Rosie O'Donnell ...........

[Stinky The Clown]

..... has given in excess of fifty million dollars to teach musical theater to NYC 5th graders. The stars of that program go for free to her after school program in a school she built to further their skills.

(some show on CBS right now ..... Sunday Morning?)

Earlier they profiled Norman Lear. Yeah..... he deserves to wear that white hat he always wears.




Limousine liberals ...... some of them would do what they do even if they were dirt poor.

[Lorien]

1. ....

:thumbsup:

[11 Bravo]

2. Yeah, but O'Reilly gives "some" of the profits from the sale of Factor gear to charity.

Of course, trying to pin that greasy mother-fucker down as to what "some" entails is impossible. (I'm guessing a nickel per $1000 of the net he gets on his bullshit T-shirts, mugs, and remainder bin scribblings.)

[rustydog]

36. The Charity is: Bill O'Reilly sexual harassment defense fund

[ProfessorGAC]

93. I Think You're Being Generous

My guess is a penny per thousand dollars. Or nothing, since we shouldn't believe a word that liar says.
GAC

[NewJeffCT]

3. Great job Rosie

$50 million is a huge investment

[Captain Hilts]

4. O'Donnell IS a humanitarian. nt

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. She has also spent a lot of time and money

supporting wounded vets. While EH is still on "The View" spouting her shit, Rosie always was much more supportive of the military than Littlebit ever was. Rosie never made a big deal out of any of her giving. Supposedly, she gives a huge amount to various causes besides what is known. I believe it.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. In the profile on teevee today, she said she told her money person "If I am ever on the Forbes .....

...... Richest People" list, you're fired.

[Lex]

29. I think she's a good person.

Sometimes (perhaps because she is loud overweight lesbian?) she really presses the wrong button with some people--she's been torn apart here at DU before. And while I've never agreed with her on every topic 100% of the time, she seems like she is a genuinely good person.

[stillrockin]

32. I'm sure she would be humbled by your approval.

:sarcasm:

[Lex]

33. I'm sure that means something to you.

??????

[JerseygirlCT]

38. Oh, she's got a big mouth, and often fires off before her brain is

engaged. But I think she's also got a big heart.

[winyanstaz]

109. and doesn't it just piss you off how often she is absolutely RIGHT?

Myself, I admire the lady.
She has more bravery than most of the people in American showbiz..at least she stood up and spoke out when it was not so safe to do so.
She even lost her job over it.
But she was still RIGHT! You go lady!!
I think she should have her own show again..at least there would be more than just the usual pc garbage and dribble that most of the talking heads put out there.

[malaise]

90. Very cool

Rosie rocks

[bigbrother05]

8. Big supporter of the Center for the Intrepid

State-of-the-art facility for wounded (amputee) soldiers at Brooke Army Med Ctr. $50M facility entirely privately funded and donated to the government. Think Rosie personally gave $400K as well as her time.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123038584

[zanne]

87. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again...

I just love your "meh" cat.

[CherokeeDem]

7. Rosie is amazing...

There is a program in Miami that helps girls who have been in abusive homes, they have a shelter where they bring the girls to live in safety and get the help they need (sorry, can't remember the name of the program) but a friend of mine from my days living in Miami has been volunteering there. She said that Rosie was invited to visit and she came one afternoon on her motor scooter. One of the girls that had just arrived did not have shoes, had come with none of her things. She was a teenager and had the same shoe size as Rosie; Rosie drove home barefoot, the girl was wearing a new pair of shoes. Rosie is a true compassionate.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

9. Some folks have a real zest for life

Rosie would be one of them.

K&R

[Taitertots]

10. Musical Theater....

We can dance our way out of the depression now. Why not get their basic skills up to world class levels before we waste money on musical theater. "We can't add but we sure can dance". Why not spend 50 million to make sure they have basic health coverage or jobs for their parents?

[ejpoeta]

11. things like music and sports help kids in all other areas. Schools have dropped them as

unnecessary, but kids who are in music and sports tend to do better in the basics. don't remember what study that was... but it does. I understand what you are saying, but programs like this can help kids in other areas as well. You don't know that she doesn't also try to work towards getting these kids healthcare and other things besides this.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. You clearly have no idea what you're talking about

But that's okay. You're entitled to live your life and to believe any way you wish.

Here's a small, tiny clue to but one aspect of this complex issue: "self esteem"

Here's another suggestion on you might use the google to learn: "self actualization"

Here's a third, just because three is a more stable number than two: "self awareness"

Peace.

