On Wealth and Privilege

Philanthropy is best driven by a sense that to whom much is given, much is required. It can also be inspired by compassion and a desire to help the less fortunate. Shame and guilt are less praiseworthy motives, a point that appears to have eluded Matthew Shapiro ’76 in his defense of Kate Poole ’09’s quintessential white liberal guilt trip.

What Gaetano Cipriano ’78 and I find so offensive about Ms. Poole’s Neo-Marxist kvetching is that no one should use the opportunities and freedoms afforded us by our own system of democratic capitalism to destroy that system. Moreover, it is tiresome to hear wealth and privilege assailed by someone who would otherwise be ignored but for the platform afforded her by her unearned wealth and privilege. Trustafarians of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your Priuses!