I watched a very informational piece with Bono from U2 last night on CNN. He was in Washington trying to promote his point of view, getting audiences with Congressmen, talking about the AIDS package that America is giving to Africa and how he helped pass that, talking about his private meetings with Colin Powell to discuss foreign policy...and it made me wonder. I'm all for allowing people to be activists, and I think Bono is trying to do some good stuff, but he is influencing, or attempting to influence, United States spending and policy. We all talk about celebrities, and their politics, and whether or not we should care what they think, but most of them are just Americans using forums available to them to speak their views. Bono is not an American. He is Irish. He is not a United States tax payer (I'm sure concerts he does in America pay taxes, but you get my drift). Should a non-American be able to try to influence our government policy, and to try to use American's tax dollars for his political agenda? He is not another country's diplomat or leader, he is a rock star. He was not elected or voted in by Ireland to represent their interests in America. What do you guys think about this? Even if you agree or disagree with his views, what's your opinion of this situation. They even talked about him threatening to set up concerts to politically charge people against certain people in governent if his demands were not met. Is that freedom of speech, or blackmail? Just wondering.
To me, it doesn't bother me that Bono attempts to use his celebrity to make changes in our country. Even a non-citizen should enjoy the right to free speech, etc. here in the U.S. Now, whether the politicians should listen to him is another matter.
From the NY Daily News... ____________ Could Bruce Springsteen be plotting to rain on the Republicans' campaign parade? Democratic operatives are buzzing that the Boss has been talking about staging a free concert somewhere on Sept. 2, when President Bush is due to address the Republican National Convention. Besides getting out the vote, Springsteen hopes to provide "counterprogramming to the message the Republicans will be broadcasting," says a source. A spokeswoman for Springsteen would only say, "There are no confirmed Bruce shows for 2004."
Well, Bono probably pays more taxes directly or indirectly than you and I ever will; but anyway, Bono, I guess through persistency and what I assume is genuine desire to help people, has reached a stage where he is like a one-man NGO, like the Red Cross or Doctors without Borders or Amnesty International. If you recall, a few years ago he and then Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill went on that "goodwill tour" thing of Africa, so apparently even the Bush administration treats him a little differently. I don't think him lobbying the government is really that much different from other international NGO's doing the same thing and don't really have a problem with it.
I'm not so sure. The idea does have a certain partisan appeal, but I don't like the precedent of counter-programming one of the major party's nomination. This could lead to all kinds of future mischief from both sides.
Bono has close ties to the Bush administration because of a friendship with National Security Advisor Rice that began long before the administartion took office. I think he should be commended for what his work and should get the government's ear, regardless of citizenship. He actually knows a great deal about what he is talking about in Africa, unlike other celebrities who merely chant foolish slogans like "End World Hunger." So IMO, he shouldn't be held back or handicapped just because he is a celebrity because he can back up his work and contributes much to efforts in Africa.
