shereads
Sloganless
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2003
- Posts
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Did anyone else see this feature story on this morning's Today Show? And did any of you find it as tasteless and shameful as I did?
A serviceman stationed in Iraq has been unable to help his family who were left homeless after a disaster. The Today Show and Home Depot shared the cost of renovating the house, buying new furniture and clothes for the man's wife and young daughters - and then treated us to a live broadcast of the family's reaction this morning when they were led blindfolded into their new house - while Dad, in uniform, stands in front of a remote camera in Iraq so we can watch is face.
The children burst into tears when they see their pretty new things. One of them hides her face. Dad in Iraq is speechless and expressionless. Ann Curry, who is hosting the piece, begins to seem embarrassed as she tries to elicit comments from everyone - and maybe begins to wonder, as I do, whether this isn't one of the most humiliating moment's of this young father's life.
The younger child wants to go upstairs to see if her bedroom is as pretty as her sister's, but Ann has to tell her to wait, because it's time to go outside and thank the people in the orange Home Depot aprons.
What a nice thing to do. What a cruel way to do it.
Are we unable to provide for a soldier's homeless family without turning their tragedy into a marketing stunt? Whatever Home Depot spent on materials and labor, it was a tiny fraction of what they'd have paid for three minutes of advertising on the top-rated morning show - starring a man in uniform, no less. As for the Today Show, I usually enjoy it because I like the cast. But this isn't the first time their producers have come up with a "human interest" feature that ended up looking as if Oliver Twist was being presented with better-quality gruel in exchange for expressing his gratitude in front of 20 million people.
To whom it may concern: If I ever need charity, thanks in advance for whatever the corporate world can spare. But don't be surprised if I look more ashamed than thrilled when you take off my blindfold in front of the cameras and tell the world how pathetic I was before you took pity on me.
P.S. Before you ask, I will not wear a propeller beanie with your company's logo. I'd rather beg for spare change in traffic.
A serviceman stationed in Iraq has been unable to help his family who were left homeless after a disaster. The Today Show and Home Depot shared the cost of renovating the house, buying new furniture and clothes for the man's wife and young daughters - and then treated us to a live broadcast of the family's reaction this morning when they were led blindfolded into their new house - while Dad, in uniform, stands in front of a remote camera in Iraq so we can watch is face.
The children burst into tears when they see their pretty new things. One of them hides her face. Dad in Iraq is speechless and expressionless. Ann Curry, who is hosting the piece, begins to seem embarrassed as she tries to elicit comments from everyone - and maybe begins to wonder, as I do, whether this isn't one of the most humiliating moment's of this young father's life.
The younger child wants to go upstairs to see if her bedroom is as pretty as her sister's, but Ann has to tell her to wait, because it's time to go outside and thank the people in the orange Home Depot aprons.
What a nice thing to do. What a cruel way to do it.
Are we unable to provide for a soldier's homeless family without turning their tragedy into a marketing stunt? Whatever Home Depot spent on materials and labor, it was a tiny fraction of what they'd have paid for three minutes of advertising on the top-rated morning show - starring a man in uniform, no less. As for the Today Show, I usually enjoy it because I like the cast. But this isn't the first time their producers have come up with a "human interest" feature that ended up looking as if Oliver Twist was being presented with better-quality gruel in exchange for expressing his gratitude in front of 20 million people.
To whom it may concern: If I ever need charity, thanks in advance for whatever the corporate world can spare. But don't be surprised if I look more ashamed than thrilled when you take off my blindfold in front of the cameras and tell the world how pathetic I was before you took pity on me.
P.S. Before you ask, I will not wear a propeller beanie with your company's logo. I'd rather beg for spare change in traffic.
