# Bono - now THAT'S how to be a celebrity activist... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054 "2003-09-17T00:28:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/21 "2003-09-18T06:50:39Z")
I like U2. I like Edge’s guitar playing even more. He has a great minimalist style. I remember a quote from Bono, something like Edge thinks notes are like a sacred currency, you should spend them wisely. And I’ve always had a deep respect for Bono. Like others have said, he doesn’t just lend his name to his causes, he seems to really care. Sorry… didn’t mean ta bug ya… Edge, play the blues! ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/22 "2003-09-18T10:40:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by riserius1 \* > \*\*Oh, remember me? I’m the one who’s paying for foreign debt. I paid for it with my taxes. Y’know that 87 billion going to Iraq? The one that everybody’s having conniptions over? Is that not Foreign Debt? Well, I don’t have any problem with paying for it, I agree with the cause and I agree with the long term effects. But don’t just blithely say"That’s okay, they don’t have to pay it back." You see that’s MY money your forgiving. Yes, it’s everybody else’s money also, but if I have any say(and I foolishly believe that I do),I’d rather that money be used as intended. > Problem is, I don’t make six-figure salaries like other people. > \*\* Jesus Christ! You really went over the limit on your “woe-is-me” credit card with that one. If you’re gonna play the sympathy card, at least make it a play which you’re not gonna lose. Here’s a hint, OK? Apparently, according to UNICEF, over 1 BILLION children on this planet have to somehow survive on less than one dollar a day. Think about that. Think about it especially the next time you, as a citizen of the wealthiest country on the planet, try to exploit the sympathy card to try and make a point about other people’s misfortunes. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/23 "2003-09-18T13:02:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by riserius1 \* > **I’m sure the Pope does support it. BTW I must have missed the memo from the Vatican where he told the diocese worldwide to forget about contributions. He’s got enough gold, why shouldn’t he forgive parishioners debts.😉** Because contributions aren’t repayment on debts? And the Vatican doesn’t get the money I pay in my Church? > [@](#): > > **Between what rock and rap stars make annually and what the churches have, they could absorb that debt themselves without taking a dime from me.** Highly doubtful. Third world debt is in the trillions of dollars to the US, Europe, Japan, and several other countries. > [@](#): > > **Oh, remember me? I’m the one who’s paying for foreign debt. I paid for it with my taxes. Y’know that 87 billion going to Iraq? The one that everybody’s having conniptions over? Is that not Foreign Debt? Well, I don’t have any problem with paying for it, I agree with the cause and I agree with the long term effects. But don’t just blithely say"That’s okay, they don’t have to pay it back."** Actually, the $87 billion is not foreign debt. And Iraq should not have to pay it back since it’s to repair destruction that the US inflicted on them. > [@](#): > > **You see that’s MY money your forgiving. Yes, it’s everybody else’s money also, but if I have any say(and I foolishly believe that I do),I’d rather that money be used as intended. > Problem is, I don’t make six-figure salaries like other people. > I understand that foreign debt is a necessary evil in the world. It does exact a certain degree of loyalty from nations who might not otherwise side with us. On one level it might even be construed as extortion/blackmail. But it does exist, and it can’t just disappear into thin air just like that.** No, it doesn’t exact a degree of loyalty from nations. You truly don’t have a clue if you believe that. Why would you not making a six-figure salary matter about forgiving foreign debt? Your share of the amount of foreign aid the US gives per year is about $5. Probably less. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/24 "2003-09-18T13:18:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*The Drop the Debt campaign seems to be a very popular cause among rock stars, in fact. \*\* Lots of causes are transiently popular among rock stars. Where I must concede that Bono is different is that, unlike most celebrities, he has gone to considerable effort to actually learn about the issue, and he’s not dogmatic about it. I don’t think anyone doubts that he’s an arrogant ass - as a matter of fact, he freely admits he’s an arrogant ass - but he sincerely beleives in this issue, and he’s studied it and has a fair and abalanced opinion on it. It’s easy for stars to throw their names behind issues and latch onto the latest fad. Few actually take a lot of time and effort to learn about it and really try to help over the long haul - Audrey Hepburn, Jerry Lewis, a few others. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/25 "2003-09-18T13:19:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boo Boo Foo \* > \*\*Jesus Christ! You really went over the limit on your “woe-is-me” credit card with that one. > > If you’re gonna play the sympathy card, at least make it a play which you’re not gonna lose. > > Here’s a hint, OK? Apparently, according to UNICEF, over 1 BILLION children on this planet have to somehow survive on less than one dollar a day. Think about that. Think about it especially the next time you, as a citizen of the wealthiest country on the planet, try to exploit the sympathy card to try and make a point about other people’s misfortunes. \*\* I’m not trying to gain sympathy, I’m merely saying that other people who have much more money than myself are awfully free with what happens to MY money. Give me a financial disclosure of how much these multi-millionaire