[Taitertots]

23. Neither do you

What is going to help them more:
Temporary dance classes that only a fraction get to continue to pursue, while the rest continue in poverty. A publicity stunt.

Or

Stable homes with health care, one worker households with time to care for and love their children, and the belief that a better future is possible.

[alarimer]

51. It's an after-school program. Would you rather they watch TV?

Or get into the kind of trouble unsupervised kids usually get into?

[Taitertots]

57. Those are not the only options and you know it

When you can ask an honest question you will get an answer.

Just off the top of my head. Spend 50 million dollars to offer free college for several thousand youths. Start a company pay the workers an honest share with benefits and turn its control over to the workers.

[Garbo 2004]

60. Or start a foundation providing grants for early childhood education, health, etc...

Looks like she has: http://www.forallkids.org/

[Toasterlad]

86. It's Her Fucking Money. She Can Do Whatever She Likes With It.

When YOU decide to give $50 million to some charity, YOU can pick it then.

[LostinVA]

72. oh brother -- get off that cross, I need teh wood for my fireplace

[badgerpup]

83. Some parents...

...(and I'm talking about stable homes, with loved, wanted, well-behaved kids) have told me that their kids' self-confidence...as well as their grades, attitude, and general outlook on life... really improved after taking dancing/music/gymnastics/self defense.

Even the lucky ones can be shy, doubt themselves, or go through agonies comparing themselves to siblings, the most popular kid in school, or the latest airbrushed and photoshopped face/body on the cover of make people feel inadequate so we can sell more makeup/clothes/diets/make-you-think-you-have-erectile-dysfunction stuff popular magazines.
How many parents have heard the cry "I'll never be as good as _______!" ? :banghead:

Another benefit of the physical stuff is that it's especially good for the girls...gives them a good start on the strong bone structure that will benefit them as adults. Improved coordination rarely hurts, either.

They will...only way I know how to put it is that they will wear their bodies more comfortably.

[mopinko]

96. a hell of a lot of people in this country make a good living in the arts.

ever hear the expression- do what you love. the money will follow.
slightly trite, but for many, many lucky people, it is true. the arts are a huge part of our economy.

[ruggerson]

24. ...

:thumbsup:

[blue_onyx]

13. I think the show said 50 million to charity

not only to performing arts. She donated 1 million after 9/11, for example.

Providing an outlet for low income children to perform is important to Rosie. For some kids, it's an opportunity they wouldn't get otherwise. I think what Rosie is doing is great.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[Stinky The Clown]

25. You're really an angry person, aren't you?

As I said before ......

Peace

[Taitertots]

26. No I want the poor people to be

Fed, housed, medically cared for, and allowed the dignity all people deserve. Not pandered to by a hollywood millionaire who wants to throw money at a wasteful pet project for PR.

Peace

[Stinky The Clown]

28. Oh. Okay. That make sense.

:eyes:

[Taitertots]

30. Once the poor are no longer impoverished

We can decide how best to secure musical theater opportunities.

[Lex]

31. Yes, let's turn down all other opportunties for help until there are no more poor people first.

Genius plan, that one.

[Taitertots]

34. What opportunity?

At best a tiny fraction will go to advanced musical theater training, and at best a fraction of those will get good paying jobs in the field.

Why not do something that will matter?

[Lex]

35. So you measure the impact on kids by whether they get a job in musical theater

as an adult?

[Taitertots]

41. How about the impact now

They are still not going to have health care.
Their parents are still not going to jobs.
The schools are going to continue to lose money and cut programs.

[Lex]

46. You were the one complaining about their lack of musical theater jobs

in the future, not I.

[Taitertots]

47. I'm complaining about more than that

I'm complaining that it is a meaningless gesture.

It is not helping lift them from poverty.
It is not going to help them avoid future poverty.

[Lex]

53. Eh, nevermind.

not worth it

[Stinky The Clown]

61. No shit .....

.... not worth it at all.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[mitchtv]

77. whata waste to hear you kvetching about

someone doing something the schools should do. The same argument could be used on sports programs. Certainly not meaningless to the kids. Discipline and training are a good thing, and yes it will help with scholarships. Your arguments are shallow and mean.

[ProfessorGAC]

94. A Narrow Vision

No more explanation is necessary. Well, not for those of us with a broader perspective.
GAC

[spooky3]

42. How much time and money have you given to help the poor?

[Taitertots]

44. I am the poor n/t

[RetroLounge]

62. especially in intellect.

