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September 01, 2004 Bono So much for preconceived notions. I just caught Bono on O'Reilly's program. He wasn't at all what I expected. Bright, articulate, passionate and commited, he made a fantastic and moving argument for the US taking the lead in fighting AIDS in Africa. I'm going to have to study up on it a bit, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I was impressed. He said he loved "Brand USA" and loves this country and what it stands for. But, he says "Brand USA" has taken a few knocks lately. "Brand USA" was never brighter than after WWII during the Marshall plan when it built a bulwark against Communism by rebuilding Europe. He sees the opportunity here for "Brand USA" to again regain all its shine by taking the lead against AIDS and stopping it. He quoted Colin Powell's point that the roots of terrorism are found in the poverty of the regions where the terroism springs from and at this time AIDS has created 10 million orphans in Africa ... another huge and potential breeding ground for terrorism. Such a fight against AIDS may build the bulward necessary to help defeat terrorism. It may. Anyway, I was quite taken with the man and his message. I need to look into this futher, but I think he has a point. |
I saw it too. He was actually quite eloquent. He even complimented Bush on taking the lead in this issue which was quite fair. The real question is who pays for it.
Posted by: Jeff the Baptist at September 1, 2004 08:12 PM
People who can be convinced to contribute. Just because he says the US should take the lead doesn't mean it has to be the US government.
Posted by: McQ at September 1, 2004 08:32 PM
Zounds, man! Snap out of it! "Brand USA"? An intentional, repeated insult delivered with a smile instead of a sneer is still an insult. He was pleasant because it suited his purpose with the audience; follow him to any number of protest groups later tonight and see what he has to say.
Posted by: Jumbo at September 1, 2004 10:48 PM
It sounds like he made a suggestion.
I am so used to celebrities, and Europeans giving venomous criticism. Demanding this or demanding that.
Bono making a suggestion sounds like a good thing to me.
Posted by: papertiger at September 1, 2004 11:36 PM
I was impressed with Bono too.
I still have one question. Assume that we flood Africa with free drugs that will extend the lives of AIDS sufferers. Wouldn't that increase the number of people going out and infecting other people?
I'm not sure what the right answer is, but we should determine whether the soultion causes more disease.
Posted by: John Davies at September 2, 2004 10:46 AM
The 'Brand USA' comment reminds me of something I once saw on, believe it or not, VH1's "50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs".
Some snobby snotty snarky sneering head was deconstructing the lyrics of Toby Keith's "Courtesy Of The Red, White, And Blue (The Angry American)":
"'We'll put a boot in our ass / It's the American way?' That's not the American Way. We make you think that boot is cool, then we sell it to you. That's the American way."
Posted by: Chris of Dangerous Logic at September 2, 2004 11:29 PM