Nice one Bono

darkman2

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7425767.stm


So anyone like Bono? Think he is a bit of a twat? Or a modern day Florence Nightingale?

GhostInTheRuins

I didn't click that link, but yes, he's a 'twat'

dsmythy

So Africa should recover in about 30-40 years since that is about the length of time between Irish independence and the various African nations' independences. if you use that comparison.

A proper African Union is what they need to be out of the doldrums by the end of the century.

Caoimhín

I was going to launch into an essay about how he is mistaken about the historic similarities between Africa and Ireland, but i cant be arsed.
Hes a twat with too much time on his hands.

darkman2

Africa like Ireland under British - Bono

Bono at the conference on African Development
U2 frontman Bono has compared Africa's economic woes to Ireland's problems under British rule.

Speaking at a development summit in Japan, the singer said Ireland had been forced "to deal with the British" under colonisation.

England's Henry II claimed sovereignty over Ireland in the 12th century.



It was colonised in the 17th century plantations and did not gain independence until 1921, with Northern Ireland created by the 1920 Government of Ireland Act.

Bono said Ireland's economic success could act as an inspiration to end Africa's poverty and food crises.

On Thursday, he told delegates at the summit in Yokohama: "What on earth might I have to offer? Well, the first thing is I'm Irish.

"We came out of colonisation, we had to deal with the British, we have a lot in common with Africa."

The audience, which included Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and 40 African heads of state, applauded his speech.

Bono said while Ireland now enjoyed some of the world's highest salaries, he added: "Twenty years ago, our economy was down the toilet, the IMF were telling us what to do and the World Bank were down our pants."


The U2 frontman met Japan's Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura

The singer blamed the 19th Century Irish famine on food being transported to England while people continued to starve to death in Ireland.

It is believed that about one million people in Ireland starved in the 1840s after the failure of the potato crop.

Hundreds of thousands of others emigrated during the disaster, sparking a worldwide Irish diaspora.

Bono told the delegates: "So bad management is in my folk history and I think if we have to gather around this food crisis... we've got to get good management."

The Queen wont like that

markos79

bono is a legend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

long live bono!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caoimhín

dsmythy wrote: »

So Africa should recover in about 30-40 years since that is about the length of time between Irish independence and the various African nations' independences. if you use that comparison.

A proper African Union is what they need to be out of the doldrums by the end of the century.

The neighbouring tribes in bongo bongo cant even see eye to eye, what makes you think they can form a union?

scruff321

ok i know bono is a bit preachy but calling him a twat is ridiculous irish people just have a problem with so called "do gooders":rolleyes:

darkman2

scruff321 wrote: »

ok i know bono is a bit preachy but calling him a twat is ridiculous irish people just have a problem with so called "do gooders":rolleyes:

This 'do gooder' is a tax evader though in fairness. Do you really think Bono cares about the peasants? Ah sure he will be looking down on them from his Ivory tower in Dublin in a few years time:pac:


I suppose he does bring alot of attention to global problems but this whole 'Bono is going to fix Africa' thing does my head in sometimes.

dsmythy

caoibhin wrote: »

The neighbouring tribes in bongo bongo cant even see eye to eye, what makes you think they can form a union?

Then i guess my statement means they are doomed. Doooooomed!

I guess they can form a union between states like the European Union of old. The various tribes and ethnic groups live relatively peacefully within states at present.

Holsten

What a ****in thick.

He annoys me sooooo much!

Caoimhín

dsmythy wrote: »

Then i guess my statement means they are doomed. Doooooomed!

I guess they can form a union between states like the European Union of old. The various tribes and ethnic groups live relatively peacefully within states at present.

As in relative to Bagdad on a very bad day?

dsmythy

caoibhin wrote: »

As in relative to Bagdad on a very bad day?

OK so it looks bleak. But who at the turn of the 19th/20th century would think all the various European "tribes" and ethnic groups could not only exist peacefully within Nations by the post-war era but be positively loved up in the EU of today 100 years on.

Slowly but surely does it.

Latchy

Twat

Caoimhín

dsmythy wrote: »

OK so it looks bleak. But who at the turn of the 19th/20th century would think all the various European "tribes" and ethnic groups could not only exist peacefully within Nations by the post-war era but be positively loved up in the EU of today 100 years on.

Slowly but surely does it.

Very true. Even 70 years ago there was some horrific stuff going on in Europe. Sometimes I think it took the 2 world wars for us Europeans to get the hate and fighting out of our systems.

