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June 19, 2005
Trying to do good - backstage
Previous "trying to do good" entries here and here.Rock star philanthropists Bob Geldof and Bono are back in the news.
In 1985 Bob Geldof gave birth to Live Aid, the groundbreaking rock-concert series that raised $200 million for African famine relief. Bono of U2 and Richard Curtis (screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill) were there. That day inspired them to learn more about Africa and ultimately form their own antipoverty campaigns. Now the three friends are organizing Live 8, a series of free international concerts to be held on July 2 with unprecedented star power (Will Smith is host of a hip-hop-heavy show in Philadelphia; Pink Floyd will reunite in London on the same bill as U2, Coldplay, Madonna and Paul McCartney), all to pressure G-8 leaders to make debt forgiveness, fair trade and increased aid part of their Africa policies.Geldof took the unprecedented step of holding a teleconference with many political bloggers from all ideologies to promote the initiative, and he and Bono have demonstrated that they are serious about avoiding ideological posturing for a cause de jour, in favor of committing to one cause for years and lobbying and advocating for practical results.
This kind of attitude means that America- and Bush-bashing are right out.
BONO Warren Buffett gave me the best advice on this subject. He said, "Don't appeal to the conscience of America. Appeal to the greatness of America, and you'll get the job done. . . . Onstage I talk about my first impression of Americans, which was watching a man walk on the moon. We thought, Americans are mad! But look what they can do when they get organized.And:GELDOF America doesn't have a lack of empathy; they just don't know the issues as well. Actually, today I had to defend the Bush Administration in France again. They refuse to accept, because of their political ideology, that he has actually done more than any American President for Africa. But it's empirically so.
Geldof has ordered show organizers and producers to redouble all efforts to keep LIVE 8 performers "on message" during the July 2 event. . . . "Please remember, absolutely no ranting and raving about Bush or Blair and the Iraq war, this is not why you have been invited to appear," Geldoff said to the manager of a top recording artist, who asked not to be identified. "We want to bring Mr. Bush in, not run him away."What a novel concept. I'm sure the assorted Useful Idiots will dismiss him as an ageing has-been who's been co-opted by The Man. Another over-the-hill Irish entertainer is leading the charge:
U2's Bono has been attacked by his rock peers for associating with Bush and Blair. Fellow Irish star Sinead O'Connor says, "I think you risk losing your credibility by going to a party at Downing Street. I would draw a line at drinking wine and eating cheese with the Prime Minister."Yeah, it might have cooties. . . .
(links via my Liberal Hawk homies)
Judith | 06/19/05 at 10:15 PM | Categories: Tikkun olam
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