*OT and shallow* is it just me, or has bono not aged at all since achtung baby? he looks just like he did in my high school years, and that was a long time ago, and it's freaking me out.

Actually, one of my other friends noted that as well.

What the hell is the whole Bono-as-world-leader thing about, anyway? I've never got it, except he lines up well with the anti-World Bank hippy crew, or something. I dun get it.

Educate me, cheetah!

"Because there's no way we can look at Africa - a continent bursting into flames - and if we're honest conclude that it would ever be allowed to happen anywhere else. Anywhere else. Certainly not here. In Europe. Or America. Or Australia, or Canada. There's just no chance. You see, deep down, if we really accepted that Africans were equal to us, we would all do more to put the fire out. We've got watering cans; when what we really need are the fire brigades. That's the first tough truth. The second is that to fight AIDS, and its root cause, the extreme poverty in which it thrives, it's not just development policy. It's a security strategy. The war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty, I didn't say that, Colin Powell said that. And when a military man from the right starts talking like that maybe we should listen!"
-Bono, Sept. 2004, at a Labour party conference

Basically, his hippie efforts got a little notice, because he's rich and pretty and famous. So people invited him to speak a couple places, and as noted above, turns out he has some pretty intelligent and informed opinions, and is saying things other people aren't.

See also this bio and this link from the official site.

I just can't take the celeb-as-politico thing serious. I'm sure Arnie, for example, has plenty of positive points; I'm just not terribly interested in the guy behind Terminator leading a state. And so on.

It's a prejudice, sure, but it's one I admit to.

Ehn. Bono's not running for anything and he's drawing a lot of attention to topics that need attention drawn to them. I can't complain.

Yeah, what you said. If he's got the money and time and brains and can make even an iota of difference, why not?

That's a fair point in a way. "There people need help, noone else is doing it." In a lot of way, that's a fundamental of effective leadership.

Me, I prefer to follow public servant leaders. Charities, military, government workers, teachers, etc. etc. I strongly believe in franchise through service.

But, I guess, all in all, all of that's just as much stereotyping as anything else, and not remotely fair to an individual's ability.

It isn't justa celeb-as-politico thing either. He spends a lot of his off time actually in Africa, physically helping to rebuild villiges and help people. He spent something like 6 months there doing it hands on before he started petitioning the powers to help him help.

I always find someone that is rich and famous going out and doing something to be quite beautiful. There are so many that have the funds and the time to help and they don't, so I just love it when I see it when they do. (plus, I mean, it's Bono) ;-)

wow. I'm totally impressed.
thanx! :-)

You should read the whole speech it's quite beautiful and moving.

"Gentlemen! We can't fight in here. This is the war room!"
--Dr. Strangelove

First let me say...*drooooooool* That man has been turning me on for 16 years now, my Gods he's hawt!

If you actually did research into how much time Bono spends working for the people of Africa I think you would be amazed and wonder when the hell did he have the time to make another album. The man truely is amazing.

Wow, you must totally love Bill Gates then.

*throws book at screen*