:eyes:

RL

[Hekate]

68. Taitertots, did you have any "enrichment" programs in your public school?There are lifetime benefits

... PROVEN lifetime benefits for kids who have classes in band, choir, art, and theater. They learn to exercise different parts of their brains, just like PE exercises their bodies. Kids who learn a musical instrument may do better in math -- how strange is that? Yet the first things that get dropped from public school curricula are the "non-academic extras" in the arts. Football and other team sports are the last things to get dropped -- and how strange is that, given how few get to actually participate in those.

I had the good fortune to attend public schools at a time when the taxpayers were willing to pay for music, band, theater, and art classes in the curriculum. I was in the Choir for 3 years, and my sister and two brothers were in the Band. None of us grew up to be famous musicians -- but then we didn't grow up to be famous mathematicians, either, in spite of being required to take Algebra, Geometry, and so on. But all those subjects required discipline and they all exercised our brains.

BTW, we were barely middle class and it was public school all the way. And we all went to college -- which, subsidized by the state (i.e. taxes) was affordable enough for us to work our way through without crushing loans.

One of the reasons education in this country is in such bad shape is the taxpayers have been deluded into thinking that the only subjects worth teaching are the Three Rs, and that (per No Child Left Behind) they all must be "taught to the test." It's also a delusion to think that schools must be "run like a business" -- totally wrong paradigm.

Please rethink what you think you know about what is necessary for children to be taught/exposed to in order to succeed in education and in life.

Hekate

[Taitertots]

70. Yes and we paid for them

Which is what I expect from NYC.

We had an effective economy, our parents had jobs, most of us had health care. Which is what I want for these children. I want Rosie to open a company in NYC and hire their parents. Take the money generated, tax it, and provide excellent schools.

I don't like this whole give them fish approach to charity. Give the people a means to break from poverty. Not a handout from a hollywood millionaire looking for some PR.

[Lars39]

80. You as a student paid an amount, but it probably wasn't the whole cost

of whatever program you were in.

[Hekate]

89. You haven't heard a word of what any of us have been saying. Pity, that. nt

[mitchtv]

79. and talent free

[mitchtv]

101. what you mean "we"?

give your own , then you decide

[Name removed]

103. Deleted message

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[Lisa0825]

49. Boy, I am thinking of breaking a DU rule here.... your posts certainly don't sound liberal. nt

[Taitertots]

52. What is not liberal about providing people with effective social support systems?

Instead of throwing money at musical theater.

They are not going to have jobs or health insurance, but boy can their kids dance.

[Lisa0825]

54. Republicans cut these programs from budgets for your logic.

But plenty of studies have shown that kids learn better with a well-rounded curriculum. I could re-state a bunch of what others have already said here, but you have dismissed it all already, so I won't waste my "breath." :eyes:

[Taitertots]

56. Do children learn better poor but with theater or properly cared for?

Is spending 50 million dollars on a theater program going to do better for the children than pulling them from poverty?

No, it is not. Throwing 50 million dollars to make a musical theater program is a PR stunt from a hollywood millionaire, not a honest attempt to bring about a preferred future.

[Lisa0825]

63. sorry, but your argument is moranic. nt

[Name removed]

105. Deleted message

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[Garbo 2004]

64. 50 million to variety of causes, including education & health for poor, not 50 mil just to theater.

[Taitertots]

66. Tell that to the OP

Which says 50 million to teach musical theater to children. 50 million to a variety of other causes makes more sense.

[Lex]

67. google is your friend; educate yourself

http://www.forallkids.org/

[Garbo 2004]

82. The OP wasn't going on a rant about it, you were. Even after someone said it was 50M to charity,

not 50 mil to the theater project, you just kept on ranting about the theater program like an Emily Litella.

From the segment: "Something O’Donnell is extremely passionate about is her charitable work, donating a rumored $50 million to various causes." http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/05/entertainment/main5066280.shtml

In addition to outright donations to various charitable causes, most of which are not publicized, O'Donnell has established a foundation providing grants to local organizations providing early childhood care, education & health care to low income families. http://www.forallkids.org/

From that site: "Every child deserves a safe environment, with responsive, loving care and enriching opportunities that build self-sufficiency and self-worth. Believing it is essential to provide for the fundamental needs of all children, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation supports the intellectual, social and cultural development of disadvantaged children throughout the United States."

Sounds sorta more along the lines of "teaching them to fish" rather than being "pandered to by a hollywood millionaire who wants to throw money at a wasteful pet project for PR."

