By Dawn McNutt
Special to THE DAILY

Bill Clinton may not be your favorite president. You may consider him unethical, immoral or even hypocritical. His name alone may make you cringe. Or, you may simply adore him and think he did great things for our country.

Love him or hate him, you should read his book. Not because of who he is or what he’s done, but because he has written a book that will make you stop and think that maybe people can change the world and maybe you can be one of them.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” His words rang out loud and clear, and he inspired people to do something, anything, to make our world a better place. President Clinton is trying to achieve the same thing. He wants us to take a look around and see what other people are doing with their time and money to help those in need.

Examples

Clinton offers Bill Gates and Warren Buffet as examples. They have donated billions of dollars, as well as their own time and effort, to various organizations aimed at improving quality of life.

Not an extra million to spare, you say? Then take a peek at Oseola McCarty, who worked as a maid for 75 years, barely getting by, but somehow managed to save money and gave $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi to create a scholarship fund for black students.

What about six-year-old McKenzie Steiner who organized drives to clean up the beach in her community in California? Or Jimmy Carter building houses with Habitat For Humanity? How about Bono? Not a bad singer, but an even better human being. His tireless work with the United Nations has led to public awareness and sizable donations that prove celebrity can be a powerful and persuasive thing, especially when placed in the right hands.

Locks of Love donates hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who suffer hair loss from serious medical conditions, and Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children around the world who are suffering from life-threatening conditions.

Want more examples? Want to feel inspired and motivated? Then read this book written by a man who truly puts his money where is mouth is.

The Clinton Foundation has done so many awe-inspiring good deeds, there should never be a question of whether Bill Clinton is for real. Say what you want about him as a president, but as a volunteer and crusader for changing the world, he deserves nothing but respect and admiration.

AIDS, Africa and childhood obesity are just some of the problems he and his organization have tackled with much success. Al Gore may be warning us about global warming and inconvenient truths, but his former co-worker is warning us about doing nothing.

“We all have the capacity to do great things” Clinton writes. “Each one of us can in some way make the world a better place to be.”

At the end of the book are several pages of resources and ideas for personal volunteering experience as well as lengthy lists of organizations which need financial donations. You may not be Bill Gates, but when you consider that half the world’s people live on less than $2 a day, you may be richer than you ever imagined.

Or you could simply give the gift of time — an hour a week at a shelter or soup kitchen. Perhaps your children could collect for UNICEF this Halloween when they go trick-or-treating, or volunteer to gather can goods for area food pantries.

Apathy and indifference are some of the worst qualities in a society.

They can spread like wildfire and cause us to turn away instead of looking straight ahead and facing the many challenges our world has to offer. President Clinton and friends are urging us to do something. Just do your part and show you care. Set an example and maybe others will follow.

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