I came across this interesting article in this months San Francisco magazine. It's about Steve Kirsch, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, who founded several companies, including Infoseek, and his committed efforts, in time and money, to finding a cure for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia, a disease he was diagnosed with in July of 2007.
The article also mentions several other high profile entrepreneurs, who have made similar commitments after being diagnosed with deadly diseases, including Steve Case (AOL), Sergey Brin (Google) and Larry Ellison (Oracle).
Now while I admire these individuals for what they have accomplished in their lives, and their efforts to fight their disease, for me it raises much larger questions. Why does it take a disaster or the diagnosis of a deadly disease to make people spring into action? And why are the efforts of these individuals only directed towards their particular diseases?
In my opinion, it just isn't enough these individuals are trying to do something to help themselves, and others who are lucky [or unlucky] enough to be along for the ride. Where is their commitment to society? What about the millions of Americans (and millions of others around the world), fighting for their lives, but don't have the resources of these individuals? Are they to be left out, and forgotten? Is everyone else not important enough?
Unless we start realizing how are actions affect each other, and that our lives are all interconnected, we are destined [doomed] to endure the same fate as those of the past and currently around the world.
The article also mentions several other high profile entrepreneurs, who have made similar commitments after being diagnosed with deadly diseases, including Steve Case (AOL), Sergey Brin (Google) and Larry Ellison (Oracle).
Now while I admire these individuals for what they have accomplished in their lives, and their efforts to fight their disease, for me it raises much larger questions. Why does it take a disaster or the diagnosis of a deadly disease to make people spring into action? And why are the efforts of these individuals only directed towards their particular diseases?
In my opinion, it just isn't enough these individuals are trying to do something to help themselves, and others who are lucky [or unlucky] enough to be along for the ride. Where is their commitment to society? What about the millions of Americans (and millions of others around the world), fighting for their lives, but don't have the resources of these individuals? Are they to be left out, and forgotten? Is everyone else not important enough?
Unless we start realizing how are actions affect each other, and that our lives are all interconnected, we are destined [doomed] to endure the same fate as those of the past and currently around the world.
Comments
But where's the love for those who are healthy who see beyond themselves and their own back yard, like Bill and Melinda Gates for starters. Or me! I've been sending money to the Feminist Majority Movement to help women in Afghanistan since BEFORE 9/11! Tim McGraw supports Parkinson, designed a shirt where the proceeds benefit down-and-out musicians, and he and his wife literally took truckloads of supplies to Louisiana after Katrina.
What about Warren Buffet who set a record some years back for the largest donation from an individual. 37 Billion! The man is donating 99% of his money to charity! And he has successfully challenged billionares (40 at present) to donate to charities. David Rockefeller has 900 million.
When will you see that the glass is really half full!
BTW, are you an organ donar?
Yes there are exceptions to everything, but that's all they are, EXCEPTIONS! And I do admire/respect those people for the actions they have taken. But why do they need to chide others into contributing to various causes?
My problem isn't so much others have chosen to donate principally to causes that affect them personally. I understand that. My problem is they didn't do it UNTIL they were affected personally.
Where were they before? It's not like brain cancer, Parkinson's disease, or age related deterioration are new diseases. They've been around awhile, and just maybe had they bothered to donate some of their resources to those causes before hand, they might not still be suffering from those diseases, nor would millions of others.
Just my opinion!
And BTW, I was an organ donor up until I was diagnosed with MCL. For some reason, I don’t think anyone would want any of my organs now!
If it were not for Steve Kirsch, I would not have received the treatment for my cancer; yes, Waldenströms!!
Do I not count because I am 1 of the few with this rare cancer. I was diagnosed almost 2 years ago. I also have chronic crygloblunemia which is a result of this blood cancer. Thanks to Mr. Steven Kirsch my family and kids have hope. & I am able to get the best available treatment. My kids lost their father to brain tumour when they were 11 & 13 years old. & to be told that I have cancer in 2011 and there is no cure. I was 51.
I am shocked you have the audacity to write this article and the nerve to comment and criticise Steve Kirsch & other entrepreneurs as to where they donate their hard earned money & clout.
You should be ashamed. They people too. Who are selfless.
Thank goodness that most people don't think like you. You are ignorant and selfish.
You have really upset me, my family and friends.
Pasqueena Iacovazzo
It's also obvious you are the selfish one, singing the praises of Steve Kirsch, and how his philanthropy benefited you.
