I’ve never met Bono, or any of the other U2 band members. Nor have I ever met Bob Geldof – NB: for the record he is not a “Sir”. I’ve no wish to meet any of them either. Musical tastes aside (I concede that U2 can knock out a mean track) I find the whole bunch sickening.
No one can begrudge someone trying to keep hold of as much of their wealth as they can. Human instinct is to hoard and look after oneself, but there’s a but. And, boy is it a big one. When these smug individuals saddle their high horses and start their sermons, preaching to us normal folk on how we should be doing more to help the poor, needy, impoverished, starved etc, etc in the world, why does no one pass them a mirror?
No doubt these are worthy causes, but as the “gi’ us your ****ing money” clergy known as Bono and Geldof are so reluctant to part with their own collective squillions it’s hard to imagine why anyone listens to them. Conscience easing, you say? I suspect you’re right.
Of course, no one must ever criticise Bono or Geldof. That’s tantamount to treason in the eyes of their hero worshipping sycophantic groupies. Hopefully, the news today that protesters in Dublin, including Oxfam and Concern Worldwide, are doing what protesters do best – I’m not quite sure what that is but assume it involves placards, and a bit of name calling – will be an eye opener for some.
Bono and his cronies stand accused of depriving the Irish exchequer of tax revenue that could have been used for overseas aid (a hell of a lot of it), and the protesting people aren’t happy about it:
http://itn.co.uk/news/0180a3d353573ee6351633dcba65080a.html
Now, should the band (and Geldof) see the error of their ways, and decide to give the bulk of their dosh to the same poor, needy, impoverished, starved, etc, etc whom they insist the rest of us should be donating to, then I’ll eat my words and be the first to offer them up as virtuous. Until then, I’ll keep my sick bag at hand for when they start spouting more of the same.
Someone once told me about a U2 gig in which the band suddenly fell deadly silent halfway through a track. Bono allegedly clapped his hands and then informed the audience, “Every time I do that, a child dies in Africa.” From the front row, someone yelled, “So don’t ****ing do it then!”
Whether this story is true or just another myth to be added to the urban legends I’ve heard over the years is hard to say. I do know that using the same analogy then every time anyone else claps their hands, Bono, U2, and Geldof, all see their bank balances go up a few more digits….
Most of Bob Geldof’s personal fortune was made on the back of his charity work, the Boomtown Rats were never a particularly successful band. U2 have profited from Bono’s charity work as well. It really annoys me, as some voluntary charity workers go their whole life without any recognition while conceited celebrities like those two are heaped with praise. Glad to see I’m not the only one who can’t stand them.
Can’t stand Geldof/Bono either. Self-serving tossers.
SarahR, that explains why I only know one of the Rats songs – and I didn’t even realise it was done by them until I just looked up their discography.
“Anonymous”, as succinct and authoritative as ever.