Mossy Monk

He looks great in 3D though.

dotsman

darkman2 wrote: »

This 'do gooder' is a tax evader though in fairness. Do you really think Bono cares about the peasants? Ah sure he will be looking down on them from his Ivory tower in Dublin in a few years time:pac:


I suppose he does bring alot of attention to global problems but this whole 'Bono is going to fix Africa' thing does my head in sometimes.

So you are accusing him of being a criminal? That's great.

You don't happen to have any evidence of this do you? It's just that I've never heard any reputable source claim that Bono is a tax evader, nor have I ever seen a shred of evidence.

To be honest, he is a "rock star" AND a "celebrity". There seems to be only 2 things such people do with their time - become a junkie or do work for charity. I think I know which I respect more.

chopperbyrne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXVP1zGc-uc

chuci

he just pisses me off argh twat.

Fratton Fred

dotsman wrote: »

To be honest, he is a "rock star" AND a "celebrity". There seems to be only 2 things such people do with their time - become a junkie or do work for charity. I think I know which I respect more.

Can't argue with that.

The guy has the best intentions at heart.

Redpunto

South park on paramount are taking the piss outta him right now on telly,,,with the most terrible northern accent:D

Rb

Redpunto wrote: »

South park on paramount are taking the piss outta him right now on telly,,,with the most terrible northern accent:D

Lol, was just watching that myself.

I don't hate him anyway. He shouldn't be talking about the Irish economy though, considering he isn't contributing to it.

Fanny Cradock

He clearly feels that he can help to make the world a better place for some people. I can't fault the guy for his passion and his drive to help Africa. Fair play, Paul!

life_is_music

He's not a twat.....

Lead singer of one of the greatest bands ever!!!

He means well even if he can be annoying....

Irish people should be supporting him!

RonMexico

Waterhead.

ballybay_eh

life_is_music wrote: »

He's not a twat.....

Lead singer of one of the greatest bands ever!!!

He means well even if he can be annoying....

Irish people should be supporting him!

Of course we should be supporting him! He's a genuine success story. But we're Irish and therefore must begrudge anyone any sort of success that they've managed to achieve.

His heart's in the right place. But then, a tosser with his heart in the right place is still a tosser.

Is there any truth to the rumour that he hasn't eaten any food in over three years? I hear he lives off nourishment from his huge ego and over-inflated sense of self importance. If he could somehow harness that energy then the 3rd world'd be sorted (and we wouldn't be subjected to his woeful lyrics).



Hello, Hello
I'm at a place called vertigo...

... Good for you Bonio.

Xavi6

dotsman wrote: »

To be honest, he is a "rock star" AND a "celebrity".

And an arsehole.

life_is_music wrote: »

He's a twat.....

Lead singer of one of the worst and most overrated bands ever!!!

Fixed that for you

JangoFett

I love when people diss Bono, shows how silly they are

The man is a legend, in one of the greatest rock bands of all time
Helped put Ireland on the International music map
Has done more work for charity and had more 3rd world debt wiped than ANYONE else

To all the nay-sayers out there...what have YOU done for Africa?

He is a fantastic ambassador for Ireland, look at all the good work he does and he's IRISH! He always makes sure he mentions he's Irish, he promotes Ireland more than all the nay-sayers. All they do is make us look like cynical asses!

He lives a clean life, you never hear about him being on any kind of drugs, again, a positive image of an Irish role model...what have they nay-sayers done for Ireland's image? Oh thats right...nothing!!

The man has done more for Ireland than you ever will.

Oh, and I hope the english monarchy get annoyed over his comments, so we as a nation can publicly humiliate them

Xavi6

Ah now come, the guy has idle millions and plenty of time on his hands. It's very easy for him to do it. If most people were in his position they would do the same. That's why the holier than thou persona is bollox.

JangoFett wrote: »

To all the nay-sayers out there...what have YOU done for Africa?

As a kid I always filled my Trocaire box and now I sponsor a child in Malawi. That ok?

JangoFett

Thats money he has earned over almost 30 years of hard work, why should he give it away?

The Third World Debt wasn't Africa's debt to Bono, it was their debt to other nations, so it was a bigger political step for those countries to wipe the debt. And Bono's money is a drop in the ocean compared to what the Third World Debt was.

Cianos

Xavi6 wrote: »

Ah now come, the guy has idle millions and plenty of time on his hands. It's very easy for him to do it. If most people were in his position they would do the same. That's why the holier than thou persona is bollox.



