Is Bono campaigning for Kerry, or what?

[Diemen]

Oh please. The only people perceiving him to play politics are melodramatic fans. If I recall Bono has spent plenty of time with both parties this year. So if just this once he's hanging out with democrats, that means he's playing politics?

IT'S

NOT

THAT

BIG

A

DEAL.

Bono may do what he wishes, and I honestly don't think he needs the counseling of his fans to make the right decisions.

 

[Diemen]

I think the reason -->most<--- of you are justifying this and saying what's the big deal, it doesn't matter, is because you like Ted! If it were W. he were 'honoring', you'd be under a rock too

BS. If it were Bush Bono were honoring, I'd let him do his thing, even if I didn't agree with it. I'm not here to decide what Bono should or shouldn't be doing. And besides, I like rock stars to have at least a tiny bit of controversy in their lives. We can't expect Bono to go tip-toeing around in fear of offending someone.

And for the record, I don't like Ted Kennedy. I don't like Jesse Helms either, but I certainly wasn't crying out in outrage when he and Bono met up.

People can be soooooo melodramatic over the smallest little things - especially when politics are involved. It's not a big deal. It's not a big deal. It's not a big deal. Bono has hung out with Republicans and Democrats in the past year. At this moment he's hanging out with Democrats. It's not the end of the world. I'm sure he'll hang out with Republicans again. Get over it already!

 

[Jamila]

Diemen, with all due respect,

IT IS A BIG DEAL FOR PEOPLE DYING OF AIDS and other totally preventable causes in Africa!

As someone who has lost friends to the AIDS pandemic in Africa and who knows people who are struggling to keep their families intact in several African nations because of the devastating effects of the AIDS pandemic and poverty in their countries, I am speaking from personal experience.

To diminish the potential effects that this appearance can have is simply seeing what we want to see.

I would rather Bono err on the side of caution.

The lives of Africans ARE A BIG IDEA.

THEIR LIVES ARE BIGGER THAN ANY BIG IDEA! (Peace on Earth)

 

[BAW]

Yes, this is getting WAY to dramatic and made into a much bigger deal than it should be.

 

[wolfeden]

Can you show me where Kennedy's political agendas and any of Bono's social 'causes' (god, I hate using that word after they way he showed his distaste for it) do not meet?

Can you show me how Bono being present at one of the United States' longest-serving, richest and most successful politicians' fetes - and thereby getting an opportunity to work a receptive crowd and gather them to his purpose of defeating HIV/AIDS in Africa and indeed the world will NOT benefit DATA, TheONECampaign, Drop The Debt, and everything else Bono has worked for?

Please. Explain your positions to me. I can't understand your point without facts backing them up.

Why no responses to what I told you about Reverend Lusk of Philly? He personally stands for a great many things I find distasteful -- but you did not see me starting a thread like this about it here, did you?

Did you read my report of the rally? What did you find there, written about someone on the opposite side of the religious and sociopolitical spectrum from me?

Screaming hysterics in all caps just looks ridiculous. Make your point intelligently, as many here have done, and accept that Bono belongs to nobody but himself, and has quite enough intelligence to decide for himself what is wise and what is not.

Fin.

 

[Diemen]

Diemen, with all due respect,

IT IS A BIG DEAL FOR PEOPLE DYING OF AIDS and other totally preventable causes in Africa!

As someone who has lost friends to the AIDS pandemic in Africa and who knows people who are struggling to keep their families intact in several African nations because of the devastating effects of the AIDS pandemic and poverty in their countries, I am speaking from personal experience.

To diminish the potential effects that this appearance can have is simply seeing what we want to see.

I would rather Bono err on the side of caution.

The lives of Africans ARE A BIG IDEA.

THEIR LIVES ARE BIGGER THAN ANY BIG IDEA! (Peace on Earth)

Jamila,

With all due respect, all of this brouhaha is being made out a small blurb that Bono will be in town to honor Kennedy, and that he may possibly attend the DNC. That's it. No mention of Bono endorsing Kerry or crying out "Democrats rule! Republicans Drool!"

