DJ1

Dear Journal, 10/21
Today in class we talked about Bill Gates and how he has been the richest man in the world for sixteen years, and still is the richest man in the world according to Forbes. I have been thinking about this and how it relates to his philanthropist efforts in Africa, and wondering why he still has so much money, if he is such a philanthropist. Time magazine made him Person of the Year along with his wife and Bono in 2005, they must have found his generosity worth something. It is true that he gave twenty-eight billion dollars to charity over his lifetime. And yet, he is still the richest man in the world. I would think that someone who wanted to better the lives of others in any way they could would find themselves not giving enough of their money if they had as much money as Bill Gates had. Upon further research, I realized that Bill Gates’s home is worth one-hundred-and-twenty-five-million dollars. How can he live in such excess and visit the countries in Africa where his charity operates and not feel guilty? I know if I had as much money as he did I would. I would feel filthy while I swam in the sixty-foot pool he has in his house. I find his actions hypocritical, and see that his life has been mostly based on the acquisition of wealth, and that his charitable actions are an afterthought.