I don't know why you still get so bent out of shape over Bono's hype or why you think this is some recent development. Bono has always, from the very beginning made big bold over the top statements about their work. He has also explained repeatedly why he does this. One reason is to psyche the band themselves up about what they are doing much like the typical sports team rah, rah, type thing. The other reason is quite literally to stir shit up. He really doesn't care if you believe him or not and frankly he isn't really trying to be realistic about what is going on. If you've followed Bono for any length of time you should know that by now.
Back in 2000 when Bono made the comment about applying for the best band in the world job that had the press going crazy one reporter interviewing Bono started off in a kind of aggressive way with challenging Bono on this, and you could see he was convinced that Bono was some egotistical asshole, Bono kind of leaned forward like he was going to continue on with the typical hype but he suddenly changed tactics, relaxed back into a very cool slouch and with a wicked grin said, "Well, it got you talking about it, didn't it?" The guy had no comeback at all for that and conceding Bono's point went on to do a fairly well balanced interview that focused on the music. The point is that Bono's hype has always served a particular purpose and that purpose has never been straightforward information on the work. This has been consistant pretty much throughout their career, not just on the last two albums.
As for the political stuff Bono has never supported Bush's position on the war and has always stated his own position quite clearly when asked but he has also refused to jump on the demonization bandwagon which is why he is generous enough to say nice things about them as people while still saying he feels their approach was wrong. The problem is not with them as people it is with their ideology and there are just as many left wing ideologs as there are right wing ones but they are not evil people. One of the big problems with our politics here in America is that we can no longer disagree without personally attacking and demonizing our opponents and I admire Bono for doing his best not to be drawn in to that trap. He makes these positive statements when the journalists are pushing him to join in on the Bush bashing. He has stated unequivocally that the issue he wants to work on for the rest of his life is the issue of extreme poverty and disease and that he will not take sides in that fight because it is not a left or right issue. It is unfair to expect Bono to get involved in antiwar protests and such. You're issues with Bono in regards to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict are much the same as the IRA's issue with Bono over Northern Ireland. You want him to take sides when what he wants is to get both sides to stop killing each other. Bono has the same views towards activism that he has always had. He is more interested in getting to the root cause of the problem which is the hardening of the heart. He's been preaching love for his entire career and what he's been able to accomplish in the last 9 years is astounding. There are a hell of a lot of people whose lives have been saved because of Bono's willingness to not hate people who hold opposing views to his. It is beyond churlish to criticize him for that. Whether you think he has compromised his art or not is your problem but Bono seems to be quite happy with the choices he has made and has said on more than one occasion that those accomplishments are much more important than whether he looks cool or is somehow 'authentic'. Bono's image as an artist is not more important to him than peoples lives.
Dana
I actually disagree with you on both cases. I used to believe Bono's excuse for talking that way, but I realize I was just making excuses for his questionable behavior. It's unnecessary. It's disingenuous for an artist to talk like that just to stir up controversy when U2 gets all the headlines all the time. Only Oasis would stoop so low; U2 are better than that. It's cynical and unbecoming, and invites the kind of upset that I feel toward him these days. I disagree that U2 have always acted the same. There are elements of this behavior throughout their career, but Bono comes off as much more thoughtful in interviews -- such as this one:
YouTube - Bono & Larry Interview (part 1/4)
-- than nowadays.
Don't get me wrong. I love U2 like Bono used to love America. I hope for something better, for the better side to prevail, for Bono to stop being so egocentric and phony and sucking up to those with power and making excuses for the Bush administration.
Secondly, on politics, Bono usually took up quite clear positions in the past. He was unequivocally against American neocolonialism disguised as anti-communism toward Latin America; he was against Pinochet; he was vocally against the IRA and I don't recall any criticism of the Ulster Unionists (though I could be wrong). He was viscerally against Reagan's vision for America and the poverty he'd see in American cities like Los Angeles. Now, not one word about what the Bush administration has done to the victims of Katrina. Not one word about the brutal attack on the environment and the poor (especially the black underclass that Bono has always stood behind) by this administration. This is record-breaking stuff, folks. This isn't just any old president, especially adjusting for income and changing morality. The gay bashing in 2004 was just so cynical and calculated. At least Reagan honestly believed some of what he preached, even if he was delusional. Adjusting for life's opportunities, Bush is the most evil man around.
I think in his heart Bono's against these things still, but has silenced himself to get moneys for Africa. The problem is he went over the line in saying Blair and especially Bush, Karl Rove, Condie Rice and Cheney were well-intentioned toward the Middle East, when the record doesn't show that at all. These people created and exploited a climate of fear and intolerance to run over decent statesmen who tried to persuade them -- to arrive at reasonable compromise, such as many in the UN and many fine politicians in American, the UK (Robin Cook) and many in the world. Bono is simply lying through his teeth in making apologies for the Bush administration or he's really been seduced by the idea of being loved by anyone. That's not just the issue of Africa at work, it's egocentrism -- the ugly side of wanting to be loved by everyone. It's in many politicians and Bono's a politician. He's lost his ability to speak the truth on contraversial subjects, and he needs to get therapy and get it back.
What the Bush administration did is far worse than the criminals that Bono has insisted be seen as cruel -- such as Pinochet and Reagan and even Bush senior. I disagreed with them at the time because I believed American propaganda and I was a kid, but U2 was right to criticize the hypocrisy of the Gulf War and the cruelty. Fastforward to 2001, and Bono's all gung ho on the Tonight Show about how Afghanistan is the unequivocally right kind of war. What about all those people in Guantanamo and secret prisons, being tortured. It's not okay if Pinochet does it and he has to be brought to justice, but Bush is a well-intentioned guy and the American left (like Rolling Stone) have got it wrong?
I'm sorry, but Bono is wrong, factually and morally for trying to halt the severe rethinking and soul-searching America has to do to avoid this kind of thing happening again and to bring these people to justice. It's one thing to stay quiet, it's another thing to defend murderers and exploitative capitalists like these who are/will be millionaires and live lives of luxury in 2009 and beyond. It's intolerable, and Bono's wrong to encourage tolerance of such people.
And to those of you who don't like the topic, too bad. I don't care if the thread is moved or whatever, but don't pretend that the problem is my being off-topic because the essence of U2 was being off-topic for bringing politics into art. I didn't intend for the thread to go this way. I just reacted and (it's true) vented, but I really like the way people like rihannsu intelligently debate me. Even if we so often disagree, it's never rude or ugly, and she makes me rethink what I'm saying.
So, we can get back on topic, if you'd like:
I liked the way The Edge spoke in the interview. It was nice and quiet and not trying to encourage people to think it was going to be the greatest. However, some posters have made worthwhile points about Edge doing the same in the past; I hadn't known he'd talked that way. Either way, I liked the way he talked this time, and I hope and think it can bode very well.