But what about everyone else? What about those not stricken with WM, who don't have a wealthy benefactor to help them? Who is helping them?
When Steve and others start thinking about everyone in this country, and not just a select few, then I'll be happy, and no longer skeptical of the true motives of those individuals.
But thanks for your comment!
It's obviously all about you. No one person can save the world and everyone in. I don't even live in the United States. Nor am I cured? It's not about me. It's about the good that these individuals do. You have tunnel vision.
You take a positive and try make it into a negative. I sense bitterness in your tone.
Steve Kirsch has always donated. Not just to WM. WM is a form of Lymphoma cancer, so all Lymphomas benefit. Most people with WM don't even get diagnosed, and pass away, or are misdiagnosed.
You have no place to criticise any of these Philanthropists or people. They have families too. What they do with their money is
their business. And by the way, their contributions go deeper than funds. If they want to donate to the SPCA, or Save the Planet, it is all for a good cause.
Go attack the pharmaceutical companies who charge exorbitant rates for medications.
I remain grateful and positive. I wish you a full recovery.
I don't even live in the United States.
As a someone living in Canada, you can't possible understand what it is like to live in a country where health care is treated as a privilege rather than a human right. You can't possibly understand what it is like to live under the constant threat of bankruptcy or becoming destitute simply because you contracted a deadly (or even not so deadly) illness.
I never criticized Steve Kirsch per se.
In my opinion, it just isn’t enough these individuals are trying to do something to help themselves, and others who are lucky [or unlucky] enough to be along for the ride.I merely commented [complained] his efforts were not sufficient. Where is their commitment to society? What about the millions of Americans (and millions of others around the world), fighting for their lives, but don’t have the resources of these individuals? Are they to be left out, and forgotten? Is everyone else not important enough?Focusing on one area [or 2, or 3, or more] isn't enough, while so many others still suffer. To be truly philanthropic the focus needs to be on everyone, not just a select few.
My wife and I have been fortunate enough to have access to decent health care throughout our lives, but that continued benefit is under threat right now from the US congress, and while we will likely survive changes,being discussed now (it will be more of a burden though), many in the country will not be as fortunate.
So until I see Steve Kirsch et. al. come out in support of those individuals, and against cuts to vital services for the less fortunate in this country, I will continue to comment/criticize their efforts no matter how well intentioned their motives might appear on the surface.
Until you walk in the shoes of someone else, don't be criticizing them for their beliefs.
Just my opinion!
And I wish you the best as well in your fight with WM!
It itches.
I say if I can read, type and smile. I take a deep breath and celebrate the feeling of fresh air. Play my favorite music and celebrate the miracle of music. Live every moment as [if] it's your last and you will have lived more than most. People who don't notice life passing them by.
Moods cannot be controlled if one has depression. If not on antidepressant that's a choice. Celebrate the choices you can make. Smile, it releases positive chemicals in the brain.
Don't worry who has donated money to whom. Rather donate a minute of your precious time to encourage someone else with a similar load.
It takes a hungry person to understand hunger, a person who is pregnant to truly understand the 9 months of pregnancy, someone who has had a miscarriage to relate truly to this. You get my drift ...
So I think people who decide to support a cause would often relate to it somehow. Just immerse yourself In the challenges of this life now. I am sure it will put you ahead in the life that follows
Your inner you and energy does not diminish. Ask any old person. Body dies like an old and used Toy, but the energy has to go somewhere May it be good energy albeit tired right now. I wish you love inner peace and enjoyment of some kind in each day :-)
Especially about people supporting a cause because they relate to it. I hadn't given that the thought it deserved.
It's also the reason you and Pasqueena, who both come from countries where obtaining good, affordable health care isn't an issue, can't relate to the problems in the US, and don't completely understand the point of my post.
What I do find most interesting is receiving comments from two people, from different parts of the world, on a post I wrote almost 2 years ago.
So do you two know each other, or was this a well executed spam comment my spam protector failed to recognize?
& I am South African
Thank you for your positive comments, Giovy.
And whether you're So African or Canadian doesn't matter. My response would be the same. But your IP address comes out of Canada, which is why I came to that conclusion.
FYI, Giovy's was from Australia.
I just received an email from Giovanna claiming she was your sister.
We are from different parts of world P is my sister. I am fortunately blessed with more manageable health issues and would not even try to fully understand either yours or Pasqueena's situation feelings and anguish that occurs in each different persons lives that has any ailment. I can only empathize............
Was she being rhetorical, or................?