How is someone, who has been through unimaginable hell during hurricane Katrina?s reign, supposed to react when they open the door and see Sean Penn on a boat offering them a ride?

So what the hell does this have to do with fashion? Well I didn?t think cancer research was haute couture either but those little yellow bands were bigger than flip flops and polos this year.

I wonder what must-have ?I?m cool, I gave less than $10 to charity? accessory will stem from this? American Eagle is already selling charm necklaces and donating all of the money to relief efforts. Not a bad thing of course, but I?m just saying that you should not expect jewelry when donating.

Anyways, I?m giving kudos to Mr. Penn (whose new movie, ?All the King?s Men? is to premiere in December?) for rescuing a bunch of people but nevertheless the cynic in me is setting off my inner celebrity-exploiting-charitable-causes trend alarm.

The best example? Oprah, the big ?O? herself. She rounded up Julia Roberts, Matthew McConaughey, Chris Rock, John Travolta, Jamie Foxx, Faith Hill and Lisa Marie Presley to report on the aftermath in New Orleans and Mississippi (I guess Geraldo Rivera was unavailable).

And since this was a two-part special she had to invite Oprah fan favourites: her best friend/token single friend Gayle King and hunky interior designer Nate Berkus. On a side note, Nate lost his boyfriend in the tsunami last year so although his reason to visit New Orleans is most likely sincere I can?t help but feel that Oprah was somehow involved in making him go.

The show itself was eye opening, especially when Oprah demanded to go into the Superdome where thousands have previously lived. The National Guard and the New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin, refused to let her in because of extremely unsanitary conditions. But they eventually allowed her to enter after she agreed to wave any liability if anything happens. Garbage was everywhere, they were walking in floodwater, feces and urine and the stadium was in complete darkness, save for the few beams of sunlight penetrating the roof.

Disturbing? Yes, especially when I was constantly bombarded with promos of Oprah?s 20th season premiere during commercial breaks. It?s apparently so big that they had to take out a wall (whatever that means).

It?s also disheartening to realize that people would only pay attention to this crisis if celebrities are involved and we get to see how THEY (not the victims) react to the situation. Hey, celebrities may be brightening the survivors? spirits but I have a feeling that they would rather have food than to see that dude from ?The Wedding Planner? ask them how crappy their life is now while a camera is shoved in their face.

Oprah spawn, Dr. Phil, also jumped on to the bandwagon and aired a special yesterday showing victims hug Dr. Phil after he magically consoled families in a matter of minutes. After that hour of crisis, everything is restored to normal when tomorrow?s all-new show will feature another screwed up family complete with divorces, revenge, money and a follow-up on a formerly drug-addicted teen who was saved by Dr. Phil one year ago.

Even right now at 2:30 a.m. I?m watching a special edition of ?Entertainment Tonight? where Richard Simmons (you heard me) is in New Orleans visiting his childhood home on Canal St. and wiping tears off bewildered victims (?Uh, so are going to help us or what??).

While I do appreciate certain celebrities like Oprah (whose Angel Network donated $1 Million to Second Harvest) for making a difference, I can?t get past the fact that practically every other talk show host is bringing their camera crew in to milk the whole situation into some ratings bonanza. It?s a one-hour televised version of the LIVESTRONG bracelet. I guess the whole ?You can?t get something for nothing? saying is true after all.

How you can help (and get nothing but the satisfaction of knowing that you helped another person in return):

Canadian Red Cross
1-800-418-1111
http://www.redcross.ca

Salvation Army Canada
1-800-SAL-ARMY
http://www.salvationarmy.ca

Habitat for Humanity
https://www.habitat.org/

ShareLife Canada
1-800-263-2595
http://www.sharelife.org/

World Vision
1-800-268-5528
https://www1.worldvision.ca/CampaignsSecDM2.nsf/US-Katrina?OpenForm&id=03174844

World Society for the Protection of Animals
http://www.wspa.ca/disaster_relief/Katrina/update0905.html






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