Celebrities — they’re just like us, except for the fact they have millions of dollars to donate to charity when the country faces hard times. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, celebrities like J.J. Watt, the Kardashians and Sandra Bullock were all donating to relief efforts.
If you’re an avid fan of any of the above celebrities, then you probably already knew about their donations. I think humble celebrities like Sandra Bullock and J.J. Watt donated because they genuinely care about those affected and want to use their star power to bring more good to the world. However, some celebrities only seem to donate because they want to look like good people.
Donald Trump, the man who is a celebrity first and president second is just one famous person using his donation as a ploy for good press, not for the greater good of the country. It is admirable that he’s donating, and no matter who’s donating it’s great to see relief efforts receive donations. Unfortunately, it seems when it comes to Trump’s own money, he’s not as rash to make decisions as he is when he’s dealing with our
country’s politics.
Trump hasn’t specified whether the money will come from the Donald J. Trump Foundation or his own pocket, and it took him a few days to release which charities would be receiving the donations. He was sure to have the public know that he would be donating though, as soon as possible, because that was the important part of the plot to get some brownie points for himself.
Trump isn’t the only famous person on the planet to use this tactic to build and better their reputation, but I’d hope for more from our president. He should set the example to donate to better organizations than the American Red Cross and he should do more in-person community service to encourage others that monetary donations are not the only thing that will help rebuild the affected areas.
Some may argue that any charity is good charity, but why should we allow celebrities to be praised for something that all humans should be participating in? Most citizens partake in some sort of charity or community service. In Judaism, tzedakah, which translates to charity, is seen as a moral obligation or duty. Many sects of Christianity also encourage mission trips and community service.
It’s time to stop praising celebrities for doing what much of the population already does. It’s great that Kenny Chesney is encouraging people to donate to the Love for Love City Foundation who will donate to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, but we shouldn’t paint him as a hero for spreading the word. Just as Jews have tzedakah as an obligation, celebrities feel obligated to use their star power to create change and help
their communities.
In the future it’d be ideal to see more celebrities actually in the affected areas, handing out supplies, as well as donating their money and urging citizens to do the same. Let’s stop praising people for doing their humanitarian duties just like the rest of us.
Jordan Miller is a 20-year-old elementary education junior from New Orleans, Louisiana.