The president’s star charity show held annually stars MediaCorp celebrities such as Zoe Tay, Fann Wong, Fiona Xie, Gurmit Singh, Adrian Pang amongst many others, and also other household names such as Hardy Mirza. Without doubt, these names a long do not generate revenue for the show, and even impassioned pleas will not convince most Singaporeans to donate, even for a good cause. Thus, these artistes resort to perform stunts to persuade the public to donate, and also appeal to their compassionate nature for more generous donations. Such stunts include contorting themselves to fit into tight boxes for a period of time, walking on tightropes across buildings, eating fire and other stunts that are extremely dangerous. In my opinion, while such stunts may be perilous despite all the safety precautions, it is quite sad that there may actually be a need for artistes to perform such stunts to raise money.
Singaporeans are a complex people to understand. While their compassion can be seen from the outpouring of money and daily necessities donated, and the heart-felt condolences for the tragedies of the Sichuan earthquake and also the 2004 Tsunami that ravaged many countries of the world. However, the quintessential Singaporean turns a deaf year to the pleas of beggars, buskers, or physically handicapped who are trying to make a living. Perhaps, while we will not hesitate to offer a helping hand to people who we can see helpless, dying and needy, through the television or newspapers, but it could be different for us to make a donation to a charity hotline if we do not actually feel that our efforts are worth it. Words are usually meaningless and if a picture is a thousand words, then a stunt where the celebrity puts himself or herself in jeopardy is worth a thousand impassioned pleas by anybody, even a famous artiste. When one sees the blood, sweat and tears that one sweats for a cause, then the cause must be a good one, and worth contributing to and fighting for.
Furthermore, the artistes sign up of their own free will, not only because they genuinely want to help the less fortunate that the money from the show goes to, but also these stunts while dangerous, is a test of their courage, willpower and also prevents an invaluable experience. Also, while some people may argue that they are not actually putting themselves at risk because there are far too many safety measures, thus proving that these stunts are just an act meant to milk public compassion. However, I dismiss these arguments as ludicrous. Firstly, I do not see how will it make anybody feel better and more willing to donate if any person, much less a celebrity, walked atop a narrow walkway connecting two twenty-storey buildings without a safety harness. Also, while contorting oneself into a box for ten full minutes may not be life-endangering, but it is still extremely painful for celebrities who have had undergone mere months of training.
Lastly, there are always needs and there is no reason why getting more money for a good cause is a sin. If such stunts encourage people who have money to spare to give more money, why discourage this? It is hard to define if there is need for artistes to perform such stunts to encourage the public to give more generously, because when it is for a good cause, there is always room for more money. Everybody benefits: The public has done a good deed, the artistes have also contributed to a good cause and the needy of course benefit greatly. As long as the artistes’ intentions remain pure, the public are not coerced into giving donations, the money goes to the needy, then there will always be a need for artistes to perform stunts to appeal the compassionate side of the public for more generous donations, as the more donations received, the better it is.
(653 words)
No comments:
Post a Comment