Quote:
Originally Posted by ElProximo
No. His credibility stayed the same but he did earn more respect for simple accurate reporting.
Bono isn't in any kind of elected position or in any place of expertise to be 'telling anyone' anything or to be 'speaking out' about things like he is 'for poor people' while someone else is 'against poors'.
I can go on television tomorrow and 'tell you' its time to help the poor and say how I'm taking a stand against it.
Then appear places looking concerned and 'damning those who cause this'.
Meanwhile, US and British troops killing Taliban is a very very effective way to eliminate corrupt governments.
(and one would hope this works on Ghaddafi one day).
Meanwhile, drilling mass amounts of oil all over the place is a very very effective way in reducing food prices for the worlds poorest people and getting them air-conditioners, stoves, pure water etc.
We absolutely know this in centuries of demonstrated practice.
And there are already THOUSANDS of organizations sending tens of thousands of workers to Africa in hands-on money-where-your-mouth-is well-digging missions.
Most of these are Christian orgs but plenty are plain 'secular' type groups of some kind.
So who the hell needs Bono to show up like he came up with the idea.
What Bono should do is join one of the many many Roman Catholic orgs in Ireland who have (before Bono) already put in place all kinds of volunteer positions.
I know 16 year old girls who spent 2 months in Africa hand-shoveling wells and swinging hammers for real.
Never saw Mr. Amazing shut the hell up for once and do that. And not for some 1 day self-glorifying documentary.
No... go try and match the teen girl from our Church youth group for 2 months. Then talk.
/medication induced rant
|
Point being Bono has a platform from which to rant and people listen, Amnesty receive huge boosts both in interest and donations every time he takes up for one of their causes, Live Aid and Live 8 received huge boosts because of his gobbing off. Could rattle off a whole list of other causes he has publicised.
While he isnt in an "elected" position it could be argued he is one voice for ordinary people and he has been doing the socio political ranting for a long time, people do follow the causes he promotes. And the band he fronts still packs them in.
Would him giving up his time to assist in the digging of a well have reduced thrid world debt as much as him button holing world leaders like Gordon Brown to "drop the debt"? Or giving out a text number at every single concert on the Vertigo tour for people to support the campaign to drop Third World debts?
He uses what he has (fame and a wide audience), effectively for the betterment of others. Could he do more? Yeah he probably could, so could we all.