A page of life

I was listening to the local news radio station on my way to work this morning when an opinion piece by Cal Thomas came on. He talked about the giveaways on the Oprah show earlier this week.

Whereas some in the media are decrying it as media and corporate integration the nth degree, he said that it was a good gesture. A good gesture because it was not welfare, but rather a chance at a second chance.

He said it inspired hope in people.

The cynic in me says that the only hope that it inspires in people is that maybe Oprah will come along and give them a car (or what have you). The other part of me wishes that more people in her position would follow her example.

Even if she didn't spend a dime, and all the products that she "gave" away were donated in exchange for airtime, it is moments like this that begin to make good corporate citizens.

It seems to me that this is a throwback to good citizenship and the idea of civic responsibility. If nothing else it is excellent publicity and in this spin doctored culture we live in, that seems to be all we get.