As a kid I always filled my Trocaire box and now I sponsor a child in Malawi. That ok?

So you think it's a given that every rich person puts so much effort in to helping people less fortunate?

Even if it was somewhat ego-driven, I don't think the starving child in Africa who may have an even marginally better life through his intervention gives a sh!t about Bonos ego, so why should we?

Bottom line, he's helping make a difference and he's doing a pretty good job of it.

Xavi6

JangoFett wrote: »

Thats money he has earned over almost 30 years of hard work, why should he give it away?

But if he was this super duper generous guy he would. He could easily live on a fraction of what he earns. The least he could do is give the money he saves dodging taxes to them. He hardly needs that after all.

The point I'm making is that, yeah he does a lot of work, but he has the time and resources to do so. I'd have a hell of a lot more respect for missionaries and volunteers that do their charity work at their own expense when they aren't exactly loaded themselves.

JangoFett

Oh yeah, those missionaries are doing.....hmm, I don't believe in god, what do I say here...those missionaries are doing Superman's Work, I wouldn't take anything from them

But Bono works on the grand scheme of things, he gets at the politics of the situation and meet with world leaders. The missionaries work on the small things, which are obviously really important.

If Bono gave away his fortune in the morning it would be NOTHING compared to what he's got wiped off the third world debt!

I don't think he should give away his money, he's worked for it, he's earned it. He's campaigning for the third world to have better lives, which involves job and eventually they'll be able to become millionaires, so should those people give it away? No, they'll have earned it

Xavi6

Look I agree that the work he does is excellent, it's undeniable. However he is a preachy self involved twat of the highest order and no amount of do-gooding will make myself and others see past that. I just don't like the guy (or his band for that matter). So what if he's Irish? That's not a valid reason to like someone. Same goes for Geldof.

KnifeWRENCH

As a singer and a songwriter I think he's great.
As an activist - no-one can deny that he does do a lot of great work in raising awareness. It does seem like he's a little smug about it at times though. He can get a bit irritating when he's in Preacher mode.
But overall, I like Bono. (Man I wish I had his kind of money )

tallaght01

I'm sure he has best interests at heart.

Problem is that too many people listen to a guy who's not an expert in the field. There he is talking to an audience with the japanese prime minister etc. Guys working on projects in sub-saharan Africa for donkeys years, with an intricate knowledge of the problems are very unlikely to get that opportunity ever.

I'm sure he's a good man, but he's no expert...yet he's gien expert status because he's in a rock band.

Ruu_Old

Leave Britney Bono alone! *sobs*

Del2005

JangoFett wrote: »

Thats money he has earned over almost 30 years of hard work, why should he give it away?

The Third World Debt wasn't Africa's debt to Bono, it was their debt to other nations, so it was a bigger political step for those countries to wipe the debt. And Bono's money is a drop in the ocean compared to what the Third World Debt was.

He want's to cancel 3rd world debt, that is an assit on our books. If we write it off our debt goes up. He took all his money out of this country and doesn't pay any tax, how can he tell people to give up their hard earned wages by paying more tax to cover debt relieve when he doesn't even pay any?

U2 are a good band and great ambassadors for Ireland, Bono is just a rich twat annoying people into giving up their money when he won't give any of his up.

sdanseo

markos79 wrote: »

bono is a legend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

long live bono!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure you used enough !!!'s? Maybe you should post a few more for good measure.

Bono is a tit, loves himself too much for my liking. That said, he has done his bit for charity but it's getting to the stage where he thinks he can go insulting entire countries and that's not on (even if he is right).

Xavi6

Just in case Mr. Hewson reads boards.....

http://money.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=441691

Reku

Loved the South Park episode on Bono as I agreed with it's assessment of him entirely:
e.g. Bono working hard to help the people of Africa

He's nothing more than a self-serving attention-whoring f*ckwit IMO, he doesn't care so much about how the people are suffering as how great pretending he cares will make him look, give me Bob Geldof over him any day.

Blisterman

It's unbelievable, the level of irrational hatred for Bono on this forum.

Someone could post "What do you think of Osama Bin Laden?" and you wouldn't have as much negativity.

Reku

Blisterman wrote: »

It's unbelievable, the level of irrational hatred for Bono on this forum.

Someone could post "What do you think of Osama Bin Laden?" and you wouldn't have as much negativity.

