Clay Aiken Interview: AN IDOL WHO REALLY GIVES BACK

[iceman]

Before charming the hearts of American Idol fans in 2003, singer Clay Aiken was a teacher, focusing on special education in his native North Carolina. Today, in addition to performing and recording, Clay acts as an education ambassador for UNICEF, most recently in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Still jetlagged, Clay told Yahoo! Music in his smooth drawl why Idol Gives Back won't solve the poverty problem, what it was like to grow a beard and wear long robes, and why he never sings when visiting schools abroad. quote

http://music.yahoo.com/read/interview/43530798

[Lisa Seye]

Thanks for posting that. It is great to see that when some get "big" that they have a greater opportunity to "give back" and when they take that opportunity, it is awesome.
I enjoyed reading this interview and how he spoke of education and how the kids in Afghanistan were just so eager to go to school and learn. I also thought what he said about visiting other countries and educating ourselves about reasons why hunger and poverty happens is important to solving the problem and not just looking down on another "poor" country and throwing money at the problem.

CLAY: I think there's definitely a problem--and I'll point to recent charity events--when people go and they talk about the need in an area or a country and they don't have the information. If you come back and you talk about the need in a country and don't know what's going on in the country, then you're completely remiss. There's always a greater cause [to poverty] than throwing money at the issue, and I think the strongest solution, the strongest weapon we have against poverty and hunger is education. When you take a look at something like Idol Gives Back and you realize that the main piece of information we got is that people are hungry in Africa, but we didn't find out why they are hungry in Africa and we didn't out where in Africa they are hungry, nor did we find out the major causes. Without the education about what's going on in the country, we're doing no service except for perpetuating that same stereotype that Africa, or any other country in the world, is lesser than the U.S., and we're in the role that we have to give to them.

[Dragonlady]

I find these comments completely self-serving and mean spirited. Idol Gives Back pointed out how complex the hunger problems are in the African Nations and saying that education is the cure-all displays utter ignorance of the root of many of the problems which are: civil war, drought, lack of clean water, and the AIDS epidemic. Education is a not the cure-all and some of these issues do require "money to be thrown at them".

Education takes years to make a difference and people are starving now because of drought and civil war. People cannot learn on empty stomachs. Idol Gives Back also talked about putting in wells and building schools - not just feeding people in the short term, but helping them in the long term too.

The AIDS epidemic has devastated Africa. In many areas, an entire generation has been wiped out leaving old people and children and few in-between. Provding drugs to treat AIDS is one thing where "throwing money at the problem" will help. AIDS drugs are widely available in the western nations but have been too expensive to be available in Third World countries.

I think it's wonderful that Clay is doing this work on behalf of education, but to undercut and be disrespectful of the work that others are doing or to suggest that he knows best, lowers my opinion of him.

[donnylutz]

I think it's wonderful that Clay is doing this work on behalf of education, but to undercut and be disrespectful of the work that others are doing or to suggest that he knows best, lowers my opinion of him.

I must agree. While education is extremely important, especially when dealing with the HIV and Aids issues, it's not enough. Saying that someone raising $70 million dollars won't do anything is quite pathetic. I give money to Bread for the World and Unicef every month. I obviously don't give $70 million, but I truly believe that the little I give can make a difference, especially when combined with the little bit given by so many people.

I'm truly disappointed by Clay.

[ebayj]

Clay's views are not surprising given his youth and relatively inexperience. When's the last time you heard anything profound from a 25 year old? I'm just glad he is trying. Targeting education alone is wildly simplistic, but that is what he understands, so it is natural for him to go there in his thinking. Younger people are blessed with idealism but limited by lack of worldview or practical experience. Once we are my age or older, our idealism is greatly tempered but our worldview is enhanced by life experience. My point is we are all in this together, and we need every positive contribution.

Africa has been a basket case for decades if not for centuries. There are no simple solutions to Africa's problems, but if no one tries, and nothing changes, then nothing will ever be different. If you want to do something click the link at the end of this post. It won't cost you a thing. Beyond that, as the prior poster mentions, we have many well managed non profits that would be grateful for your time, money or both.

[Lisa Seye]

Yes he is an advocate for education, but in the section regarding Africa, he was not talking about providing education for the peopl of Africa. He was talking about educating ouselves about what are the problems that cause this poverty and hunger in Africa. There is a big difference. He said

we didn't find out why they are hungry in Africa and we didn't out where in Africa they are hungry, nor did we find out the major causes. Without the education about what's going on in the country,

So I believe he is referring to wars, HIV, drought, etc and that in order to eliminate the problem, we have to find out what causes the problem.

Again it goes back to finding and solving the root cause.

I took his perspective to mean that we need to address the underlying causes of the poverty and hunger so that one day, "throwing money at it" will not be as necessary as it is today. Without addressing the root causes, throwing money at it will do nothing but ensure that we need to continue throwing mnoney at it. Not sure where in the interview he said we should not give money, but that we need to find out why it is necessary and deal with that.
However, we all have our own interpretation of what we think others are saying. I read it positively.