March 26, 2002

Is Hidden Agenda Behind Bono's DC Crusades?

Here is a New York Times story about North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms doing a 180 degree turn in regards to US Government AIDS spending in Africa. Helms credits U2 FrontMan Bono for helping him see the light in regards to the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

According to the article, "He (Helms) has attributed his change of opinion to Bono, the star of the rock group U2 who has pushed for more federal spending to fight AIDS, and the Rev. Franklin Graham, who heads an organization known as Samaritan's Purse and is deeply involved with Africa."

One U2 concert in DC is all it takes for a seasoned and conservative politician like Helms to change his mind about a disease he claimed to have been caused by a "homosexual lifestyle"? Hmmm...

New home for Bono the pest?

Needless to say, it would take a hullava a lot more than some concert tickets to get some old and new media types to change their opinions about Bono. Not to say that the thrifty folks at U2 can be mistaken as generous when it comes to giving out free concert tickets.

Bono should be applauded for bringing world attention to the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Unfortunately, Americans are at times so insulated and isolated that they fail to recognize or be effected by serious problems in other parts of the world.

Aside from his obvious need to save the world and feel like he is really making a difference, what is the real reason Bono is pushing this AIDS issue. Another question which needs to be asked is if the US aid funds are making their way to those in need or are they being deposited in Swiss bank accounts by corrupt African rulers? How is this foreign aid accounted for when it leaves the US?

Due to absurdly high ticket and concession prices, U2's last concert tour, Elevation, was the second highest grossing of all-time, raking in approximately $110,000,000.00. If Bono was really sincere about AIDS funding, wouldn't his band have donated maybe 10% of the concert proceeds to the AIDS epidemic in Africa? After all, Bono recently stated, we are not talking about a lot of money in regards to saving lives in Africa.

What's 10 million bucks split a few ways for some filthy rich guys like U2? After all, like Bono said, this is not a lot of money we are talking about in return for saving lives.

Read the fourth post by Andrew on this music message board, The Velvet Rope. Allegedly, US foreign aid funds have a nasty little habit of ending up in Swiss bank accounts due to less than scrupulous African leaders.

Quite coincidently, this brings us to another big hearted issue being championed by Bono the Crusader, Drop the Debt. Once again Bono the savior (see Peter Buck trial) is campaigning for the US and other developed nations to forgive loans made to African countries.

So let's see if we can get this one straight. Bono the Benevolent is asking US taxpayers (the lower and middle class) to forget about loaned money which has allegedly ended up in Swiss bank accounts due to corrupt African rulers.

Bono was recently quoted as saying that he goes to sleep with world bank reports in his hands. Of course it is just a coincidence that the same funds this European (Irish) singer is pressing the US Government for somehow allegedly end up in European Swiss banks. Of course it is also a coincidence that Bono's label, Vivendi, is also a European (French) company.

Let's continue with this Drop the Debt thing. Since the issues are so complex, why doesn't Bono the Magnificent write a nice letter to his fans explaining in detail why it is so important we Americans Drop the Debt. If he was really passionate about this issue, this is the least he can do to explain himself.

What is the purpose of U2.com? For U2 Sound Engineer Willie to tell us how many shots he drank and how wasted he got hanging out in some trendy restaurant after a show. Or is this awfully designed web site for U2 Manager Paul McGuinness to give us the good news that U2 is not touring and the bad news that they are not breaking up?

If Bono cannot take the time to put a few words on his own band's web site to explain what the fuck Drop the Debt is really all about, then our response is NO THANKS guy! Or maybe that's just it - he does not want to explain it.

All we have received from this Irish songbird for the past couple of years is some gibberish about the world imploding and we have to drop the debt. Maybe the world is imploding because US taxpayers dollars are allegedly winding up in Swiss bank accounts instead of helping those in need? How about bringing some publicity to this issue?

Excuse me if I'm wrong, however, isn't this Drop the Debt issue for rich people like Bono. What is he doing bothering the "little guy" about a rich man's game? I'm still trying to recover from the financial devastation caused by last year's U2 concert.

Let's move on to Bono's credibility. Although Bono is arrogant enough to believe that most of his fans actaully believe he is your run of the mill - nice guy - rich rock star, there are those who know better than to buy into that one.

1) How credible is Bono when he is in bed with a corporate greed machine like Vivendi Universal?

2) How credible is Bono when he intentionally shits where he eats - like on his own industry? According to Bootlegs Rule on the Velvet Rope, "Why doesn't Bono go back to Ireland and start an indie label to support the real people who put him there in the first place. (No Glamour in supporting the industry that created him)." No glamour and no money.

Ever wonder why Bono the Beautiful promotes deceased artists like his "good friends" Mike Hutchence and Joey Ramone instead of giving a plug to some living artists who can actually use the work? Going on stage and making comments about dead artists (supposed friends) to promote your music is LOW (as in the great album by David Bowie) - anyway you slice it.

3) How credible is Bono when he uses every photo opportunity in the book and mainstream bullshit media to push his band and sell records? How credible can he be when he sells out his long time fans for the flash in the pan teeny boppers?

4) How credible is Bono when his own band allegedly sent their "ugly" fans to the back of the General Admission line in Boston because U2 was filming the concert that evening and preferred the beautiful people at the front? How credible can you be when you fail to acknowledge and apologize for such dirtbag behavior towards the people who put food on your table?

5) How credible is Bono when most artists appear to be avoiding him like the plague. As an example, Bono's recent charity album, Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" featured washed up teeny bopper talent, instead of veteran rock talent. Coincidene there are no real artists on that track? Probably. No secret why the album didn't sell well.

Would you trust you hard earned bucks to a 5'5" guy who wears his American flag lined jacket down to his ankles and has a habit of giving himself more attention than is really necessary?

Instead of sending cash aid to Africa, the US should send medical and food supplies and guarantee they reach the people who deserve it. Since the cash appears to have a way of ending up in European banks instead of Africa, maybe it's time we came up with a better solution.

All in all, due to his lack of crediiblity, Bono has failed to sell his cause and in the process has brought up more questions than he has answered.

As for those who buy into his empty rhetoric, do us all a favor and convince Bono the Politician to leave the music industry and go into politics. The music industry has enough dubious characters prowling around selling their snake oil - like preachers in the old time gospel hour.

Now if you really want to make a difference in fighting AIDS, please donate a few bucks to your local AIDS-HIV organization. They really can use the help.

Sphinx
"There's Only 1 Station"

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