[rhett o rick]

106. Makes more sense to you. But it aint your money a-whole. nm

[rhett o rick]

104. Ding dong, you just don't understand do you? I am not surprised. nm

[rhett o rick]

102. And I say Damn you to hell. She isn't looking for publilcity.

"Not pandered to by a hollywood millionaire who wants to throw money at a wasteful pet project for PR." What a horribly sick thing to say. She gave $50 million dollars to give these children something they desperately need.

I want tho feed the hungry too. But I wouldn't think to demand that she do that. That's is our job.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[OKNancy]

16. Many brillant people disagree with you

How about a paraphrased quote from James Madison:
I will study war so that my children can study science and engineering, and then their children can study art and dance, which is the highest form of learning.

[Rob H.]

19. There's a link between music education

and skill in reading and math--it helps both, so there's an educational benefit to the students who participate. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of schools that have seriously cut back on music funding or have eliminated their music programs altogether.

[Taitertots]

39. Why did they eliminate the funding?

Is simply replacing the funding from an outside source going to fix the real problems of the community? Or is it just pushing the problem back, making harder when we need to address the reasons why this is happening.

Generate jobs, generate wealth, generate opportunity.

[knitter4democracy]

59. Their security budgets got too high. Gotta pay the school district attorney, you know.

All those security guards, all those metal detectors, all those cameras--they're all expensive.

Eighty percent of any district's budget (give or take) is staff. If you have to cut to pay for more programs, facilities that are falling apart, or security or gas for the busses (those parts of the budget have been skyrocketing), then you have to cut staff. If you cut music, you get more bang for your buck (no more school instruments to buy and maintain, all those expensive concerts afterschool that need electricity and heat/air conditioning for the auditorium, no more bus trips to festivals and districts, etc.). The supt. also has all kinds of parents who think schools are about jobs, not education, so they're less likely to complain about cutting music or art than they would a science or math teacher or even an English teacher.

[Grey]

27. Man cannot live by bread alone....

[JerseygirlCT]

40. Music and other arts ARE basic to education, not extras.

Children exposed to them tend to do better across the board. Part of our problem is segregating learning into little cubbyholes like that. Excited, interested students absorb everything better.

[Gregorian]

45. I was thinking the same thing. I think it's an important discussion.

I just bought a book on solid geometry this week. It has a 1935 copyright. It even predates some of the trigonometric symbols that are now standardized.

What I found interesting about this book, almost stunning, is the preface. It mentions that this is part of a course on machine shop mathematics at the Ford Motor company. My mind was exploding with visions when I read this. America in it's early stage of modern manufacturing. Gearing up for a massive growth in population and consumption. And war. But also a keen workforce. Kids graduating from high school with technical skills. Courses taught by, and in, the corporations. This has both good and bad ramifications. At the time I suppose the relationship between employee and employer was somewhat symbiotic. With houses costing a few grand, a pretty good life was possible. There were orange groves in Los Angeles. Life was ok.


But there is another side of that coin. We grew. Global warming. The economy versus the planet. I am a machinist. And an engineer. An inventor. A designer. And I'm torn between growth and beauty. I watched videos of the biggest diesel engine that existed in the 1930's this morning. And how we had to improve efficiency and emissions as the world grew and demanded more and more.

What I am now beginning to see is that we have grown beyond all reasonable limits. It is a dilemma as to what we should be doing next. Now this may or may not have anything to do with the original topic on this thread. But should we be teaching everyone solid geometry so we can design gear trains for new machinery? I suppose that would be outdated with cad systems now. But the question is, are we going to manufacture ourselves to death? Are we going to gear up and compete with Asia? I see that mentality as dead. Although that is what I do, and although by lowering our educational standards, that is why we fell apart (to some degree. Although financial fraud was a big part). I think it's time for people to go another direction. Creativity in a noncompetitive way. A coming together of the human race. Instead of manufacturing bombs and dropping them on countries, I've been saying we should drop refrigerators and recipes.

I'm not even sure this makes much sense. I found it hard to convey what I felt while reading this book on trigonometry. A dilemma. A nostalgia for a fantastic era. But a recognition of limits. We have arrived at something of a crossroads. Things have changed.

[roody]

48. Music and dance builds brains better than any phonics lesson.

Yes I am a primary teacher. If you want them to know their sounds and letters, put it to song and dance.

[Taitertots]

55. Then in your professional opinion

would students be better off with stable houses, medical care, and parental jobs or a 50 million dollar musical theater program.