And by the way, did it occur to you that the Democratic convention would be the PERFECT time for Bono to strengthen his base of supporters for contributing to aids relief in Africa? Think about it, there'll be a national (and international) spotlight on the event and there are going to be some powerful people in attendance. I bet you that if Bono does attend, he's going to seize that opportunity to win more people to his cause. And I wouldn't be surprised if it happens at the Republican convention, too.

To draw out the conclusion that his (unconfirmed) attendance will hurt Africans dying of AIDS is a bit far-fetched.

 

[Diemen]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it

Can you show me how Bono being present at one of the United States' longest-serving, richest and most successful politicians' fetes - and thereby getting an opportunity to work a receptive crowd and gather them to his purpose of defeating HIV/AIDS in Africa and indeed the world will NOT benefit DATA, TheONECampaign, Drop The Debt, and everything else Bono has worked for?

Excellent post, wolfeden.

 

[HelloAngel]

I find it hard to believe that the Bush Administration would end their friendship with Bono and DATA because of a ceremony honoring Kennedy. If Bush, etc drops the AIDS interest/fight, there will be many angry protestors, and the issue will not go away quietly.

 

[kariatari]

But being an American involved in grassroots progressive organizing for over twenty years, I will tell you that I can't see anything positive for Africa coming out of this appearance by Bono in regards to the way that the "average" American voter (who is overwhelming skeptical and slightly conservative) will perceive his appearance at this soiree.

Off subject, but...

Though I don't doubt your experience, I do doubt your conclusions based on your experience. I don't see how you can say that the average voter is slightly conservative seeing as Al Gore actually won more votes in the US than did Bush.


Oh, and great posts, wolfeden.

 

[HelloAngel]

I find it hard to believe that the Bush Administration would end their friendship with Bono and DATA because of a ceremony honoring Kennedy. If Bush, etc drops the AIDS interest/fight, there will be many angry protestors, and the issue will not go away quietly.

I'll just quote myself here because I guess it's my own ignorance that I want to highlight. I suppose my understanding here is that Bono's work on behalf of Africa and courting the Bush Admin is because he wants to secure funding. I don't see that side changing due to a Kennedy honor or whatever.

I don't like Kennedy either, but I don't know anyone who would change their opinion of Bono and his AIDS battle after having a photo-op with ole Ted. I was mortified at the Jesse Helms meeting/photo-op, but I knew it was also on behalf of AIDS, so I said ok. It didn't make me think Bono was alligning himself with Helms' old beliefs, and I don't think people will draw such a misperception if Bono is photographed with Ted Kennedy.

If we want to say the "average voter" might be affected, then let's also consider the very possibility that the "average voter" doesn't give a crow about the Kennedy ceremony, and that they are growing tired of the endless speeches on AIDS from Bono (I've heard that complaint many many times from 'average voters' in my family and at political rallies). Alot of "average voters" don't pay attention to the AIDS fight but rather the other political bombshells that are going on right now.

I dunno. I guess I'm ignorant, so that's all I can offer here.

 

[u2grace]

I think Jamila & I are probably on different sides on a lot of issues, but on this one I think we are in agreement. (I only say that to point out that this can't be a simplified Democrat vs Republican or liberal vs conservative issue.) Those of us on this board on far more informed that most on Bono's beliefs, actions, etc. What his appearance (whether just at the Kennedy thing, or at the convention itself) does to OUR opinions isn't really the issue, in my opinion. My concern (and I belief Jamila's) is the possible PERCEPTION this could have among the non-Democrats and non-Kennedy supporters (which will include some Democrats, I expect). That perception may not be based on all the facts, it may not be a fair representation of what Bono believes and does - but, as they say, perception is reality. That's not a good thing, but it's still important. If his appearance/participation gets any news coverage (particularly if it's not detailed - and just says "Bono honors Kennedy", it may be one of the few pieces of information most people have about him. And many of those people won't like it one bit.

In the grand scheme of things, this one appearance isn't a big deal, probably - but there is the potential for it to be harmful to the Africa work he's doing. I don't think there's anything wrong with having that concern and saying so.

 

[nurse chrissi]

It appears that Bono has written a editorial for The Boston Globe that is very nicely non-partisan saying that he will be attending both conventions to talk about AIDS/poverty in Africa - I found a copy on the @U2 website

Personal note - I don't care who you vote for - just VOTE! It's a right and responsibility.

