This is what I wrote, not that it would do anything but add fuel to the fire.
Dear Mr. Bartkiw,
Thank you for the article you wrote concerning celebrities and their charitable contributions and work. It was rather revealing in some ways and entertaining, to say the least, in others.
Though you are entitled to your opinion on the sincerity of Bono's actions, there are some factual errors that must be addressed.
Quote from your article -
"Interestingly, in their all-too-emotional pity for the poor, they somehow forget about the private jets, limousines, sprawling estates, and lavish lifestyle that they enjoy - which quickly negates any plea to hard-working Westerners for their money."
Obviously you aren't talking about Bono because Bono has always been the very first to state the fact that he is a spoilt rock star. He is using his celebrity to give a voice to those who have none. And I for one have been inspired by his selfless actions to do what I can to help as well. Nor has Bono ever asked any of us for money. What he does do is ask us to give our governments permission to use some of the money that WE PAY IN TAXES to help the people in Sub Saharan Africa get the medication that they can not afford due to the cost.
Quote from your article
"The aptly self-titled Bono, the singer for U2, is the newest member of this elite class of hypocrite. He is currently on the tail end of a tour of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Unbelievably, the Bush Administration has given a fragment of credibility to this numbskull by sending Paul O'Neil, the US Treasury Secretary, along for the ride - though, mostly to counter the uninformed liberal rhetoric that spews from the mouth of Bono"
Please show me where Bono has been hypocritical. Is it because he does have a "mansion on a hill", rides in limos, private jets, has loads of money, etc? That is bunk. And to call another person names because you don't like what he is doing makes you look very much like an ass.
Yet another quote -
"Apparently, the limited amount of talent needed to produce the rock and roll equivalent of Britney Spears music is precisely the same knowledge required to solve all of the world's problems. So what exactly is Bono's solution to the myriad problems on the primitive continent of Africa? Throw money at the problems."
You don't know much about Bono do you? For one thing, he and the rest of U2 are some of the most talented musicians around. Britney Spears shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence. Plus, unlike many celebrities, he did his research. Also, if you did know anything about Bono, you'd know that he is not asking people to "throw money at the problems" he's actually working with organizations that are helping to change things for the better by working to develop a better infrastructure, provide clean drinking water, and to try and get affordable HIV/AIDS medications to the people who need them.
And where do you get the idea that Africa is a "primitive continent"? If it is, it's due to the fact that it's been crippled by massive debts that the governments there can't pay off (which Bono, and others, have worked to get dropped down or even eliminated in some cases), trade that is virtually non existent, starvation, and deadly diseases such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic that in an of itself is killing thousands a day. But of course you probably didn't look into what Bono is actually doing did you?
Yet another one from you -
" in his homeland, Northern Ireland. This should be expected from an eccentric lunatic on a self-glorifying and selfish mission."
For one thing, Bono is NOT from Northern Ireland, he's from DUBLIN, which is in the Republic of Ireland. He has many times pointed out that he is "eccentric" but he is not a lunatic nor is he on a self-glorifying and selfish mission. See above.
Nor do you, I, or anyone else that is not close to Bono, know how much he may be contributing to various causes. Why? Because it is none of our business.
Thank you.