Bono Interview

[the iron horse]

U2's Bono talks religion, praises George W. Bush in new interview | Fox News

[Pearl]

Originally Posted by the iron horse

U2's Bono talks religion, praises George W. Bush in new interview | Fox News

I know Bono said he'll speak to the devil if it meant helping Africa, but damn.

[Vlad n U 2]

I wish I'd be able to tune out his politics completely because that is what really tarnishes my opinion of him. Yuck.

[Diemen]

Frankly I find it refreshing that there's a public figure willing to give credit where credit is due, regardless of politics.

[Jive Turkey]

Originally Posted by Diemen

Frankly I find it refreshing that there's a public figure willing to give credit where credit is due, regardless of politics.

[Pearl]

Originally Posted by Diemen

Frankly I find it refreshing that there's a public figure willing to give credit where credit is due, regardless of politics.

Oh I agree with you on that. It's just when I read "Focus on the Family" my skin crawled.

[maycocksean]

Bono seems to be the sort to look for common ground with who ever he happens to be talking to, especially when it's in the service of causes he cares deeply about.

Some people see that as "fake" or whatever. I don't. (Not least because I tend to do the same thing )

[BVS]

Originally Posted by maycocksean

Bono seems to be the sort to look for common ground with who ever he happens to be talking to, especially when it's in the service of causes he cares deeply about.

Some people see that as "fake" or whatever. I don't. (Not least because I tend to do the same thing )

Nor do I, I think more should do so. Our current partisan environment wouldn't be so poisonous.

[MrsSpringsteen]

Will read the interview later, but yes..If more people took that approach we'd all be much better off. Disagree with people without being rude, insulting, and arrogant. And don't see people in black and white terms all the time.

[last unicorn]

Bono gives credit where credit is due. I understand that. Still it used to bug me a lot that he''s praising Bush so much, I had a hard time accepting it and it makes him an easy target for critics. He has spoken in the past about still being critical about most of the stuff that happened under the Bush administration but at the same time he found it hard to criticize Bush publicly because of all the things he's done for Africa.

I really try to understand Bono's work from the bipartisan point of view, even though it's hard sometimes. I admire his approach and I think he's right about not wanting to exclude anyone in the political spectrum, right or left.

Still, I'm pretty sure (and hope) that his private political opinions are somewhat different.

[Diemen]

I look at it this way: if Bono had, like so many on the left might have preferred, stayed the hell away from Bush, then the simple truth of the matter would be that millions of Africans would not have gotten the aid they did. If Bono only met with people he and the mainstream left agreed with, then his efforts would not have had as big an impact on those most in need. Bono was and is absolutely right to look beyond political/power/religious lines for help here - the cause is greater than political or religious differences.

I'm certainly no fan of Bush (I think my record here will confirm that ), but Bono is absolutely right to praise him for his contributions to poverty relief in Africa. And I sure as hell am glad he didn't shy away from working with Bush because of what it might do to his image.

[anitram]

I think it's both reasonable and appropriate to recognize a person's contribution to a cause. Doesn't mean that Bono is praising Bush generally. The Vatican is probably most deserving of praise here and extending them that courtesy wouldn't mean you approve of the Church generally.

As an aside, the debt relief work that was done during and in conjunction with Jubilee 2000 was very important and very timely. But the comments to that article to the effect that Bono & Bush saved a continent of people are ridiculous. I'd invite people who feel that way to go down to Africa and spend some time there. Hell a couple of days would be sufficient to disabuse them of that notion.

[AEON]

Originally Posted by BVS

Nor do I, I think more should do so. Our current partisan environment wouldn't be so poisonous.

I very much agree with this, BVS.

[Bonoa]

*Fox News*

[The_Pac_Mule]

Bush just got back from Zambia, he and Laura were helping renovate a cancer clinic there I believe. He often goes to Africa to do things like that, they love him over there. The George W Bush Institute does a lot of good around the world, especially in Africa.



So many people really vilify him still and think he's evil and its such a load of shit. I have mixed feelings on his presidency, but regardless I think he's a great man and a wonderful human being. I also really appreciate the work he does with Wounded Warrior. He does a lot of biking and always does the marathon bike races for Wounded Warrior charities.

[BVS]

Originally Posted by The_Pac_Mule

So many people really vilify him still and think he's evil and its such a load of shit. I have mixed feelings on his presidency, but regardless I think he's a great man and a wonderful human being.

I do know there were and are people that describe him as 'evil' and I think it's an overreach but you have to understand he did something no other president in our time has ever done, which is wage a war of choice, one of THE most pointless wars this country has ever been involved in. A war that even the right is now criticizing(mostly because the letter changed from R to D but let's forget about that). There were many many other reasons like Katrina and whatnot, but the truth is I won't call him evil, but I will say he was one of the worst presidents and truly one of the most misguided.

[Pearl]

I think it's a bit ironic that he does work for Wounded Warriors, yet he seems to have no regrets about the Iraq War. Those men and women are injured because of him. It was a war that was completely pointless and has hurt America economically and on the international scene. I hope someday Bush finds it within himself to publically admit he was wrong and apologizes, but that's all wishful thinking.

[Bonoa]

Originally Posted by The_Pac_Mule

Bush just got back from Zambia, he and Laura were helping renovate a cancer clinic there I believe. He often goes to Africa to do things like that, they love him over there. The George W Bush Institute does a lot of good around the world, especially in Africa.

So many people really vilify him still and think he's evil and its such a load of shit. I have mixed feelings on his presidency, but regardless I think he's a great man and a wonderful human being. I also really appreciate the work he does with Wounded Warrior. He does a lot of biking and always does the marathon bike races for Wounded Warrior charities.

Of course he had to go to Africa! And he had to suck up to all veterans he had ignored for so long! He wouldn't want to be described in the history books as the man who wages wars for oil and the man who threw America into severe debts!
It's all propaganda!

[anitram]

Originally Posted by The_Pac_Mule

He often goes to Africa to do things like that, they love him over there.

Certainly not the impression I got from my 6 weeks there, though admittedly this was 3 years ago.

[AEON]

Originally Posted by Bonoa

Of course he had to go to Africa! And he had to suck up to all veterans he had ignored for so long! He wouldn't want to be described in the history books as the man who wages wars for oil and the man who threw America into severe debts!
It's all propaganda!

I'm not the biggest fan of President Obama's presidency, but I would not claim he is evil. The same President Bush.

I think that if we really want to move past the partisan morass, we really should be careful not think we can look deep into a person's heart and know if they are "good" or "evil". We should see good deeds like rebuilding a cancer clinic as what it is - a good deed.