 

[u2grace]

Thanks nurse chrissi. I just saw that too and was about to post that same message. It does make me more hopeful, if he's going to both conventions. (It did say going, not speaking as far as I could tell.) Still not happy about Kennedy, but at least the convention piece looks good (in my opinion)!

 

[biff]

That's a great article, beautifully written as usual. Thanks Nurse Chrissi. He does say he will be "talking" at both conventions, but it's unclear whether that's formally or informally. I suspect the latter. If the former, that would really be an amazing boost for his humanitarian campaign.

 

[purpleoscar]

Bono's politics

Nobody should be too surprised about Bono's politics. I've disagreed with his point of view on the Contra's with insinuating KKK atributes to the US in Bullet the Blue sky, and other things but what I liked about U2 is that disagreement was always okay. Larry in an interview in Canada said that politics wasn't what U2 wanted to be measured as. "If someone wants to bang their head against a brick wall because they like the sound of the bass guitar, that's also important." Bono knows that not everyone follows him. He called himself accurately in George magazine a "champaigne socialist". He's very aware that he has a lot of money but doesn't donate the large amount he could feasibly do without to the poor. He calls it living in the "contradiction". In other words he's very ambivalent about his natural self interest.

Bono has also said in lyrics for Gone "you get to feel so guilty, you got so much for so little." He also stated that his life would feel empty if it was just show business and nothing else.

Most artists need something to make their lives feel important and not trivial. The easiest way is to join some cause out there and go for it. Bono has talked to pro-market economists like O'Neill, and Hernando de Soto. I'm sure they have agreement on some things but not most solutions.

I feel that charity is ok but hardly the answer. Africa needs STRONG private property rights, democracy, trade, and the people need to handle their personal finances well to achieve what many in the western world have made. Without that the charity is a drop in the bucket.

I think Bono is respectable and kind when it comes to his fans, and I can like his music abilities along with the band, but get my knowledge from books, and most importantly "READING FROM DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW." Bono is at least willing to hear from others. I've never seen a rockstar talk to bona fide economists before. I think that's pretty open minded compared to most artists.

 

[Popmartijn]

Hello,

As I think that the Bono article in the Boston Globe is important for this discussion, here is the link and an excerpt:
http://www.boston.com/news/politics...ake_aids_a_crucial_topic_at_both_conventions/

Make AIDS a crucial topic at both conventions

By Bono | July 25, 2004

THERE IS a time to navel-gaze, and convention season '04 is one of those times. Post-9/11, it's America's first chance to think collectively about what lies ahead. The big problems. The big solutions.

Sounds exciting to me. The conventions haven't even started, but the television networks are saying there won't be any news. That's not how the rest of the world sees it. Two men are going to speak, and for the next four years one of them will be the most powerful person on the planet. To the rest of the world, what they say is the biggest news around.

That's why I'm going to both conventions. Not just to listen, but to talk. Because when I last looked I couldn't find the biggest global challenge, AIDS and the extreme poverty in which it thrives, on the schedules.

[. . .]

Americans are joining a campaign to be part of something that is bigger than themselves. At the conventions there's history in the making for both parties. That's what people from around the world will be tuning in to hear on their transistors. That's why I'm going to be there. I want to be a nagging presence in sunglasses, a visual reminder of people who have a life-or-death stake in what is and isn't discussed on the convention floor.

C ya!

Marty

 

[Jamila]

Thanks for posting that, Popmartijn.

I was just getting ready to post it myself.

Still, the possible ramifications of this appearance by the B-man ARE serious and definitely something to consider.




But this is a BEAUTIFUL AND BRILLIANT EDITORIAL BY BONO.

What those of us who are active in the Global AIDS and anti-poverty movements REALLY want is that day when Bono doesn't have to write these MAGNIFICENT editorials because AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa has been ended.

That's the day that I'm sure BONO IS LOOKING FORWARD TO also!

 

[martha]

Still, the possible ramifications of this appearance by the B-man ARE serious and definitely something to consider.

You're so right! Bono doesn't know what the hell he's doing!! Here he is risking everything to be seen with Ted Kennedy, an incarnation of Satan himself! This will make everyone turn against him! I guess all that experience he's had with more than one US president, a pope, heads of state all over the world, the Secretary-General of the UN, a variety of US cabinet members, and countless US senators and representatives doesn't mean anything! He hasn't carefully considered this at all!


