HelloAngel
ONE love, blood, life
By Debbie Kreuser
2006.02
Bono was the keynote speaker on Friday Feb. 3, 2006, at a forum sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Called "The Future in Front of Us: Living a More Involved Life,” Bono's nearly hour-long speech focused on the issues dearest to his heart—Africa and music. These two issues would keep intertwining throughout Bono's remarks all night.
In typical Bono fashion, after a short introductory film about him, Bono thanked everyone for coming and exclaimed that this group was a "very different crowd" than the one he had spoken to at the same venue (the Washington Hilton hotel) the day before at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Bono started his speech by emphatically stating that "the power of rock 'n' roll should not be undersold." He talked about his longtime friend and fellow African activist, Bob Geldof ("the master of the expletive" as Bono called him). Bono mentioned the Live Aid concert and his and Ali's trip to Ethiopia in 1985 to volunteer in a refugee camp. He talked about how Ethiopia didn't just change his mind, it opened it.
Bono recalled his infamous meeting with the Ethiopian father who offered his son to Bono to take back to Ireland so that his son would have a chance to escape an uncertain future in the refugee camp. Bono revealed in a quiet, almost saddened, voice that what he felt inside when he had to refuse the man's request to sponsor his son (due to restraints placed upon Bono that were out of his control) was "a feeling I can't quite forget, turning down that man."
Bono went on to talk about the tremendously unnecessary loss of life in Africa due to AIDS and extreme poverty. He stressed to the audience that the world loses "a tsunami every month" of people in Africa due to these causes and yet there is little media coverage of it. He stated once again that this was not an issue of charity but one of justice. Bono boldly told the audience that this was the "straight truth, the righteous truth".
Bono emphatically talked about "the chasm between the scale of the [AIDS] emergency and the response.” He spoke about the ONE Campaign's call for the U.S. government to allocate one percent of the federal budget to end extreme poverty in the world. (currently the U.S. only allocates 0.125 percent of its federal budget to end extreme poverty). He asked us to consider this commitment of money as "an investment" "a bargain" for the United States, a way to "redescribe ourselves" to the poor of the world. Bono finished his remarks on this subject by enthusiastically stating that he is "in love with America."
Getting a bit more serious in tone, Bono pointedly told the audience that "power brings responsibility" to help those who are less fortunate. He asked the audience members to "join us" in the ONE Campaign. Possibly alluding to the civil rights movement and the recent loss of Coretta Scott King, Bono said that the movement to save Africa's future was "our freedom ride.” He closed his talk by once again directing our attention to "the wanton loss of life in Africa."
The Q&A portion of the night was particularly informative with a few very interesting moments. One of the first questions asked was who had been some of Bono's first inspirations in life. Bono immediately answered "The Clash" and spoke about the tremendously transformative power of punk rock music in society ("three chords and the truth" he said to the glee of the audience).
Bono ended his response to this question by stating that the future is "only limited by our imagination."
Next, a potentially compromising question was asked of Bono. The question revolved around if Bono ever felt like slapping one of these dodgy politicians in the face that he has to meet while advocating on behalf of DATA and ONE. With a chuckle in his voice, Bono simply replied "I'm sure that they've wanted to slap me."
Bono was asked questions like what was on his iPod (The Killers and Arcade Fire) and who were some of his personal heroes (Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev).
And then the highlight of the night. A question was read to Bono written by a 14-year-old student who stated that she wanted to bring the issues of ONE to her high school and wanted Bono's suggestions on how to do this.
Never the performer to lose a classic moment, Bono asked the girl to come out of the audience to join him onstage. To audience applause, the girl climbed upon the stage and nervously approached Bono. Bono took her hand and bent over to graciously kiss it.
He talked to her about the importance of debt cancellation and fair trade for Africa's future and how these were central issues of ONE. Then he asked her if she was ready to help make her school a ONE school. When she began to meander in her response to his question, Bono quizzically looked at her and pointedly asked her in a serious yet joking tone, "Are you telling me that you're too busy?" After chatting with Bono, the girl left the stage soon after.
It seemed a poignant way to end the night. Increasing numbers of people are coming to hear Bono speak on the issues closest to his heart (Africa and music). But ultimately it seems to me that this encounter between Bono and an obviously smitten young fan is an allegory for all of us.
Bono's speeches, while at times a bit repetitive, aren't there simply to be enjoyed but to motivate the listener into action on behalf of the world's poorest people.
And at a time when the fight to end AIDS and extreme poverty is at a standstill in terms of the money committed to end this crisis, Bono is trying to enlist ever increasing numbers of "soldiers" (volunteers) to fight this battle. The challenge to each one of us is when will you enlist.
From the urgency in Bono's voice and demeanor at this event and elsewhere, I think that I'm safe to say that he would appreciate us enlisting in his battle to end extreme poverty as soon as possible.
From beginning to end, it was another beautiful night sharing the heart and soul of this amazing man.
