Hi Bono,
While I am a great admirer and supporter of you and your work in Africa, there is a great deal of cynicism and misinformation circling in the United States (and elsewhere as well, I imagine) about the whole ordeal.
Your supporters know better, those of us that have followed you and Geldof and everyone else know that hope for Africa lies not just in foriegn aid, but in trade, commerce, education, and the elimination of corruption.
However, the greater majority of the public see it all as a waste. They see you as nothing more than a loud-mouthed rock star sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. All they see is a continent full of corruption, which in their mind, will never change. Because of this, they assume any money given will just be wasted.
My question is, what can be done on a larger scale to educate the general public that there really is hope for Africa, that donated money isn’t just going into the pockets of corrupted leaders, that the campaign is about trade, not just aid, about justice, not just charity?
In conclusion, thank you for everything you’ve done. From your music, to your faith, to your generous spirit, you’ve inspired myself and countless others to be better people.
Thank you,
Chasity
you've put into words what I wanted to do, but wasn't able to!
