U2 Isn't Radical Now

[Irvine511]

All I can say is that I walked out of both my shows ready to punch Nazis. But that’s the out-of-touch centrist in me who probably should have been spoonfed TRUMP IS BAD by a billionaire and his backing band, because failure to do so makes you complicit with all the bad things.

 

[nbelcik]

They could do one simple thing and simply put images of Trump alongside the white supremacists marching in Charlottesville. Or have Trump at the end say his "good people on both sides" remark and then launch into the opening of Pride and the "this is not America" part

 

[Mack_Again]

it's easy, if U2 does complete makeover and become a hardcore band, all the problems would be solved.

 

[Mack_Again]

imagine Edge playing intense power chords with his super-battered Les Paul into Mesa Boogie Duo Rec. I just want to see it.

 

[Mac_Fly]

They could do one simple thing and simply put images of Trump alongside the white supremacists marching in Charlottesville. Or have Trump at the end say his "good people on both sides" remark and then launch into the opening of Pride and the "this is not America" part

Yeah, they could do that.

Or not.

Besides, didn't they already do that bit with Charlton Heston in regards to the NRA leading into Bullet the Blue Sky for the Boston Elevation show? Did that turn the tide of NRA influence and bring about stricter gun control laws? Nope.

Did Sinead O'Connor setting fire to a photo of the pope on national television bring about the collapse of the pedophile empire? Nope.

Did Michael Stipe quipping "this song goes out to the Exxon Corporation" before launching into Turn You Inside Out force the oil industry to change their ways? Nope.

Bono yelling through a megaphone "Trump sucks and you shouldn't have voted for him" wouldn't do a damn bit of good either.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

Wow, jump to conclusions much? How does me saying that U2 telling everyone their opinions on today's politics changes no one's mind make me a supporter of fascists and white supremacists? That's disgusting. You need to apologize. How can you even say something like that? What is wrong with you?

This is what I was trying to say, but apparently you're more interested in insults and slander than reading comprehension:

yup. when I joined this place I had the temerity to disagree with a few 'regulars' here about Hillary and some aspects of the '16 election.

so their logical response was to accuse me of being a former poster who was apparently kicked out for being an alt-right, neo-Nazi Trumpster. I think I was also called Satan, but I forget the specifics.

Good times.

 

[Irvine511]

They could do one simple thing and simply put images of Trump alongside the white supremacists marching in Charlottesville. Or have Trump at the end say his "good people on both sides" remark and then launch into the opening of Pride and the "this is not America" part

You’re right. Then I would have understood the point better. Thanks!

 

[DaveC]

yup. when I joined this place I had the temerity to disagree with a few 'regulars' here about Hillary and some aspects of the '16 election.

so their logical response was to accuse me of being a former poster who was apparently kicked out for being an alt-right, neo-Nazi Trumpster. I think I was also called Satan, but I forget the specifics.

Good times.

good one oregoropa, that'll throw em off the scent

 

[Mac_Fly]

An artist’s content is the sole decision of the artist.

Has U2 ever not been, as you call it, performing “political rallies”??

Seems to me that every. Single. Tour. Has evoked a message on the geopolitical stage. Sometimes it was single-issue content. Sometimes not.

Your post makes it seem as though performers have an obligation or expectation to stay neutral. Do you think U2 is being political to appease their audience? Or were they founded on that?

1) I've never seen U2 perform a political rally. No. I've personally attended 25 U2 concerts over the years and have witnessed political moments during the shows. But never a non stop rally.

2) Yes. There may be a theme for every U2 concert. But again, I never get the feeling that it is a political rally, even though there are moments they are political.

3) I don't know how my post conveyed the notion that "performers have an obligation (!) to stay neutral." I've said repeatedly, I think, that U2 can put on the show they like. That means they can be as neutral, or un-neutral, as they choose.

 

[Gzusfrk]

yup. when I joined this place I had the temerity to disagree with a few 'regulars' here about Hillary and some aspects of the '16 election.

so their logical response was to accuse me of being a former poster who was apparently kicked out for being an alt-right, neo-Nazi Trumpster. I think I was also called Satan, but I forget the specifics.

Good times.

