Posted on 02/11/2006 6:13:38 AM PST by fabrizio
WASHINGTON, February 10, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The lead singer of the famous rock band U2 which just this week claimed an incredible five Grammy awards, has praised President George W. Bush and Americans for their generosity, especially post 9-11. His remarks came at the February 2 National Prayer Breakfast.
[...] Bono offered some personal remarks about his struggle with faith and journey with God, and how he was led to be an advocate for the poor and those afflicted with AIDS. But unlike his colleagues in the entertainment field he did not condemn President Bush for efforts at poverty and AIDS alleviation but rather praised him.
"Here's some good news for the President," said Bono. "After 9-11 we were told America would have no time for the World's poor. America would be taken up with its own problems of safety. And it's true these are dangerous times, but America has not drawn the blinds and double-locked the doors."
While countless Hollywood types bellow about Bush's approach to the fight against AIDS which favours treatment for victims and abstinence over pushing condoms, Bono praised the efforts so far and challenged America to do even more.
"In fact, you have double aid to Africa. You have tripled funding for global health. Mr. President, your emergency plan for AIDS relief and support for the Global Fund-you and Congress-have put 700,000 people onto life-saving anti-retroviral drugs and provided 8 million bed nets to protect children from malaria."
[...] "Outstanding human achievements. Counterintuitive. Historic. Be very, very proud."
Wow, is he gonna get in troule with the Hollywood types.
Your right. He may have to move back to Ireland.
"and provided 8 million bed nets to protect children from malaria.""
8 million gallons of DDT would make malaria a minor nuisance.
Somebody slipped up getting to him the Democrat talking points.
I can't imagine someone not liking President Bush as a person. He always seems like a real charming, warm person with a good sense of humour. He would be welcome to have beers with me anytime, I quite like him, and his wife Laura is all class and truly beautiful.
His opinion is worth more only because he is a public figure who is known world-wide. I think this might embolden some other H'wood conservatives to stand and be counted.
Bono demanded that the US give $25 billion in aid to Africa, which is insane. Those food-aid concerts generated multi-millions, but what changed in Africa? Nothing. They're still killing each other and starving to death. Throwing vast amounts of money around merely assures that the problems will continue...aided and abetted by thieves who'll crawl out of the woodwork at the smell of a dollar. Africans need to be brought into the twenty-first century, culturally, educationally, etc.. Most are still in the tribal stage and can't envisage or care about the deaths of people they don't know personally. The next village or country? What's that? Time? The gulf in thinking is beyond comprehension.
A recent Time cover story dealt with Africa. (The crises, substandard soils, starvation, genocide, etc..). I didn't read the article, but did catch a BBC interview a few months ago on NPR with a biogeneticist working on corn and rice seed that would produce great harvests even in substandard soils. The BBC interviewer slammed the scientist as evil, working for big business, for the almighty dollar, etc.. He remained calm and said they were trying to alleviate widespread starvation. What they wanted was that the EU allow test plots of this seed, to prove their findings and pave the way for its use in Africa. The EU wouldn't go along. Clearly, they feared losing markets for their own heavily subsidized agricultural products. It's easier to come to the US with a beggar's bowl...but it's dishonest.
One Christian aid executive in charge of food and clothing, etc., donated to various African countries said they'd been denied access -- kicked out -- when they demanded to see where the aid was really going. (Not to the poor and needy.) This is all a scam. Bono would do better to get the EU to go along with helping Africans to feed themselves with genetically altered seed....at least test it and see if it works.
I have heard Bono speak and he is quite intelligent and well spoken. I don't agree with some of his opinions but he doesn't leave me wanting to smack someone like other liberals do.
I think that's right. The Hollywood Bush-bashers mainly do it with thought of "LOOK AT MEEE!".
If they truly cared about their causes, they'd do things the way Bono does them. You don't get someone to agree with you by bashing them. Would Bono have even got to meet with Bush to advocate his causes if he were constantly bashing him?
It just indicates to me that perhaps Bono has a brain, unlike the Hollywood lefties, who just have an ego where their brain is supposed to be.
No, he's not JUST a singer. He is a huge advocate for the poor and those with AIDS, and I dare say probably has more knowledge about the matters of these subjects than many politicians or investigative MSM types...
I believe there is tons credibilty there when he speaks on these subjects. He may not agree with any Bush policies, but he's honest and he respects Bush because he knows Bush cares.
Bono has spoken highly of President Bush in the past. The liberals tolerate his heresy against their Bush-hating dogma only because his "Cause du Jour" is AIDS. If not for this, the "tolerant and compassionate" Democrats would tear Bono to shreds for daring to speak the truth and offer kind words about President Bush.
Environmentalist care more about birds than saving people.
Agreed. I don’t agree with him on everything politically like throwing money into Africa where it will just funnel to the corrupt leaders there and not solve the vast problems with AIDS and poverty, but I do think Bono has his heart in the right place and is truly sincere unlike many entertainment people who grandstand for pure self-promotion and aggrandizement (think Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn, et all)
Bono puts his money where his mouth is and reaches out to and makes connections with anyone who iss willing to listen to his cause including Jesse Helms. I understand they truly liked and respected each other. I respect him for not towing the traditional liberal line and bashing America and President Bush and recognizing and praising what the US does for the rest of the world.
I also think that forgiving third world debt is perhaps not such a bad idea given there’s not a chance in Hell we’d ever collect on it anyway.
I could be wrong but I understand Bono is a devout Christian, doesn’t do drugs unlike many rockers and is true and faithful to his wife who was his high school sweetheart and is a devoted family man.
Plus I like U2’s music.
"I'm sure Bono's a nice guy, but I always consider the source of praise, and in his case, he's just a singer. I'm not sure his opinion is worth more than the next person I pass on the street."
So...do you have little respect for the next person on the street? Or for a singer?
Everybody has an opinion, and in this case Bono, a singer, has spent years in the trenches. He visits the countries, he studies the stats, he learns about the diseases, and consults the experts whose opinions come with great knowledge.
So - sure - he's "just" a singer...but anyone who spends this much time and passion on the issue of poverty and aids must be qualified to recognize when the president has extended a great helping hand to Africa.
Agree with him or not, this guy puts the work hours in, while most of us sit cozy at our computers analyzing the world's problems from a safe distance.
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