Posted on 07/15/2005 11:38:21 AM PDT by Fred911
LIVE 8, that extraordinary media event that some people of good intentions in the West just orchestrated, would have left us Africans indifferent if we hadn't realized that it was an insult both to us and to common sense. We have nothing against those who this month, in a stadium, a street, a park, in Berlin, London, Moscow, Philadelphia, gathered crowds and played guitar and talked about global poverty and aid for Africa. But we are troubled to think that they are so misguided about what Africa's real problem is, and dismayed by their willingness to propose solutions on our behalf......
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
We just need to give them more money - that will solve everything.
But..but..it was the greatest event in the history of the world!
Live8 succeeded fabulously...
...in allowing rich kids with cell phones to see free concerts. (or to make more money by scalping their tickets.)
Presumably, the organizers didn't want money...they just wanted to "raise awareness" of the problems in Africa. As some guy on radio said, all that awareness should really fill the bellies of the starving in Africa ("Can I have a cup of awareness, please?")
I and others have said before: Nothing in Africa (or any other impoverished corner of this world) will ever change unless people bring themselves up and work toward that change. They also need to oust those so-called leaders and hire some that will actually bring them to the 20th Century (21st Century might be a bit too much to hope for). They also have to stop those traditional practices (e.g., having lots of mistresses, fathering litters of children, etc. etc.) that damage their economy, or worse, kill them (eg. spread AIDS).
Tell you what, I don't think I could have much confidence in a guy named Omar Bongo, the "president" of Gabon.
The author is quite correct. L8 was misguided and stupid. The knuckleheaded musicians should have rallied and performed for democratic revolution in Africa. But then, nothing good can come of of fight, can it? You know, like the United States or a democratic Japan or Germany, or an end to slavery. Nope. Nothing good.
What inveterate fools are Mr. Geldof and his friends.
I bought the Times this morning (because the Post's backcover had A-Rod) and was amazed to see this Op Ed piece. I believe it nails the issue very firmly to the wall and also speaks to Lefty attitudes generally, at home and abroad.
Oingo Boingo would do a better job of running Africa than Omar Bongo.
Bono, Geldof, etc., take note -- you've been punk'd!
We can always propose to let them solve their own problems... without any extra money.
"It's a Dead Man's Party...leave your body at the door."
Oh well, all those rich white liberals and rock stars had themselves a lovely party anyway, no harm done...
The rock stars only showed up because their agents told them it would be good for record sales.
The rock stars only showed up because their agents told them it would be good for record sales.
***
And some probably genuinely thought that by performing at these concerts, they were actually doing something construtive for all those starving/sick people in Africa.
Of course, they weren't.
LOL! Thanks!
Actually, I think Danny Elfman is a conservative Republican.
My niece tells me that exact same thing about herself, monthly. :-)
There's nothing wrong with capitalism. There's nothing wrong with free enterprise.
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