celebs are contributing and I might feel different. Sure it’s none of my business how much they give, but my point is it should be MY business how MY money is spent. As far as the 1 billion figure, all I can say is that I never hear how we are going to curb overpopulation in these impoverished areas, we only care how we’re going to feed the ones that are there so they can grow up and make even more(think about it, we’ve been seeing “feed the world” for most of our lifetimes;shouldn’t this problem be under control by now?) And with that rant, I think I’ve gone over my time limit. Flame Away. Chris W ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/26 "2003-09-18T16:11:21Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by riserius_ > As far as the 1 billion figure, all I can say is that I never hear how we are going to curb overpopulation in these impoverished areas, we only care how we’re going to feed the ones that are there so they can grow up and make even more(think about it, we’ve been seeing “feed the world” for most of our lifetimes;shouldn’t this problem be under control by now?) Are you suggesting that we _not_ feed them, so as to solve overpopulation problems? If so, that’s ghastly. Regardless, you’re wrong. There are plenty of groups pushing for birth control to be made more freely available in poorer countries. And, also, the best way to reduce birth rates is to improve the country’s economy. First world countries have low birth rates. Fogiving the debt may go a long way towards controlling overpopulation. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/27 "2003-09-18T16:16:55Z")
If you think Bono’s good, check out Geldof. Both of them from Dublin, too. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/28 "2003-09-18T16:37:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by riserius1 \* > **Oh, remember me? I’m the one who’s paying for foreign debt.** Rubbish. Third World debt is paid for by the third world. To Western Governments and banks. You’re the one **benefiting** from foreign debt. > [@](#): > > \*\*I paid for it with my taxes. \*\* Sure you did. 0.1% of the US GNP goes on foreign aid. That’s lower than just about any other developed country. Your taxes have paid for squat. > [@](#): > > **Y’know that 87 billion going to Iraq? The one that everybody’s having conniptions over? Is that not Foreign Debt?** No, it isn’t. > [@](#): > > **Well, I don’t have any problem with paying for it, I agree with the cause and I agree with the long term effects. But don’t just blithely say"That’s okay, they don’t have to pay it back." You see that’s MY money your forgiving. Yes, it’s everybody else’s money also, but if I have any say(and I foolishly believe that I do),I’d rather that money be used as intended.** OK, let’s call in all the debts. Starting with the biggest; [The US National Debt](http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/) . You _personally_ owe over $23,300. Cough up. I know Saint Bono doesn’t say it’s all America’s fault. But maybe it’s the fault of people who think like this. ---
**Author:** ![MrMyth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@MrMyth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrMyth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/29 "2003-09-18T19:17:26Z")
Slight nitpick - It was Chris **Tucker** that went on tour with Bono, not Chris **Rock**. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/30 "2003-09-18T19:23:02Z")
Thanks, MrMyth. I had written my post twice, and I’m pretty sure I had Chris Tucker listed. However, the person I went with continually confused Rock with Tucker, and I think that has carried over. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/31 "2003-09-18T19:59:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\*Are you suggesting that we _not_ feed them, so as to solve overpopulation problems? If so, that’s ghastly. > > Regardless, you’re wrong. There are plenty of groups pushing for birth control to be made more freely available in poorer countries. And, also, the best way to reduce birth rates is to improve the country’s economy. First world countries have low birth rates. Fogiving the debt may go a long way towards controlling overpopulation. \*\* I freely concede that there may be any number of groups interested in birth control for third world countries. These groups, however, need better PR, because it’s not them that are practically beating down my door, looking for support. Perhaps if they would I would contribute more, and, indeed become better educated on the subject. Not trying to dispute the statistic, but I just don’t make the connection between improving the economy and reducing the birth rate. Any cite for this? As has been pointed out several times, I’m apparantly ignorant as all get out. Not to mention ghastly. Chris W “It occured to me there wouldn’t be world hunger if you people wuold live where the FOOD is!!!” — S. Kinison ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/32 "2003-09-18T20:19:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\ ***riserius** , the issue isn’t as simple as ‘what to do with your money.’ The problem is more that most of these countries are hopelessly in debt and will be unable to repay. And that at the same time, the debt and management of their economies are crippling the countries. \*\* So, the Third World is so broke because we keep giving them money? ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054/33 "2003-09-20T02:10:56Z")
I respect Bono because he actually does the dirty work himself. He doesn’t just do a photo op, attach his name, write a check, and leave. He makes the phone calls, the visits, does the research. As mentioned before, how many politically active celebrities would risk being seen with Jesse Helms? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bono-now-thats-how-to-be-a-celebrity-activist/202054.md?page=1)