"It puts everything into perspective," said Josh. "You can't really quantify the value of giving a gift and a smile to a kid." Added Mark, "It was like being Santa Claus."
And on Martha Stewart’s version of The Apprentice, for which Trump serves as executive producer, the Week 2 reward again was “an opportunity to give back to New York City. The corporation banded together with New York Cares to help the Hudson Guild community organization create a garden in Manhattan's Chelsea district. They transformed a dingy dirt patch into a beautiful oasis of flowers outside the Guild's new recreation, arts, and children's center. Working alongside volunteers and neighborhood children, the candidates of Primarius [the winning team] were touched by the joy of giving.”
These are just some of the most recent examples of compassion coming to the small screen. The newest show this season is NBC’s Three Wishes, hosted by Christian musician Amy Grant. I’ve discussed before the issue of mixed-motives in the commercialization of compassion, especially with respect to ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I’m still inclined to give such shows the benefit of the doubt…whatever the motivations, there is good being done. And even if there is duplicity and the motive is purely that of economic self-interest, this merely attests to the foundational reality of mutually beneficial exchange at the heart of the market system. ED/PUB:LM
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