Who really wants to be a millionaire?

Author: 
By Abdullah Bajubeer
Publication Date: 
Fri, 2001-11-30 03:00

RENOWNED Irish writer George Bernard Shaw always claimed that the easiest way for anyone to become a millionaire was to marry one. In fact, this method has its shortcomings including the time required to find, meet and get acquainted with the millionaire. In addition, if you are a man, there is no guarantee the millionairess will want to marry you and there is the additional danger that she may be old and ugly.

It also works the other way — with woman looking for rich men. There are a number of very rich women in America who were originally very poor. They were able to marry rich husbands and then inherited his money. Laws in many states of the US direct that a man’s fortune should be divided between him and his wife in case of divorce.

There are other ways of making a fortune; according to the US magazine, Forbes, these include drug-trafficking, arms deals, blackmail and other illicit transactions. The Mafia is an example of a group which has made use of these different ways of making millions. Yet another way of becoming a millionaire or even a billionaire is to attempt a military coup in one of the Third World countries by using, not adopting, such words as "justice" and "equality". Then you loot and exploit the resources of the country for your own personal gain and interests.

Lotteries are also easy ways for ordinary people to become millionaires. A prominent newspaper in the Philippines reported that nearly 500 people there had become millionaires through lotteries in the last five years. The best part is that anyone may become a millionaire and move from rags to riches overnight by simply buying a cheap ticket for peanuts.

And of course there is MBC’s program with a prize of SR1 million but nobody has won it yet. The questions are almost too complicated to believe. There are also millionaires who inherited their money from one or both of their parents or from other relatives. And last of all, there are the self-made millionaires who worked and struggled and made it by sweat, work and dedication. Those people tell us that the first million is the most difficult but after that, it is almost automatic. We have now looked at many possible ways of becoming a millionaire. I think I would prefer the way recommended by Bernard Shaw.

***

ONE day in 1998, the White House announced that Bill Clinton would deliver a speech to the nation. Most Americans thought that the president would talk about some important issue; they never considered that he would talk about nutrition.

In fact, the president scolded the American people for their bad eating habits. For instance, most Americans don’t eat breakfast and so go to work without the required amount of energy. Moreover, the president recommended a light breakfast as the body reacts slowly to heavy meals and the reaction affects performance and production adversely.

The president also talked about obesity which is common to many people and is attributed to the widespread habit of eating fast-food or takeaway meals. Clinton also recommended that the people should cut down on rice, bread, spaghetti and other foods that are directly linked to obesity and overweight.

A study conducted by the Egyptian Research Center revealed that most of Egypt’s workforce eat a breakfast consisting of beans or sandwiches which lead to fatness and obesity. I am sad to say that Saudi society is on its way to fatness and obesity due to improper nourishment and takeaway food. Far too much rice is eaten in the Kingdom; in some restaurants more than 10 types are on the menu.

Experts say that one of the best methods of keeping weight down is to program and train the brain to reject certain foods such as rice, bread, sweets and other items with a high fat content. It is both vital and imperative for us to understand that a diet should become a way of life. It is not a temporary venture before returning to old and unhealthy habits.

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