Prompt:
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
No amount of wealth can help humanity move forward and make progress, even under the management of the most dedicated and socially conscious workers. Money leads only to selfishness and becomes an irresistible temptation to its owners to abuse it. The only thing that can lead people to praiseworthy ideas and noble deeds is to follow the example of those great individuals who put other factors before money.
Adapted from Albert Einstein in Alice Calaprice, The New Quotable Einstein
Assignment:
Does money lead to selfishness? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Many people say that "money is the root of all evil", but this is a very overstretched statement. Through organizations like ESPN's "Make-a-wish" foundation and churches throughout our country, it is clear that those who are more fortunate only tend to give more. The only thing that can lead people to praiseworthy ideas and noble deeds is to follow the example of those great individuals who put other factors before money.
ESPN's Make-a-wish-foundation helps those in need. They choose less fortunate kids that have physical disabilities and make their day by allowing them to spend a day with their favorite athlete. Recently, a boy named Connor was diagnosed with cancer and only had about 6 more months to live if the tumor did not go away. ESPN chose Connor and blessed him to spend a day with his favorite football team, Carolina Panthers. There he was able to experience a Panther's practice and even meet Cam Newton, the quarterback of the Panthers. Newton, a professional football player who makes millions of dollars every year, took the further step and gave Connor and his family tickets to a Panther's game with VIP access. Connor experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity all thanks to a wealthy organization who was not hesitant to help those in need.
More locally, churches have also been playing a huge part in helping those in need. Living just outside of the nation's capital, there is an abundant amount of homeless people in our area. Being able to identify this growing issue, churches stepped up and funded organizations like Samaritan's Purse an Salvation Army in order to do the good in our world. Both Samaritan's Purse and Salvation Army use the resources that more fortunate people have and give to the less fortunate. For example, every weekend my church partners with Salvation Army and makes a trip to the homeless shelter in DC to bless each and every one of the people in these shelters. We try to do everything we can to make sure that those who need help get help.
As you can see, there are many ways people are stepping up and playing a huge part in our society to help those in need. In fact, those that have even more money and are identified in the "upper class" tend to be even more generous. Through both ESPN's Make-a-wish foundation and church organizations, their goal everyday is to make a difference in people's lives and you should too.