Osama doesn't try to remind us he's still about every few weeks though, makes it harder to remember what a git he is.

skywalker

darkman2 wrote: »

This 'do gooder' is a tax evader though in fairness. Do you really think Bono cares about the peasants? Ah sure he will be looking down on them from his Ivory tower in Dublin in a few years time:pac:

Big difference between tax avoidance & tax evasion. You should learn that before you go accusing someone of something libelous.

Ohh & Im not defending him here because he seems pretty inaccurate on a few counts, but yeah I do think he genuinely cares. Why else would he devote so much of his free time to Africa?

nice1franko

fair play to ya bono.

there're are an awful lot of people here who'd prefer we didn't mention these things - just incase we offended the descendents of the the poeple who did them to us.

kraggy

Both Bono and Geldo are unbearable twits.

Yes, they have both done good. But for what reasons?

Bono turns up every couple of months with a big speech or publicity stunt of some kind just to remind us all of his existence. Wants to go down in the annals of history is all.

And me thinks, another reason for it is cause he was jealous of the acclaim Geldof received for his charity work.

Steve_o

kraggy wrote: »

Both Bono and Geldo are unbearable twits.

Yes, they have both done good. But for what reasons?
.

Geldof has done a bit of good, Bono just talks sh*t...

OP, he's a twat!

Sherifu

If he can do something good fair play to him.

Reku

kraggy wrote: »

Yes, they have both done good. But for what reasons?

Bono turns up every couple of months with a big speech or publicity stunt of some kind just to remind us all of his existence. Wants to go down in the annals of history is all.

And me thinks, another reason for it is cause he was jealous of the acclaim Geldof received for his charity work.

Exactly, anyone who wants to tar Geldof's good work, by saying that Bono's is as good, may as well say that madonna's adoption of that child along with the carefully orchistrated media circus she created around it was as selfless as Angelina's adoptions which tend to be much more on the QT. I think everyone know's that madonna was just trying to hop on the latest celebrity band wagon to try, as always with her, to convince us that she's not an old has been who's trying too hard to look young and hip.

Jigsaw

Blisterman wrote: »

It's unbelievable, the level of irrational hatred for Bono on this forum.

Someone could post "What do you think of Osama Bin Laden?" and you wouldn't have as much negativity.

I can understand anything from indifference through to adulation towards Bono but people who have expressed the irrational hatred for Bono are pr1cks imo.

People have a go at him for moving his business interests outside of Ireland so as to avoid his tax burden. What the hell is wrong with that? Who on this god damn board wouldn't do the same? Exactly, no one. Pure and utter begrudgery. You begrudgers all do the same in your own small way. Like, if anyone of you buy weekly or monthly tickets for public transport, have you ever considered buying one every day instead? It will cost you more but at you'll be investing in the future of Ireland's infrastructure. You look for ways to protect your wealth, regardless what your wealth is in comparison to Bono.

As regards Bono making big statements on the state of the third world and how we all should cancel third world debt, I can see how some people might find it a little cheesy. However, I am quite sure Bono is making use of his celebrity status to garner support for the cause. If you begrudgers phone up a major newspaper and television station and say you are going to make a statement in relation to third world debt, no one will turn up because you are a nobody. If Bono does the same, the press turn up like hungry wolves and the story gets widely reported, thereby keeping the serious issue of third world poverty in the public eye and embarrassing powerful and wealthy nations into doing more to ease the plight of those less fortunate.

As regards Bono and U2's music, the vast majority of it is fantastic and look to the millions of people he has played to the world over - a true worldwide rock star.

To the begrudgers, you make think it is very cool and hip to express your funky offbeat opinions and express hatred towards Bono but in truth you're all probably t00ls wearing band t shirts putting forward the big opinions behind your keyboard while YORE MA is probably downstairs warming some milk for you.

:mad::mad::mad:

Steve_o

Jigsaw wrote: »

As regards Bono and U2's music, the vast majority of it is fantastic and look to the millions of people he has played to the world over - a true worldwide rock star.

To the begrudgers, you make think it is very cool and hip to express your funky offbeat opinions and express hatred towards Bono but in truth you're all probably t00ls wearing band t shirts putting forward the big opinions behind your keyboard while YORE MA is probably downstairs warming some milk for you.

:mad::mad::mad:

We're not doubting his musical talent, as music goes he's fantastic, we're talkin about all the sh**e he talks outside of music, i.e. talkin about all sorts of Aid and what not, yet he wont reach into his own pocket and so on...

Ps. there is no need for insults....