Yeah, it's a well know concept, and fits this forum like a glove: "Once they've lost the argument, they will proceed with personal insults against you and your character."

 

[DaveC]

Yeah, it's a well know concept, and fits this forum like a glove: "Once they've lost the argument, they will proceed with personal insults against you and your character."

well if you ever actually responded to any of the many thoughtful replies you get all the time to your posts in FYM instead of posting weekly drive-by self-righteous rants alternating between how terrible everyone on this forum is and how "socialists" (aka anyone left of steve bannon in your world apparently) are ruining literally everything, a reasonable discussion might be had.

if all you do is whine about strawmen and refuse to engage with people who are actually trying to have a discussion with you, people are naturally going to get frustrated.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

well if you ever actually responded to any of the many thoughtful replies you get all the time to your posts in FYM instead of posting weekly drive-by self-righteous rants alternating between how terrible everyone on this forum is and how "socialists" (aka anyone left of steve bannon) are ruining the entire world, a reasonable discussion might be had.

if all you do is whine about strawmen and refuse to engage with people who are actually trying to have a discussion with you, people are naturally going to get frustrated.

this is hilarious. thanks for giving me a good laugh this afternoon!

 

[DaveC]

no problem oregoropa!

 

[nbelcik]

Bono yelling through a megaphone "Trump sucks and you shouldn't have voted for him" wouldn't do a damn bit of good either.

The whole point is to shame people and make a point that you're a bad person if you support Trump. And you should be shamed if you're a Trump supporter, public figures and regular people have an obligation to take a stand against this administration. This is a moment in our history akin to the Civil Rights Movement where those who stand by and do nothing will be looked at poorly by future Americans.

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

Yeah, it's a well know concept, and fits this forum like a glove: "Once they've lost the argument, they will proceed with personal insults against you and your character."

I haven't done that when responding to your comments over there. I stay away from insulting posters, no matter how much I may disagree with their beliefs.

That said, if somebody says something stupid and ignorant, and people say, "Hey, that was stupid and ignorant"...that's not a personal insult. That's a response to the idea/belief being spouted. Not necessarily a condemnation of the person as a whole.

Besides that, what arguments have we even lost to you? You don't stick around long enough to actually try and prove any of what you're saying. In order for us to "lose" an argument, you have to back up what you're saying and display actual facts to show we were misinformed/wrong/whatever. You've yet to do any of that.

ETA: It'd also be easier to take your "personal insults" complaint seriously if you weren't making insulting statements about various groups of people yourself. All your stereotypical comments about liberals, and working-class/poor people like myself and my family, that you've made over in FYM are pretty damn insulting to me. You want to be treated with respect, maybe you should start showing respect to other people.

Anywho, so back to whether or not U2 is radical enough for people...

 

[Irvine511]

The whole point is to shame people and make a point that you're a bad person if you support Trump. And you should be shamed if you're a Trump supporter, public figures and regular people have an obligation to take a stand against this administration. This is a moment in our history akin to the Civil Rights Movement where those who stand by and do nothing will be looked at poorly by future Americans.

I hardly think this tour is “doing nothing.” It’s quite politically engaged, and on the right side of history, and you’re taking a big risk by putting Charlottesville footage on the screen — people around me (and me) were all raising our middle fingers at the Nazis on the screen. And the big slogan at the end — “respect existence or expect resistance” — is a clear endorsement of The Resistence.

The show is anti-Trump.

There’s just no sledgehammer— it’s not necessary.

 

[dazzledbylight]

 

[dazzledbylight]

If people want escapism what the fuck are they doing at a U2 concert?

Yup

 

[dazzledbylight]

That being neutral in situations of oppression quote is from Desmond Tutu, a man that U2 admires very much, so much so that they've featured videos of him during their concerts. Seems to me like the band would follow his words, especially given their long history of speaking out about politics. And yes, everything is political. Every single part of our society is affected by politics, from the food you eat, to the entertainment you consume. Being able to ignore politics is a privilege of comfortable people. Pretending otherwise is willful ignorance

A good liberal talk show host once said:

"You should take an interest in politics, because someday politics is going to take an interest in you.

