| Am I the only person that thinks U2's Bono is a hypocrite? Keep in mind U2 is worth $600 million.?US AID, the governmental agency responsible for humanitarian aid, requested a $3.9 billion budget for FY 2005. The net worth of Bono's band could easily cover, while still living comfortably, the increase he is asking of the U.S. taxpayers. So, why doesn't he pay it himself? Better yet, why don't any of the other millionaires who are quick to spend other people's money by signing onto Bono's campaign? Some notable millionaires who may or may not be U.S. citizens, live in the lap of luxury thanks to America but still decry American wealth are: Eddie Vedder, Jimmy Eat World, Dikembe Mutumbo, Dave Matthews, Agnes Nyamayarwo, Isaac Hayes, Michael Stipe, Brad Pitt, No Doubt, Relient K, Cheating Kay, John Cusack, and Perry Farrell.
If my family can comfortably raise 3 children off of $50K a year, why can't Bono live off it? It pisses me off that he has the nerve to tell our government to raise our taxes to help other nations, when he's spending $3K on sunglasses.
Also, just to be clear... I'm not against helping other countries and offering aide to people. I just think Bono is talking the talk, as long as it doesn't hit his pocket. I mean how often do you hear of U2 doing a charity concert where all the proceeds go to his charity? Not very often. Why don't they do a charity TOUR? It's not like they can't afford it.
Asked By: troydacious - 5/17/2006 |
I got this off a website, it's by an anonymous writer
I'd first like to point out that the entire band has made many contributions to charity, and those who said not obviously need to do their research before bashing someone simply because they are well-off. From LiveAid to Comic Relief to the Sarajevo concert, and many others, they have been generous with their time in support of causes they believe in. They have also been generous with the cold, hard cash, with all the proceeds from the Passengers album/project going to the War Child foundation and all proceeds from the One single going to an AIDS charity (I can't for the life of me remember the name). Bono recently did some sort of auction to benefit a hospice center in Dublin. And to say they don't care about Ireland is crazy. They were the ones who were so passionate about telling the world about the crisis when no one seemed to care. Didn't they make peace cool again with "Sunday Bloody Sunday?" They were large advocators of the Good Friday agreement, and their lyrics have long been a cry for some sort of peace. The way they touched Irish through their lyrics, on both sides of the fence, seems enough to me, but they've always done more. Of course Bono has two big houses. So what? If I had that much money, I wouldn't be living in this apartment. Do you really think the difference between the cost of his house and the cost of a rundown apartment would make the tiniest difference in Africa? Of course not.
And that is where the difference lies between their "pet causes," where their own money and proceeds is enough to realistically change something, and the "emergencies" like the AIDS crisis, where their influence on their fans and the publicity and controversy they can attempt to draw to the issue are infinitely more powerful than any measely check they could write. The AIDS crisis doesn't need millions, it needs billions. It doesn't need rock stars' money, it needs the money of the wealthiest nations of the world. It doesn't need tiny charity donations, it needs major changes in legislation so Africans can get the drugs WE KNOW HOW TO MAKE. So U2, well mostly Bono, he's trying to do his part by using his fame to a good cause. May I quote: "Celebrity is ridiculous, really, but it's also currency. Spend it wisely. I think I'm on the outer limits of people's tolerance." He isn't the only founder of DATA, he's not drafting legislation to Congress; his role, his piece in the puzzle is raising publicity and doing photo ops with dumbass politicians---for a price. And in that respect he's doing a d**n fine job.
But there's more. Even MORE important than his handshaking with the neocons is the small army of activists he's recruiting. U2 fans as well as casual fans, can take the message where he left off and really can make a difference. I've got a group of friends, U2-fans and non-fans alike who've sponsored the education of children in Africa, largely because of U2's influence and attention to the issue, no emergency. "I can't save the world, I know that. But WE can." It may sound idealist, but cynicism hasn't solved any Holocaust-like pandemics, last time I checked. And unlike the hippies, their organization is making serious proposals to Congress, as well as giving out Action Kits to the Average Joe on what AJ can do to do his part. So the people who spend hours on the internet cussing him/them out and wanting the specific numbers on just how much he donated to charity over income, etc. are missing the point greatly. And they're surely not doing THEIR part in this fight. If we had $1,000,000 to Africa for everytime I've seen Bono called a, well, a variety of hateful things, then we wouldn't need to worry about a thing! Too bad it doesn't work that way.
I just find it terribly sad that, in this culture, we are happy to see rock stars OD at age 40, date a variety of actresses, get drunk, etc, etc. But when one actually possesses something resembling intelligence, has been married faithfully for over 20 years, and wants to at least attempt to direct his fame in a positive direction, we can't take it. Sad. Even more sad is when we take our fabricated perceptions of a man we've never met as an excuse to roll our eyes at the medical Holocaust.
As for the band, I am a fan of theirs, I would probably rate them as one of my favorite bands. However that is completely irrelevant. I would still respect their efforts even if they weren't my style. It sickens me that one of the main reasons people use to back up their arguement that Bono shouldn't be invloved in this cause is "O yeah and U2 is a dumbass band way to overated!"
I'd really like to hear what anyone else thinks and would also like to encourage all to investigate a program to sponsor a child or family in Africa---it's a truly r off a website - it was signed anonymous
Answered By: Sassy - 5/17/2006 |