Jamielle Silvia
ENGL 0250-154
H. Susi
November 6, 2011
When Greed Gives Way to Giving by Ana Veciana-Suarez
Ana Veciana-Suarez’s essay When Greed Gives Way to Giving is about a 67 year-old-man named Bob Thompson who sold his road-building company for 422 million dollars. Most people would keep that money for themselves, but instead, Thompson divided 128 million dollars to his 550 workers, retirees, and widows. This bonus was unexpected and with that they became millionaires. Thompson’s act of kindness has changed the life of many people.
Veciana-Suarez asked, “Would we do the same thing Thompson did?” My answer to this question would be, no. I would want to keep the money for my family and me, and probably buy a nice vacation home or something along those lines. Also the economy is not in the best shape so handing out free money is just out of the question for me. I believe that he is a very generous man for doing that, but millions of dollars is a lot of money to just give away. The part that blows my mind the most; he worked hard for that money and didn’t even reward himself, by spending it on himself.
Finding generous people in today’s world is very complicated. It is almost like its every man for themselves. People do not have the same respect as they did once before. If more people were as nice as Thompson the world could possibly be a warmer place. I think a person’s kindness can spread and lead someone else to do just the smile. It reminds me of a commercial where one person smiles at another and that person smiles at someone else, and so on. One good thing can lead to another and the same with a generous act. Thompson may have affected so of his workers lives making them want to give just like he did.
Some people say that money can change a person and money can be the route of evil. For Thompson this did not happen. He was probably always a generous man and he did not let his money corrupt him. I do believe money does corrupt people and it can change a person, making them seem greedy. This story proves to me that Thompson was a good man because he gives his money away to all of his workers after making millions on his business. I don’t believe that money would corrupt me but I also don’t think I would give away the money I worked hard for.
This story made my heart feel warm because to me it means there are still good hearted people in the world. I think Thompson is a wonderful man for doing that for his workers and other people. I think that after I did all I needed to for myself I would help others if they needed it. If there were more people like Thompson in the world, this world could and would be a better place.