Come on!! He knows what he's doing; he might even know a little more about these kinds of things that you do. Just maybe.

 

[Katey]

What those of us who are active in the Global AIDS and anti-poverty movements REALLY want is that day when Bono doesn't have to write these MAGNIFICENT editorials because AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa has been ended.

What I want is the day nobody has to right them regardless if it's Bono or not.. But your right Jamila Bono not having to right them is a good start ..

Come on!! He knows what he's doing; he might even know a little more about these kinds of things that you do. Just maybe.

He is a very smart man .. he knows what he is doing you bet he does .. I ususually agree with Jamila on these issues but here I have to disagree .. When he has all these people in the same room and television access why wouldnt he go .. it's a chance for alot of people to hear him and for him to give them a kick in the pants and say wake up here's what we need to do..

I think he certainly has calculated this out just as he did when he showed up at the Liberal Convention

That's why I'm going to both conventions. Not just to listen, but to talk. Because when I last looked I couldn't find the biggest global challenge, AIDS and the extreme poverty in which it thrives, on the schedules.

thats the saddest thing of all that it's not on the schedule .. God Bless Him for making it apart of it ... I'd much rather Bono up there talking about this emergency then nobody at all ..

 

[BAW]

You're so right! Bono doesn't know what the hell he's doing!! Here he is risking everything to be seen with Ted Kennedy, an incarnation of Satan himself! This will make everyone turn against him! I guess all that experience he's had with more than one US president, a pope, heads of state all over the world, the Secretary-General of the UN, a variety of US cabinet members, and countless US senators and representatives doesn't mean anything! He hasn't carefully considered this at all!


Come on!! He knows what he's doing; he might even know a little more about these kinds of things that you do. Just maybe.

Exactly.

Give the man some credit. He doesn't need anyone praying for him on this issue or second guessing his decisions.
If he thought for a SECOND that this Kennedy tribute would jeopardize his years of hard work on behalf of Africa, does anyone honestly think he would do it?

 

[Ft. Worth Frog]

I think Bono has learned to do what many of us (including me) have failed to do and that is stop putting people in certain political boxes. Jesse Helm and Ted Kennedy are both human and deserve to be treated as such. I admire Bono for being able to be non-partisan in many areas. Both the right and left wings demonize the opposition and their respective followers tend to forget that the people on the other side are human beings. On a personal note, I do not really care for Ted Kennedy but that does not mean that he should not be honored for his years of public service.

 

[wolfeden]

wow. amen FtWorthFrog.

and amen Bono, who got the last laugh on this whole thread...

*chortling with laughter*

 

[Jamila]

It is interesting that Bono is only NOW revealing that he will be attending both of these conventions.

If he would have stated that a month ago, we wouldn't have been having these discussions all month!

Makes me kinda wonder if he didn't rethink his original plan......

Bono does know what he is doing, but he is not perfect (he would be the first one to remind us of that). He has made mistakes in his life and he is capable of making them again.

So I think those of us who are looking to his judgement as basically infallible are doing themselves and Bono an injustice.

I'm here to congratulate Bono when he's right and to challenge him to continue to be right.

Anyway, this makes me breathe a whole lot easier for the continued success of the Global AIDS movement in the USA.

And I encourage everyone here to sit down with someone from Africa who has lost a family member (or two or three) to AIDS and/or other totally preventable causes and come away from those encounters not totally committed to improving their lives.

If I speak with passion about these issues that Bono champions, it's because I have a small part in that struggle too. And if I challenge Bono occasionally, it's only out of Respect for him and Love for my friends in Africa.



I hope that my friends here will appreciate and understand that.

THANK YOU, BONO, FOR CHOOSING TO WAVE THE WHITE FLAG OF NEUTRALITY ONCE MORE!

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

I find it hard to believe that the Bush Administration would end their friendship with Bono and DATA because of a ceremony honoring Kennedy.

I would definitely hope not. Any politician who would refuse to help Bono with all the stuff he's doing for Africa upon finding out Bono hung out with the opposing side would be a pretty immature one, in my opinion, and would need to get over it and quit acting like a baby.

