doctorwho
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
Bono's political and charity acts are well known. Anyone who's watched R&H will hear and see this. And, as we all know, since 1998 or so, Bono has worked hard on the issue of extreme poverty. First it was with Jubilee 2000 for the new millennium. Then came DATA. Now it's ONE. And while the name has changed, the goal has remained the same: to help those who need it the most - but not be throwing money at them, but rather setting up programs to make people self-sufficient. Programs that allow AIDS and malaria to be treated quickly and inexpensively. Establishing means to make food and get water (wells). Then begin the manufacturing of goods and establish trade with other nations so that the people of Africa can finally begin to grow.
But all of you know this.
So why post?
Because despite Bono's decade+ long efforts, it seems little has changed in attitude.
I draw your attention to this short article on Yahoo. That article is fine - it simply discusses Bono meeting with the U.S. vice president. But read the comments. Almost all of them are negative. They are filled with people calling Bono a tax cheat (odd that this is said given that nearly 50% of the people in this country voted for Romney - a person who uses all of the same tax breaks Bono does). But most comments state that with all the problems the U.S. has, how can we even consider looking outside to help someone else.
That, however, is the very reason we must look outside ourselves. This is no longer an "us vs. them" situation. It's all "us". What happens there will affect us. And this isn't about giving money - at least not directly. It's about helping others - something people around the world used to do without a second thought. Look at 9/11, Katrina and Sandy - people rushed to help. And we have helped others nations, like Japan, when the earthquake and tsunami hit. We are great in an emergency. But when an entire continent has been under an emergency for generations, we yawn and say "what about us?"
Still, why post this?
Because I feel it's time we do more than complain about the lack of U2 music or moan when Bono preaches (yet secretly remain so proud of him). It's time we do more than get that ONE pin or sticker at a U2 concert or hold up our cell phones while Bono discusses Africa. It's time to get involved - at least a little bit. For those doing this already - thank you. For the rest of us, myself included, perhaps we can start by writing a little something of our own in the comments section of that article. Get people thinking. Sure, we'll probably get negative comments back - so what? Keep at it. This is far too important. And maybe that will inspire us to do even more. Because in an emergency, every little bit helps.
/end soapbox preaching mode.
But all of you know this.
So why post?
Because despite Bono's decade+ long efforts, it seems little has changed in attitude.
I draw your attention to this short article on Yahoo. That article is fine - it simply discusses Bono meeting with the U.S. vice president. But read the comments. Almost all of them are negative. They are filled with people calling Bono a tax cheat (odd that this is said given that nearly 50% of the people in this country voted for Romney - a person who uses all of the same tax breaks Bono does). But most comments state that with all the problems the U.S. has, how can we even consider looking outside to help someone else.
That, however, is the very reason we must look outside ourselves. This is no longer an "us vs. them" situation. It's all "us". What happens there will affect us. And this isn't about giving money - at least not directly. It's about helping others - something people around the world used to do without a second thought. Look at 9/11, Katrina and Sandy - people rushed to help. And we have helped others nations, like Japan, when the earthquake and tsunami hit. We are great in an emergency. But when an entire continent has been under an emergency for generations, we yawn and say "what about us?"
Still, why post this?
Because I feel it's time we do more than complain about the lack of U2 music or moan when Bono preaches (yet secretly remain so proud of him). It's time we do more than get that ONE pin or sticker at a U2 concert or hold up our cell phones while Bono discusses Africa. It's time to get involved - at least a little bit. For those doing this already - thank you. For the rest of us, myself included, perhaps we can start by writing a little something of our own in the comments section of that article. Get people thinking. Sure, we'll probably get negative comments back - so what? Keep at it. This is far too important. And maybe that will inspire us to do even more. Because in an emergency, every little bit helps.
/end soapbox preaching mode.