 

[dazzledbylight]

That being neutral in situations of oppression quote is from Desmond Tutu, a man that U2 admires very much, so much so that they've featured videos of him during their concerts. Seems to me like the band would follow his words, especially given their long history of speaking out about politics. And yes, everything is political. Every single part of our society is affected by politics, from the food you eat, to the entertainment you consume. Being able to ignore politics is a privilege of comfortable people. Pretending otherwise is willful ignorance

A good liberal talk show host once said:

"You should take an interest in politics, because someday politics is going to take an interest in you".

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I hardly think this tour is “doing nothing.” It’s quite politically engaged, and on the right side of history, and you’re taking a big risk by putting Charlottesville footage on the screen — people around me (and me) were all raising our middle fingers at the Nazis on the screen. And the big slogan at the end — “respect existence or expect resistance” — is a clear endorsement of The Resistence.

The show is anti-Trump.

There’s just no sledgehammer— it’s not necessary.

This.

 

[Mac_Fly]

For some, nothing short of Bono shooting flaming arrows at a Trump baby balloon will suffice.

 

[BVS]

yup. when I joined this place I had the temerity to disagree with a few 'regulars' here about Hillary and some aspects of the '16 election.



so their logical response was to accuse me of being a former poster who was apparently kicked out for being an alt-right, neo-Nazi Trumpster. I think I was also called Satan, but I forget the specifics.



Good times.

Yup, I didn’t attack anyone, post sexist bs, or make up a bunch a lies.

But they called me ‘Satan’... well I think, I might as well throw it out there.

Yeah, it's a well know concept, and fits this forum like a glove: "Once they've lost the argument, they will proceed with personal insults against you and your character."

You never resorted to personal insults or attacks, correct?

It’s easier to play victim than engage, ain’t that right boys?

 

[Gzusfrk]

Yup, I didn’t attack anyone, post sexist bs, or make up a bunch a lies.

But they called me ‘Satan’... well I think, I might as well throw it out there.



You never resorted to personal insults or attacks, correct?

It’s easier to play victim than engage, ain’t that right boys?

I have called out the blatant anti Christian hypocrisy by a couple of members of this forum and called them bigots, which by the definition of the word, is what they were.

I have tried to engage as much as possible, but when you are one of the few around here with a differing world view, and those in this self described "echo chamber" resort to feelings over facts, it's hard to have a rational discussion

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Lol

 

[BVS]

I have called out the blatant anti Christian hypocrisy by a couple of members of this forum and called them bigots, which by the definition of the word, is what they were.



I have tried to engage as much as possible, but when you are one of the few around here with a differing world view, and those in this self described "echo chamber" resort to feelings over facts, it's hard to have a rational discussion

I’m sorry, but this is laughable on so many levels.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Remember folks... "I didn't even vote for Trump but..." is code for "I voted for Trump but prefer to keep my racism on the DL"

 

[MattD]

For fuck's sake.

U2 are entertainers. They can do what they like, put on the show they like and be as political as they like.

My right wing friend complains to me that they are too political during their shows. This asshole complains they aren't political enough.

Fuck them all.

If Carlyn Rose is so adamant about all this, let her go form a band, book a gig, then preach politics till she passes out.

To an empty arena.

Erm... but she’s right.

While they perform songs that directly challenge the current state of affairs like Acrobat, they dilute the impact of their message by singing wish you washy limp and flaccid number both lyrically and musically like American Soul and Get Out Your Own Way.

All their modern political songs preach mere platitudes. And that’s the problem, they don’t observe enough in their songs and resort to mere preaching. There’s none of the insight of older songs and that loses much of its power and thus relevance.

P.S. For those U2 fans who are Trump supporters, you’ve really really misjudged this band. Like massively. Not sure how you could call yourselves fans - in fact, it’s an embarrassment that some folk even considered themselves U2 fans with such cancerous toxic views.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

Remember folks... "I didn't even vote for Trump but..." is code for "I voted for Trump but prefer to keep my racism on the DL"

Remember folks... 'You made up a bunch of lies...' is code for 'you have opinions different than me and my forum buddies and since we hang out here all day every day and we all think alike, it makes us reallly, really mad...'

this place keeps on giving... LOL

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Lolz I know right??