How many people think Bono should stop whining about poverty and do something himself?

Question

The man makes millions of dollars a year; and that's just from U2's previous album sales. Has anyone seen him donate money of his own? I don't see why he keeps pressuring governments to do something when he himself can donate just one year's salary, which can dramatically, if not practically, help end poverty. Sergei Federov of the Columbus Blue Jackets donated a year's salary (I think it was between 2-5 million) to Russia for some cause and he still got through fine.

On a side note, as a musician, I think he sucks. I can put three simple, beginner's guitar chords together too, give me a frakkin' Grammy.

Answer 1

Bono would do well to donate his earnings but that amount would hardly pay a few seconds worth of interest on the debt owed by third-world governments to international banks. Let's not overestimate Bono's sphere of influence. He's a clueless goof who has the attention of the popular media but his influence is purely symbolic. And it always will be.

Answer 2

1 - Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean he doesn't donate. I very much doubt that a years salary would ''dramatically, if not practically, help end poverty'' - the phrase 'a drop in the ocean' springs to mind.

2 - Get your guitar out, put those three simple, beginners chords together and then go out and do something with it, rather than sitting online complaining.

3 - This is for the person who said about not needing talent in the 90's. What about 1979? What about right through the 80's? Bono and the rest of U2 hardly qualify as Pop Idol rejects... Hence the album sales and the huge amount of fans who wait for new releases.

I think anyone who has commented negatively in this question needs to get off their fat **** and do something. Moaning about rock stars who try (* see below) to do something positive is stupid beyond belief.

* Help doesn't include donating salary - it can be anything, from the smallest comment dropped into an interview, to a huge full on press release about a certain cause. It only takes one person to hear a comment, to pass it on to 10 other people, who in turn pass it on...

Get a grip and find something worthwhile to live for.

Answer 3

Alright. Now, I have some questions and answers for you.
1. Yes, Bono does in fact make millions of dollars a year. And, he donates a fat lot of it to charities in Africa, and, yes, he has in fact done much work in his homeland. Even if Bono gave every last cent he owned, it wouldn't be enough. That is why he asks the public to help: because the world needs it. There is no way in hell he can do it alone. He uses the fact that he is celebrity, and uses it to an advantage. He uses it because people know who he is, the reconize the name and the shades. And, they listen.
2. Bono has been at this for over 20 years. In otherwords, it is not just a publicity stunt. He in fact DOES care about what he is doing, and knows far more than you do about what is going on, and about his purpose there. If you would actually take time to read the book of interviews by Michka Assayas, you might already know this. If you went to hear him public speak live, you might actually know this. Bono is a truly sincere man, who cares about the poor.
3. Sergei Federov also tends to be a non-team player, and Bono has been with the same four guys forever, and you don't see him complaining about it. And, yes, Bono, I guarentee, has donated far more money than that.
5. Do I see any of you out there fighting for Aids and poverty in Africa? Exactly. Then, I don't think that everyone should hate Bono. Would any of you even WANT to fight for what he fights for? Would any of you give up all of your earnings to fight a cause, or would you also ask for public support, so that the cause could be fought in larger terms?
6. Africa is the nation he is fighting for because it does in fact have a huge ammount of poverty. Sure, there are poor in America, Ireland, England, and even Canada. But, compared to the 3rd world countries, it is nothing. Bono does, if fact care about poor everywhere. He just focususes on one continent, because that way more can get accomplished.
7. Bono may not be the BEST musician out there, but he is in fact far better than much of the crap. He and U2 have been around far longer and have made music far longer than most. Bono's lyrics are from the heart, and written often times to people he knows. Bono has a unique voice. And, you also must remember, Bono IS NOT the only one in U2. Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton also help make the music. They didn't win a grammy for nothing- if you truly are a good musician, you will see at least some good qualities in "How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb". And, if their music "sucks" so bad, how about you write music better than they do? who knows. Maybe you can. But do you even try?
You don't have to like the man, but you probably should know some info on him, before you call him a bad person.

Answer 4

At least Bono has you guys talking about it.....but on a more serious note, there isn't a person or group of people ie celebs that can really invoke change, it has to happen on a much larger scale, like the governments...attacking Bono for at least using his celeb status is wrong, it focuses people off the real problem at hand...truth be told, I don't like U2's music all that much, at least Bono is doing something constructive...He has done numerous charity concerts, donating his time, which by the way is worth alot more than any of ours...and he has a better ability than any of us to at least get the issue out there.

Answer 5

I got the feeling that donating one year salary of even the richest man in the world, would not all of a sudden solve all the worlds hunger problems. The problem is much more complex than that and even 100 million dollars wouldn`t amount to much if shared among all the worlds poor countries. If there is a solution to this problem, it is probably a political solution, but no one said it was going to be easy to find.

Answer 6

What you fail to understand is that since the early 90's, its no longer necessary to have talent to be a musician. It's only necessary to have an excellent marketing and PR strategy so that you can generate the "synergy" needed to make money on your own tv show, do a movie deal, come out with a line of clothing, and get on the cover of Teen People magazine.

Musical talent just doesn't enter into the picture at all anymore.

Answer 7

I think that if he is going to spread a message about poverty then he should become a lot more informed. I don't think that he understands the root of poverty i.e. exploitation of resources in LEDCs and previously colonialism. If he set an example of being less materialistic and making a point of not wearing clothes made in a sweatshop and buying fair trade produce then that would be more effective. Everybody needs to change their attitude and spending habits in order to make poverty history. It is because we consume so much in the west that other people in the world have to suffer. Bono should think about that next time he dons his overpriced sunglasses.

Answer 8

Watch the video, the guy makes no sense. I think he is on drugs. Not very good ones at that, at least the ones I use make me sound more intelligent. At least I think they make me sound more intelligent. One sec I will ask my wife. ..........Yep definitely more intelligent.
I think if Bono wants to send a real message he will give up some of his obscene wealth. He could give away everything and live on royalties his whole life.
I think Bono is just a megalomaniac attention seeker. If he wants to feed people maybe he should fund a soup kitchen in Ireland, there is lots of poverty in his homeland. He might also consider doing something about the sectarian violence that is still going on in his land.

Answer 9

He lectures rich countries for the need to save the poor and starving, yet Bono lives a posh and exorbitant life.

He lectures people without money about saving lives. If I gave 80% of my income to the poor, I would save few if any people and be starving myself, if Bono did, he would save many, and still be a millionaire. And STILL he lives an exorbitant life.

He goes directly to Africa, looks the dying right in the eye, and still doesn't seem to be troubled to return to his mansion and live an exorbitant life.

The question isn't what positive he is doing, he is doing much, the question is of the moral and ethical rationalization of on one hand, being consumed to the point of being frantic to the plight of others starving and dying everyday, and on the other, of being able to turn that off and resume the exorbitant life of a multi-millionaire.

Here is Bono's Hotel: http://www.forbes.com/2002/05/23/0523dow.html

Here is Bono's House from satellite imagery: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&t=k&ll=53.26236400,-6.11103800&q=Ireland&spn=0.001559,0.005364

And here are some starving African's who's life he could be saving: http://farsiblog.250free.com/STARVATION-2.jpg

Answer 10

he has donated a whole bunch of money and that is in the millions its not like ordinary people donate. but i did i dontated 10 dollars but that is not a lot but it gave them a meal. lets see one of you in his position what would you do? how much money would you give? ANY? well, he is a good singer too by the way i only listen to his music thank you very much for insulting the guy i love.