2006.02
Bono was the keynote speaker on Friday Feb. 3, 2006, at a forum sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Called "The Future in Front of Us: Living a More Involved Life,” Bono's nearly hour-long speech focused on the issues dearest to his heart—Africa and music. These two issues would keep intertwining throughout Bono's remarks all night.
In typical Bono fashion, after a short introductory film about him, Bono thanked everyone for coming and exclaimed that this group was a "very different crowd" than the one he had spoken to at the same venue (the Washington Hilton hotel) the day before at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Bono started his speech by emphatically stating that "the power of rock 'n' roll should not be undersold." He talked about his longtime friend and fellow African activist, Bob Geldof ("the master of the expletive" as Bono called him). Bono mentioned the Live Aid concert and his and Ali's trip to Ethiopia in 1985 to volunteer in a refugee camp. He talked about how Ethiopia didn't just change his mind, it opened it.
Bono recalled his infamous meeting with the Ethiopian father who offered his son to Bono to take back to Ireland so that his son would have a chance to escape an uncertain future in the refugee camp. Bono revealed in a quiet, almost saddened, voice that what he felt inside when he had to refuse the man's request to sponsor his son (due to restraints placed upon Bono that were out of his control) was "a feeling I can't quite forget, turning down that man."
Bono went on to talk about the tremendously unnecessary loss of life in Africa due to AIDS and extreme poverty. He stressed to the audience that the world loses "a tsunami every month" of people in Africa due to these causes and yet there is little media coverage of it. He stated once again that this was not an issue of charity but one of justice. Bono boldly told the audience that this was the "straight truth, the righteous truth".
Bono emphatically talked about "the chasm between the scale of the [AIDS] emergency and the response.” He spoke about the ONE Campaign's call for the U.S. government to allocate one percent of the federal budget to end extreme poverty in the world. (currently the U.S. only allocates 0.125 percent of its federal budget to end extreme poverty). He asked us to consider this commitment of money as "an investment" "a bargain" for the United States, a way to "redescribe ourselves" to the poor of the world. Bono finished his remarks on this subject by enthusiastically stating that he is "in love with America."
Getting a bit more serious in tone, Bono pointedly told the audience that "power brings responsibility" to help those who are less fortunate. He asked the audience members to "join us" in the ONE Campaign. Possibly alluding to the civil rights movement and the recent loss of Coretta Scott King, Bono said that the movement to save Africa's future was "our freedom ride.” He closed his talk by once again directing our attention to "the wanton loss of life in Africa."
The Q&A portion of the night was particularly informative with a few very interesting moments. One of the first questions asked was who had been some of Bono's first inspirations in life. Bono immediately answered "The Clash" and spoke about the tremendously transformative power of punk rock music in society ("three chords and the truth" he said to the glee of the audience).
Bono ended his response to this question by stating that the future is "only limited by our imagination."
Next, a potentially compromising question was asked of Bono. The question revolved around if Bono ever felt like slapping one of these dodgy politicians in the face that he has to meet while advocating on behalf of DATA and ONE. With a chuckle in his voice, Bono simply replied "I'm sure that they've wanted to slap me."
Bono was asked questions like what was on his iPod (The Killers and Arcade Fire) and who were some of his personal heroes (Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev).
And then the highlight of the night. A question was read to Bono written by a 14-year-old student who stated that she wanted to bring the issues of ONE to her high school and wanted Bono's suggestions on how to do this.
Never the performer to lose a classic moment, Bono asked the girl to come out of the audience to join him onstage. To audience applause, the girl climbed upon the stage and nervously approached Bono. Bono took her hand and bent over to graciously kiss it.
He talked to her about the importance of debt cancellation and fair trade for Africa's future and how these were central issues of ONE. Then he asked her if she was ready to help make her school a ONE school. When she began to meander in her response to his question, Bono quizzically looked at her and pointedly asked her in a serious yet joking tone, "Are you telling me that you're too busy?" After chatting with Bono, the girl left the stage soon after.
It seemed a poignant way to end the night. Increasing numbers of people are coming to hear Bono speak on the issues closest to his heart (Africa and music). But ultimately it seems to me that this encounter between Bono and an obviously smitten young fan is an allegory for all of us.
Bono's speeches, while at times a bit repetitive, aren't there simply to be enjoyed but to motivate the listener into action on behalf of the world's poorest people.
And at a time when the fight to end AIDS and extreme poverty is at a standstill in terms of the money committed to end this crisis, Bono is trying to enlist ever increasing numbers of "soldiers" (volunteers) to fight this battle. The challenge to each one of us is when will you enlist.
From the urgency in Bono's voice and demeanor at this event and elsewhere, I think that I'm safe to say that he would appreciate us enlisting in his battle to end extreme poverty as soon as possible.
From beginning to end, it was another beautiful night sharing the heart and soul of this amazing man.
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It was an excellent speech, Bono did an awesome job (could I expect anything less?). If only there were a way to get his message out to the average American...not the dedicated U2 fan, politician, or corporate sponsor. It's middle America the message he needs to reach, maybe if he continues the lecture circuit it'll get out there.
