Have you ever felt insulted but not really been sure why? The only television show that I actually watch on the box is House M.D. Tonight, there was a commercial for a new show that, while I'd seen commercials for the show before, there was an added line this week that just bothered me. I know it wasn't meant as an insult, but I can't help but wonder whether it's a symptom, a sad commentary, or just me being too sensitive...
See, FOX is starting a new show called The Secret Millionaire. According to the website, it's based on a British show with a similar premise.
Each week, one of the wealthiest Americans, worth millions of dollars, will go undercover into one of the most impoverished and dangerous towns in America. Their job is to spend one week canvassing the town - meeting as many people as possible - some of whom will touch the millionaire with their dedication to helping others while others will have incredible stories of trying to overcome tremendous odds.
And then, after all this sneaking around, at the the end of the show, they give money to someone in the neighborhood who "deserves it"...
That was the line that they added this week. The commercial seriously stated that they would give money to someone "who deserved it". While I'm sure the premise will give good ratings, it just feel wrong to me. Why? That's the part I can't quite figure out.
First of all, how the hell are they supposed to do this without the neighborhood figuring it out? Where are they hiding the camera crews? Supposedly, the rich person is going to get to know as many people in the neighborhood as possible and give the money to whichever one really "touches their heart". I just can't think that this isn't somehow staged, which makes me wonder if there is even going to be any money going to "someone who deserves it".
Second, how do you pick a "poor" neighborhood? I understand that there are bad neighborhoods, but why do they feel the need to link poor with "dangerous"? After the previews I've seen, I'm almost tempted to watch the show so I can see how many of these poor and dangerous neighborhoods are a bit more "melanin enhanced" than their (from what I've seen) lily-white rich people.
This whole thing smells, at least to me, like a way to make "the upper class" feel better about themselves. They can point to the TV and say "See?! If people really tried to help themselves, there'd be more people like him willing to help them out!" It makes it too easy to say things like: "Most poor people don't deserve the money" or "Most rich people wouldn't be able to do things like that if we raise their taxes at all!" and especially "Why did that poor person on that show have an HD-TV in their living room?"
Or, maybe I am just too sensitive. I mean, I grew up in the "upper-middle class", but am now a member of the working poor who is currently raising my children in a trailer in the suburbs. I've seen this kind of "feel good philanthropy" from both sides. I guess that someone without my background might not see anything wrong with giving money to "someone who deserves it" for the sake of ratings.