An evening with Bono

[Munch]

Actually, it was more like an evening with Bono, Ashley Judd, Chris Tucker, a woman with AIDS, Dario Franchitti (Indy CART driver and Judd’s husband), a Harvard medical professor and 10 teenage African musicians.

Apparantly, Bono et al. are on a tour of the midwest - The Heart of America Tour - to raise awareness of the AIDS emergency in Africa. It’s a very interesting strategy - they’re not asking for money, they’re not adding people to a list (although there is one available). Their main focus is to get people to contact their congressional representatives and let them know that they are concerned about the US’s involvement in Africa.

I can’t remember what was on their action cards (the letters to Congress) because I don’t have mine with me. But their website, www.datadata.org, has an option to e-mail the White House, and it has the following message:

Dear President Bush and Senators:

The AIDS crisis in Africa is a real emergency. After talking with people in my community about it, we agree that America must act. We are going to get involved locally, but we also want our leaders to do something BIG.

If the United States did its share, we could make a real difference in Africa. With fairer trade, and more efforts to ease the burden of debt, we could help stop AIDS in its tracks – and help Africans turn the tide.

Please reach out on our behalf, and show how much America cares.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)
(Your Address)

All a good sentiment. But I question how effective it can be. I think the concept of targeting the Midwest is unique. The talks were centrally focused on the Midwest’s identity as tight communities, and in the local paper’s interview with Bono , the Midwest was described as “the rudder of the supertanker that is the US”. Interesting analogy.

However, there’s one problem I see with this. What did I come out of the program with?

1. Knowledge that AIDS in Africa is an emergency.
2. I need to let my congressperson know that I see this as important enough for the US to take action.
3. www.datadata.org is the resource for how to contact Washington as well as pass information on to you.

What’s missing? The solution! I don’t really know what the U.S. is supposed to do. Well, I gleaned from their FAQ what they’re proposing, but this is information that people should have burned into their cortex after this, not something that they have to Frequently Ask.

Regardless, after all is said and done, this was a well-spent evening. I highly recommend you find out where to see this if they’re going to be near you (Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee are up next). Tickets are free, well worth it.