Is anyone else tired of Bono sticking his nose into Canadian (and other countries) politics? I think his humanitarian efforts are amazing and should be applauded but I don't understand where he gets off commenting and complaining about other countries politics and politicians. Today he said that Prime Minister Martin was difficult to work with and a few months back he commented during the sponsorship scandal that Canadians should be tolerent of letting this happen and of how Prime Minister Martin has handled it. Bono is not a Canadian citizen and therefore does not vote in any election here, which in my opinion gives him no right to make comments like he has. I understand freedom of speech and all that jazz but I think a man so influential needs to treat that influence with respect. I dont think Bono has a clear concept of how national governments work and how big a deal doubling the amount of foreign aid (especially to a minority government) or the responsibility national leaders have to their public. I dont see Bono asking Ireland to double their foreign aid. If he really wants to do something why doesnt he run for office. Ok little bit of a rant there but I had to get it off my chest.
I agree he should maybe keep his nose out of stuff he's not that informed on (the sponsorship scandal, etc...) but for the most part, he doesn't bother me in the least.
clarke Wrote:Is anyone else tired of Bono sticking his nose into Canadian (and other countries) politics? I think his humanitarian efforts are amazing and should be applauded but I don't understand where he gets off commenting and complaining about other countries politics and politicians.
Where does he get off? Same place everyone else does. I see no shortage of people commenting on other countries' politics and politicians. The only thing that makes Bono different is that he's famous.
Same-same for all those country singers who spout jingoistic bullshit. It's their right to do so.
skippy the wonder dog Wrote:jingoistic
sorry to fly off-topic but thats the first time Ive ever heard that word, and I had to look it up, hey you learn something new everyday!
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thanks skip! :thumb:
What annoys me when Bono or any other celebrity comments on politics in other countries is not that they do so... they have every right to do so, and far be it from anyone to shut down such debate. Such comments like "if he/she really wants to do something, why don't they run for office" show a desire to shut down debate... I'm pretty sure you didn't mean your comments that way, clarke, but that's how I interpreted it.
No, what annoys me is that their comments tend to range from uninformed to positively ridiculous. Take Bono, for example... even in areas he's more informed in such as poverty and ways to eliminate it, he sometimes comes off as very naive, which does nothing to help his credibility.
I love U2. I also often disagree with what Bono has to say about various issues. However, in Canada's case, I believe that Bono has a right to pipe up. Why? Paul Martin. When Geldof said Martin shouldn't bother coming to the G8 Summit unless Canada was going to commit as much money to aid as Bobbie said he should, I was furious. However, need I remind everyone that Martin had Bono speak and endorse him during his leadership campaign? It was an obvious stunt. However, Martin made it seem like he was all buddy-buddy with Bono. In effect, he used him. No doubt Bono understood this was just a political publicity stunt. However, it did involve him in Canadian politics. If he's pissed off at Martin (as every Canadian should be) then he has every right to sound off.
fingernailsonhull Wrote:I love U2. I also often disagree with what Bono has to say about various issues. However, in Canada's case, I believe that Bono has a right to pipe up. Why? Paul Martin. When Geldof said Martin shouldn't bother coming to the G8 Summit unless Canada was going to commit as much money to aid as Bobbie said he should, I was furious. However, need I remind everyone that Martin had Bono speak and endorse him during his leadership campaign? It was an obvious stunt. However, Martin made it seem like he was all buddy-buddy with Bono. In effect, he used him. No doubt Bono understood this was just a political publicity stunt. However, it did involve him in Canadian politics. If he's pissed off at Martin (as every Canadian should be) then he has every right to sound off.
Damn, I forgot about that. Perhaps Bono knows more about our political situation than I thought.
I love U2 but yes sometimes Bono over does it. I get sick of my favorite singer take years off from recording more albums to hang out and bug world leaders (other band members have said the same thing).
As mentioned before, it was Martin that brought this Bono problem on himself. He had Bono fly in here for the Liberal leadership convention. He got the benefit of a major rock star endorsing him. Who complained about Bono being a non-Canadian then? Who complained that Bono was in over his head.
What is more, who complained when on the brink of an election in the spring of 2004 Martin brought Bono in for yet another photo shoot (see my pic to the left).
Now Bono is calling him on things he has not done and people question Bono. Well Martin should of never brought him here for an endorsement way back when it was easy to promise aid to Africa.
prz Wrote:I love U2 but yes sometimes Bono over does it. I get sick of my favorite singer take years off from recording more albums to hang out and bug world leaders (other band members have said the same thing).
As mentioned before, it was Martin that brought this Bono problem on himself. He had Bono fly in here for the Liberal leadership convention. He got the benefit of a major rock star endorsing him. Who complained about Bono being a non-Canadian then? Who complained that Bono was in over his head.
What is more, who complained when on the brink of an election in the spring of 2004 Martin brought Bono in for yet another photo shoot (see my pic to the left).
Now Bono is calling him on things he has not done and people question Bono. Well Martin should of never brought him here for an endorsement way back when it was easy to promise aid to Africa.
Good point.
The guy is a self-righteous asshole. Too bad he didn't die ala buddy holly after joshua.
chicagoblackhawks77 Wrote:The guy is a self-righteous asshole. Too bad he didn't die ala buddy holly after joshua.
Bono may be annoying sometimes, but wishing death on the guy is a little much, don't ya think?
I say let Bono say whatever the hell he wants. It's up to each of us to weigh his statements and take them as we wish. Gospel to some, gossip to others.
I think his heart is in the right place.
He gets so much coverage when he speaks that he's known as The Right Honourable Member for U2 around the newsroom.
Quote:I think his heart is in the right place.
I want to think this too. But then I hear that Bono and Paul McCartney got into an argument right before Live8 because both wanted to be the opening act of the London concert and neither would step down; grow up guys. The concert was about refocusing public attention on poverty in Africa, not about boosting ego's.
By the way - did you guys hear about how Geldof has been nominated for the 2006 Nobel Prize? Unbelievable...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment...657627.stm
Kim Wrote:Quote:I think his heart is in the right place.
I want to think this too. But then I hear that Bono and Paul McCartney got into an argument right before Live8 because both wanted to be the opening act of the London concert and neither would step down; grow up guys. The concert was about refocusing public attention on poverty in Africa, not about boosting ego's.
Actually, the opening U2/McCartney duet was Geldof's idea. Sir Paul was already scheduled to close the London show, and Geldof called him and asked about the idea of him doing Sgt. Pepper with U2 to open the show.
U2 had already agreed to do it. Paul hadn't played the song live since the Beatles broke up, but he thought it was a cool idea, so he agreed as well. I didn't hear anything about a backstage argument.
Kim Wrote:Quote: But then I hear that Bono and Paul McCartney got into an argument right before Live8[/url]
$30 on Bono...