The red star explained

[DebbieSG]

A while back there was a discussion in EYKIW about the red star on Bono's jacket...we never came up with anything definitive, but here is what "the answer guy" says at atu2.com:

From: Mary

Any idea what the red star on Bono's jacket that he wore on tour signifies? Todd Lynn designed it; and I am curious to know a bit more about it. I read something about Bono being amused with the irony of wearing symbols of peace with recent events, but if you know more specifics, let me know!

Dear Mary:

Bono? Amused by irony? You seem to know yer man well...

The red star is a main symbol of the Russian Army. There's also a football club (soccer for U.S. readers) in Yugoslavia called Red Star. That said, Answer Guy believes the red star is a Christian symbol. The five-pointed star in Christianity signifies the Star of Epiphany, the Star of Bethlehem that guided the wise men to find baby Jesus. Bono has long sung about looking for baby Jesus, has he not?

As for the color red, it very well could be just that red stood out the best on the black leather jacket. Or maybe the yellow stars were on backorder and didn't arrive in time. Red is the color of blood, and in Christianity it's used for commemoration of martyred saints. But Answer Guy can't figure out how a symbol of martyred saints might mingle with the "Woo-Hoo"s of the Elevation Tour. At least not yet.

Questions? Comments?

 

[hippy]

Just one comment right now...

The Answer Guy is notorious for making things up. He almost never uses definite information.

That said, his ideas about the star are interesting. I'll have to think about them some more.

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And love is not the easy thing...the only baggage you can bring is all that you can't leave behind.

BONO: FOAD, Lawrence. Just FOAD. (LOL, Mona)

Create Light, Create Unity, Create Joy, CREATE PEACE!

 

[Lilly]

Originally posted by hippyactress:
Just one comment right now...

The Answer Guy is notorious for making things up. He almost never uses definite information.

Y'know, "almost never" is not very definite either...

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It's the puppets that pull the strings.

 

[hippy]

------------------
And love is not the easy thing...the only baggage you can bring is all that you can't leave behind.

BONO: FOAD, Lawrence. Just FOAD. (LOL, Mona)

Create Light, Create Unity, Create Joy, CREATE PEACE!

[This message has been edited by hippyactress (edited 01-25-2002).]

 

[DebbieSG]

------------------
And love is not the easy thing...the only baggage you can bring is all that you can't leave behind.

BONO: FOAD, Lawrence. Just FOAD. (LOL, Mona)

Create Light, Create Unity, Create Joy, CREATE PEACE!

[This message has been edited by hippyactress (edited 01-25-2002).]

perhaps red symbolizes anger, or extreme excitement, becasue "red" is a very bright color...for, instance, bulls in Spain are often attracted by the "red" blanket that matadores shake in front of them! hmmmm, bono as a bull.....shite is anybody familiar with color symbols, or is it really "blood" and martyred saints, christians who stick up for Jesus and DIE??

 

[filledeperle]

Perhaps its because he's a communist!
Well, maybe not. Although I find the red star to be suspicious, who knows what it means? It probably means nothing, like those number shirts Edge wore.

 

[filledeperle]

I just came across some world flags, and noticed some Islamic countries (Algeria, Tunisia) have the red star on their flags. I don't know what those stars mean or if Bono's star is related to them; I just wanted to point it out. But like I said, there's a chance Bono's red star may mean nothing.
It's a good debate, though.

 

[hiphop]

I think its just a little provocative communist sign on Bono, with his talent for using symbols the way he wants to. Sure, the red star is used in this flag or that symbol or whatever, but usually red star is connected with communism. Remember Bono?s passion with the American flag being a symbol of

I didn?t see any Che Guevara T-Shirt on him, though.

 

[FizzingWhizzbees]

Here's just another suggestion about what a red star can symbolise. To some people it symbolises rebellion or resistance. Not necessarily communism or socialism, but resistance to oppression or to injustice. That's definitely what I'd see it as a symbol of, but of course there are loads of different interpretations.

 

[verte76]

Maybe he just likes red stars as imagery. Who knows?