 9:48 a.m.Why does the truth hurt? Its her money she earned it. If she feels her money will have a greater impact by building and funding a school in South Africa, it is her right to do so, period! She has done more shows on education, than any other talk show on television, period. The truth is every one of those children that will attend her school knows the value of what they have been given. They will be future leaders of that society, and help to uplift a very poor part of the world.
Why is that a bad thing? The fact that she recognized that her money would have more value to humanity if applied in South Africa, is not a bad thing, its the truth!
-
jumpmaster
Jan. 9, 2007, 9:53 a.m.I applaud Oprah for building that school in Africa. She earned the money. It is her money and she can do whatever she wants with it.
She has travelled all over the world and made an evaluation that Africa was the best place to invest in this type of school.
All you coulda, shoulda, woulda types, you can make a difference in your own communities. Don't criticize Oprah for setting a goal and working her whole life to achieve it. Set your own goals and work towards them.
-
doggirl
Jan. 9, 2007, 9:56 a.m.Oprah again makes me sick. Why should she have any say about a poor kid wanting an Ipod? She is the QUEEN of self indulgement and violates the Fairness Doctrine on a daily basis. She buys the book rights, then makes a ******ty movie out of the story and then goes on to discuss it ad nauseum on her tv show. Can we please have another opinion besides Oprah's...give me a break, puh-leez!
-
jumpmaster
Jan. 9, 2007, 10:04 a.m.Oprah wasn't always a gozillionaire. She is just pursuing options that her earned wealth now affords her.
Besides,
Haven't you heard the old saying "Give a kid an ipod and he raps for a day. Teach a kid how to earn a living and he will rap for a lifetime"
The first 34 comments are shown. Show all 40 comments »
Submit a Story
Advertisement
