Celebrities should learn from PSU students' kindness

September 7, 2011

By Sam Kramer

On Monday evening, while most of you were probably catching up on homework, working a job or doing something equally productive, I took the time out of my day to do absolutely nothing on my living room couch.

My roommates were watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which, if you dont know, is a reality TV show that focuses on the personal and professional lives of the members of the Kardashian/Jenner family, according to the ever-reliable Wikipedia.

Upon doing some research, I am still not quite sure what the professional aspect of these celebrities lives are apparently the daughters are very skilled in modeling and marrying NBA basketball players.

In the episode that I watched, Bruce (the girls father) wants to give the Kardashian girls a taste of reality, something I think is extremely necessary after watching them play jump rope inside the foyer of their mansion.

So the girls visit the local Union Rescue Mission to volunteer to pass out food and meet a few girls their age that are forced to live in a building the size of our room, according to Kendall Kardashian. Kendall then says she has learned her lesson and appreciates her life better, now.

Well Im glad the Kardashians were able to earn some moral character that day. Unfortunately, there are still millions of people across the world that dont even have a room to live in and arent given free food by a shelter. Nor can they afford a TV to watch the Kardashians show, which is probably a good thing, because theyd be disgusted to see how easy some people have it.

Thats not to say they dont attempt to help Kim Kardashian said she gives millions to the Dream Foundation and to a church her mother created in Calabasas, Ca., on CNNs Piers Morgan Tonight.

But Im fed up with the naivety of the rich and famous. In a world where your only talent necessary to become famous is good looks (or an extremely bad music video, cough cough, Rebecca Black) celebrities now need to have houses with 25 bathrooms (50 Cent) or a private baseball field (Jerry Seinfeld).

Penn State is full of students that have given more to the rest of the world than some celebrities with million dollar salaries. We have 19-year-olds going to New Orleans during their spring break to build houses for families that lost them in Katrina. We have dancers willing to give their legs and backs for 46 hours so kids with cancer can regain their hope.

We may not have millions of dollars, but many of us have a realistic view of the world, and were doing something about it.

Sure, plenty of celebrities donate. Last year, Oprah Winfrey reportedly gave $41 million to various charities, and many other stars like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arent that far behind in their donations. I cannot, in any way, say that all celebrities need to give more money when so many have already done so much. But plenty have just thrown their money toward projects without knowing the exact impact they are having.

I know from experience that the more educated you are about something, the more motivated you become to continue helping. Furthermore, the feeling you get is so much more empowering than simply signing a check.

When I was in high school, members of the National Honor Society would go to different events to give back to the community. I remember specifically one Thanksgiving, when we went to the Salvation Army to help pass out food to the less fortunate. Seeing families arrive with smiles on their faces and being able to talk to them and help them was a feeling Ill never forget.

I was Kendall Kardashian that day I learned to appreciate what I have and realized how much worse some people have it, and they lived in the same town as me.

George Harrison once wrote the farther one travels, the less one knows. And recently, I havent found anything to be more true. Ive been across seas, Ive been to rough parts of Mexico, Ive been to the big U.S. cities, and while I havent seen the worst of the worst, Ive seen enough thats made me realize that if you have the ability to help anyone, you should.

It all starts with being educated. When you understand how unbalanced society is in their ways of living ranging from Bill Gates heated driveway and floors to a muddy ground in Uganda youre going to be motivated to do something about it.

So to the Kardashians, Hiltons and Trumps out there, if you dont already know how ridiculously, disgustingly well-off you have it, take the time to personally do something about it. You can continue throwing money to a homeless shelter, or a family that cant afford their medical bills, or if youre feeling especially charitable, my tuition; but Id like to see more celebrities learning about where their money goes.

Maybe then, instead of building a 22-car garage, they could do some penny pinching and realize their money could be better spent. Ah, how terrible it might be to settle for a 10-car garage and live like us normal folk.

Then again, if their towns parking situation is anything like State Colleges, it might be understandable.

Sam Kramer is a senior majoring in journalism and is The Daily Collegians Wednesday columnist.