[verges]

65. Might it occur to you

that both are important? Arts and a stable home? I don't think that anyone here would ever think of questioning the importance of the things you name. But there are other things as well.

I'm pretty sure that this is a voluntary program. Voluntary programs do better when the target students want to participate. After a time, I'm sure studies will show that the students in this program will, in fact, be better students. Why am I pretty sure of this? Because students who are engaged in the arts generally are better students.

[Taitertots]

69. I think that we can have both

The arts and music are something that could be locally supported with an effective economy. By spending that money to create jobs with a living wage and health care the parents will be able to afford to have arts and music. By spending the money on arts and music you do nothing to address why they lost them in the first place.

[rhett o rick]

107. I think the whole point is to give the opportunity to those that can't afford it. nm

[Just-plain-Kathy]

76. Traiterots... I'll love Rosie even if she doesn't single handedly cure poverty.

She puts up with a lot of garbage from right-wingers.

[rhett o rick]

108. Here, here. nm

[roody]

99. All of the above please.

[knitter4democracy]

58. Read some studies first.

Educational studies (good ones, even) have consistently shown that children who study music do better in math and that students who study the arts at all use those skills to do better in their other subjects.

There's no either-or in education--every subject impinges on another subject, all of them helping each other out.

[Name removed]

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[ecstatic]

85. You raised a good point. Some people

are a little too comfortable to get it. They have no idea of what it's like to be poor. A music program is great! But first, get some new books and updated school facilities and computers first! Get some quality teachers and a better, more relevant curriculum in place for students attending schools in disadvantaged communities.

That being said, the entertainment arts are Rosie's passion, so as a private citizen, she has the right to donate money in that area. Her generosity should be applauded and duplicated by others. Someone else just needs to pick up the slack in all the other (possibly more important) areas.

[dsc]

98. A researcher was once asked how his researched helped defend the country

He said it didn't, it merely made the country worth defending. Arts aren't education but they make an education worth having.

[openletters]

14. I have always loved Rosie

I thought she was great on The View.

[bigwillq]

15. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[CrispyQ]

20. I saw a televised stand up routine of hers years ago,

I LMAO. She was hilarious! I knew she was liberal but I'm glad to hear she's generous, too. I never watched The View but I have seen a few Rosie clips on YouTube. :thumbsup:

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[AwakeAtLast]

17. I caught both segments

I try not to miss CBS's "Sunday Morning". There are always a few gems to be found on that show.

Elton John and his three "Billy Elliott" stars were also profiled. The Tonys are on tonight.

When I watched Rosie's segment, I thought, "I sure miss seeing Rosie on TV."

It was great to watch!

:hi:

[Deja Q]

18. !

:yourock:

At times she's an annoying grunt (aren't we all?)...

I missed the Lear segment. I'll check out cbs's website...

[AllieB]

21. But..but she does not meet ideological purity requirements.

:sarcasm:

According to many posters on that other thread-who were using RW and Limbaugh labels like 'latte liberal'-if you have money, you're part of the problem, even if you do good deeds with it.

[JerseygirlCT]

37. I caught the part where she told her financial person

that if she ever found herself on Forbes' list, he was fired. Gotta love that attitude.

[Shagbark Hickory]

43. Rosie Rocks! She's got a big heart and I love her to pieces.

[Strong Atheist]

71. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[Greyhound]

50. Never liked her comedy, but I have great respect for her.

She really stands up for her beliefs and never hesitates to put her money where her mouth is.

She was one of this country's greatest patriots after the 9/11 attacks as well. Unfortunately, her "friends" in the entertainment industry wouldn't support her efforts.

[BlooInBloo]

81. Same.

[HOLOS]

84. LOVE YOU, ROSIE

[Name removed]

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[Dappleganger]

97. Very cool.

Hmmm, I've always liked her even though she has a mouth.
But then we listen, right? Ha!

As a mom with a daughter who's neck-deep into theater arts, I can tell you that she has reported to me a number of students who stay in school JUST so they can keep taking the drama and stage craft classes. A number of those kids spend a hell of a lot of time in our home and they're like my own. Many of them are dying for someone to accept them the way they are. They're really quite special!

[RufusH]

100. I'm impressed. So many kids' lives will be enriched by music, a benefit no matter where it leads.

Go Rosie! It's a huge gesture.

And Norman Lear... all I can say is that I wish he was my father. A truly inspiring man.

[YOY]

110. Some are cool like Rosie and some are posing jerkwads.

n.t.

[woo me with science]

111. This is her gift, and a wonderful one.

Amazing that people would criticize her for this.