Originally posted by Bono's American Wife
If he thought for a SECOND that this Kennedy tribute would jeopardize his years of hard work on behalf of Africa, does anyone honestly think he would do it?

Excellent point .

Angela

 

[Diemen]

Doubting Thomases...

It is interesting that Bono is only NOW revealing that he will be attending both of these conventions.

If he would have stated that a month ago, we wouldn't have been having these discussions all month!

Makes me kinda wonder if he didn't rethink his original plan......

First of all, this thread is only a day old. Secondly, why would you think that Bono is somehow changing his plan? To validate your prior argument perhaps? I propose that Bono had every intention from the get-go to attend both conventions (as I suggested in a post before the article came to light).

So I think those of us who are looking to his judgement as basically infallible are doing themselves and Bono an injustice.

Never once has anyone in this thread supporting Bono's actions said or insinuated that his judgement is infallible. We simply gave him the benefit of the doubt that he is an adult and is capable of making decisions on his own. I think those of us who are so quick to judge his actions that we already speak negatively of them before learning the whole truth are doing Bono a bigger injustice.

THANK YOU, BONO, FOR CHOOSING TO WAVE THE WHITE FLAG OF NEUTRALITY ONCE MORE!

Not to be a thorn in your side, but he never put the flag down. You only thought he did and jumped on it.

 

[BostonAnne]

wow. amen FtWorthFrog.

and amen Bono, who got the last laugh on this whole thread...

*chortling with laughter*

I missed the editorial when browsing the paper yesterday. It was really nice to read it in print!

 

[RocknRollKitty]

Give the man some credit. He doesn't need anyone praying for him on this issue or second guessing his decisions.
If he thought for a SECOND that this Kennedy tribute would jeopardize his years of hard work on behalf of Africa, does anyone honestly think he would do it?

Perhaps he didn't 'think for a second' that it would until he gave it some more thought.

It is interesting that Bono is only NOW revealing that he will be attending both of these conventions.

If he would have stated that a month ago, we wouldn't have been having these discussions all month!

Makes me kinda wonder if he didn't rethink his original plan...

I think maybe he did, since we have been hearing about the Dem one for weeks now (and have been discussing that and the Kennnedy thing for almost a month in various threads, not just this 'day old' one) and the news of him going to 'both' only just now surfaced.

 

[Salome]

the only way to solve this is for Bono never to set foot into the USA again

 

[Jamila]

It IS strange that Bono has just announced yesterday that he's attending both political parties - if this was his plan all along what wouldn't he have announced his intentions before now?

Many people, including some posters here, WERE concerned about the APPEARANCE of Bono "taking sides" in the Presidential race when he previously said he wanted to remain nonpartisan.

Again, if you spend any amount of time trying to grassroots organize Americans around Global AIDS and other issues of social justice, especially for Africa, you know how hard it is to get the average American voter to hold on to this issue.

With the economy still down and the whole Iraq conflict, unfortunately Africa's plight isn't at the top of most Americans' minds.

So, it is IMPERATIVE that our main spokesman RETAINS HIS APPEARANCE OF NONPARTISANSHIP to secure the gains in terms of Congressional support and funding that the Global AIDS movement has so far received.

Why is this so hard for folks to understand? And, as I said, once you become immersed in this issue (Global AIDS), it motivates you to do whatever you can to help alleviate the situation for as many people as possible.

I just wish that instead of picking apart everyone else's posts, my fellow posters would offer NEW and ORIGINAL ideas of their own.

That, I think, was the original idea of forums like this - to SHARE ideas, not to compose your posts by tearing down another poster's.

Diemen, can you show my one of your original posts with your own original ideas, not just where you're tearing someone else's down?

I would like to see it.

And I would really like to end the negativity - it's not productive to any of us.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE DREAMING, IT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO....

 

[kellyahern]

I think the Boston Globe editorial was the first we have heard from Bono himself about either convention.

It was the media who mentioned his attendance at the Kennedy tribute (and it was only a small mention in an article focused on the Kennedys, the focus of the article was not on Bono). There hasn't been any mention of his attendance at the Republican convention before because the media just has not brought it up yet.

I don't think Bono re-thought his plans, I think he planned to go to both all along.