Would You Sign A Petition For Bono To Retire From Public Life?
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$495 had been raised today, as of 10 AM EST, in a petition effort to get U2 frontman Bono to "retire from public life."
Started via ThePoint.com, a Web site that lets anyone start a campaign. the petition's goal is "to get Bono to retire from public life (so he'll stop leading misguided counter-productive philanthropy efforts) ....and, simultaneously.... to make a huge donation to fight AIDS."
The site calls Bono's philanthropy "self-righteous, ineffective, & counter-productive," and claims that $40 million plus raised from product sales of his RED campaign has been used for marketing, as opposed to the global fight against AIDS. The petition believes that if Bono wants to help fight AIDS then "he can make a direct donation instead of buying a sweatshop GAP T-shirt."
The members of the site say that the money raised in the pledge will be donated to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, but only if the objective is met.
Sounds like a scam, but do you agree? Should Bono step down? Do they have a point?
Comments (20)
I wouldn't sign it.
Come on. I am 40, and well past the age where Bono or U2 "did it" for me, but the guy has written a canon, and his music still moves people deeply. Take it as far as Bono has taken it and you're entitled to some self-righteous wankery now and again.
Obviously, whoever started this petition is envious because he doesn't feel it, and maybe never did; in other words, the petition says more about the guy who started it than it does about Bono. Aren't there greater archvillains in the musical universe with whom to do battle?
So Bono's trying to help people and these folks have raised $495? Nice.
This is B.S. I've sene U2 multiple times and saw Bono speak at event in Washingtion D.C. He is a terrific public speaker and makes his points without preaching.
I just wish he would put that kind of time and energy into his music
not a fan, Rawk? or just not of the last album ... which did kinda blow.
For the record... i think Bono's done a lot more than anybody really has for the cause, so i think this is all pretty douchy...on the part of the guys behind the petition.
Lmao... funniest thing ive read all day. I wouldn't sign it though. I know it sounds bad that they spent 40 million on marketing, but I could see how establishing the "Red campaign's" brand could be beneficial down the road.
dont get me wrong, I think he has done wonders for the cause. Like you said, the last album was meh in my book and I would like to see another great U2 record come out.
Hell, if he'll go away, I'll pay $495 myself.
What, so he can mope around Dublin pissing me off? On yer bike.
I would agree with the sentiment. That whole RED thing smacks of the same super imposed morality of most of the "Green" campaigns put on buy corporations.
Wanna make a difference then stop with the sweatshops, raise stanards of living in these countries, establish real education systems. Make the corporations commit to basic human rights and living wages rather than quasi-slavery.
Why do I have to follow Flux and be a downer?
I appreciate he is trying to help but he needs to put his money where his mouth is. this is a guy who believes more of the UK tax payers money should go to concerns like famine relief. the difference is the normal uk tax payer pays approx 25% tax on his income whereas Mr Hewson pays something like 1%. (great thing this overseas banking)
"Why do I have to follow Flux and be a downer?"
Nonsense, I just read your comment and found it very uplifiting.
just checked and the pledge is up to $595... Rawk, Contra...you got some fessing up to do!
I might sign a petition for him to retire from making music, but not from trying to help people.
I strongly dislkie him and was utterly enthralled with the south park episode that revealed him to be a large turd. I think its great that hes trying to help people but I don't really know if anythings relaly helping. or if its just making him look good and nothings really getting done. ANd the fact that he's the one up there makes it seem like he's so full of himself that just because its him we're all gonna do our part to save the world. I would do my part without hima nd actually maybe do more. If the idea where to buy his album and proceeds go to whatever I wouldn't buy it. Instead I'd donate the money without getting a shitting record. Just my opinion.
Can't say that I really care one way or the other.
Hey, isn't indifference the opposite of love?
i fucking hate bono and his stupid fucking yellow fucking sunglasses. i hate his (red) campaign (but i'm all for ending aids and shit), i hate his existence, i hate his hair, i hate his face. i hate u2 solely because bono's in it. i hate bono almost as much as i hate tom cruise and even more than i hate will smith.
stupid bono...
Finally, a charity I can get behind!
I just made caliscrnwrtr a trusted MOG...'nuff said lol :-)
Such vituperative reactions. Evvabody chill. He's just one guy, and can one guy really make a difference? Even a piece o' crap like George W. Bush needs a cabal of greedy, inhumane bastards behind him to really affect the world. Same with Bono and his endeavors. For all of his charitable proclamations (which can highlight problems for the unaware), the money could be going anywhere after it's raised. If good and decent administrators channel the funds to the right places, it's a blessing. If not...
BTW, what have any of us done to help humanity lately?
^agreed.