Musings

So,

For those of you who do not know me (I realize that was a heck of an assumption to make as nobody reads this blog anyway, and if anyone does, it is highly likely he/she/they does/do know me), I am somewhat a fan of U2. Those who know me maybe a little better, will know that a lot of what interests me about U2 are the political nature of their music and the idealism and activism of their front man.

I have been following a lot of various policy and foreign affairs sites lately (I like knowing what is going on in the world and I also like knowing what people out there are doing to make it a better/worse place) and just went to www.one.org for the first time in a long time. Going there I saw some of the stuff about one causes and I can't help but think of something that has come up several times in conversation with other people abot Bono. I have heard several people remark that they like U2, but they wish Bono would shut up about his causes. I have had people indicate to me they have issues with his causes.

I have occasionally asked which causes they take issue with. The campaign to end extreme poverty? The campaign against hunger? The campaign to irradicate malaria? The campaign to provide treatment for people infected with aids and fight that terrible disease in Africa? I cannot help what wonder which of these causes people find repugnant. I have a hard time to find a good justification for opposing those causes. Especially for people who claim to love and follow Christ. You know, that crazy fellow who wandered about telling people to love their enemies and feed the poor and clothe the naked.

I don't get it. I really don't get it. People are happy to remember the parts of the Gospels that can and probably should be interpreted as being punitive or judgemental. They latch onto Mosaic divine justice and retribution. They want blood sacrifice, forgetting that, at least according to their sectarian beliefs the final blood sacrifice has been made. They remember mercy only when they have cheated on their wives or gotten caught stealing or making some incredibly insensitive comment or the like that is sure to result in checking into rehab.

I wonder what it is that people find offensive about somebody working alost tirelessly to get people involved in resolving some of the greatest causes of human suffering.

Peace.

Joe