Geldolf finally gets Freedom of the City

whiskeyman

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/0906/geldofb.html

only heard about this now.
About time too!

Congrats (Sir) Bob!

He can graze his sheep in the Green along with Bono now

Flukey

Well deserved. He actually owns some sheep in Kent. He was on the radio this morning and mentioned this.

parasite

i thought he disowned ireland years ago, never misses an opportunity to put it down

Flukey

i thought he disowned ireland years ago, never misses an opportunity to put it down

That is not quite true. He made many accurate criticisms of the Ireland of the 1960s and 1970s and into the 1980s, when it was a very different place. He spoke about that on that interview this morning too. It wasn't the land of jobs, wealth and opportunies then that it is now. He, along with many others, were leaving the country because of that.

Pal

BANANA REPUBLIC. SEPTIC ISLE.
he called us.

parasite

no i mean recently, banana republic etc was fair enough
meh, don't really care, not a dubliner

larryone

Like Ireland of the 90's and present day is any better than it was....

Ruaidhri

that guy should be kicked out of Ireland, like he was kicked out of some asian country ( cant recall right now which one... )

Flukey

It is actually a lot better, Larryone.


Why should he be kicked out of Ireland, (though he doesn't actually live here.) Ruadhri? He has knocked Ireland, but he knocked the Ireland of the era that I mentioned when it was a worse place to live. Many of those criticisms are not so relevant now, but at the time, and at the time of the songs he wrote, they were very accurate. I don't know if you were around then, but Ireland has changed radically over the past 15 years or so. The 60s, 70s and 80s were very different though. He was far from the only to criticise it and many people expressed their feelings by leaving. They hadn't much option. There wasn't much here for them.

He has done a lot of good in the meantime and whether himself and Bono are on an ego trip or not, as some people accuse them of being, we can't deny that he has done a lot of good and deserves recognition for that. Many others have already recognised that and honoured him, so why shouldn't his own home town do so? That he criticised the Dublin and Ireland of the past doesn't matter. Those criticisms were valid. He is being honoured for his achievements and those are real. They deserve recognition.

Flukey

Maybe one thing hasn't changed, as some of the posts in this thread prove. We are still a nation of begrudgers.

Dades

Ruaidhri wrote:

that guy should be kicked out of Ireland, like he was kicked out of some asian country ( cant recall right now which one... )

I'm with Flukey on this.

If he feels hard done by for some reason by his country he has the right to say so like every punter on the street can, and usually does.

And if you ever truly listen to the guy you'd know it's not an ego trip.
He really gives a sh*t but more importantly acts on it.

Ruaidhri

sorry, i wasnt refering to his comments on ireland ( he's welcome to them tbh! ) but Live 8. it was a huge festival which...went nowhere. alright it raised awareness of famine and the need to do something...but he threw the bar (and responsibility) to the G8 summit. that and he needs a hair cut :P

adonis

dont like his music...he does good stuff for the world though ill give him that...
still his music is a pile of...

Flukey

Ruadhri, the G8 are in a better position to do something in this world than any individual is, although it has taken individuals to get governments to do things. Fair play to Bono and Geldof and many others who prick the conscience of those that are in the position to really do things. Individuals can do a lot as has been proved, but the ones with the real power are the world leaders, many of whom are too busy looking after their own interests to do something. In many cases they have more to gain by keeping corrupt regimes in power which in turn keeps people down. Despite a lot of their pontifications, they are not really interested in helping those who need it, although they could very easily do so.

Dyr

Typical blackrock boy, had his little self righteous rebellion against daddy and the state and everything else then quickly settled down to make a nice business career for himself.

Flukey

As I keep saying, there was a lot to criticise at that time. Yes, he has done well, but he had to get out of here to do it, as many others did. He has given a lot back too, to those that really need it. He doesn't have to do any of that. Yes, it has helped him, but so what? Doesn't he deserve it? So would you rather that he had kept his head down and things like Band Aid and Live Aid would not have come about?

To do what he has done he has had to be in the limelight and high profile. Just because he is, people then condemn him and people like Bono, instead of focussing on what they have achieved. They couldn't do that without drawing attention. They have to be in the forefront to do things. It is like saying that charities shouldn't advertise and do publicity campaigns to raise money. The only way to get anything done is to make a big hullaballoo about it. That brings you into the frontline and puts you in the limelight and makes you a public figure, but the important thing is what is achieved. He is being honoured for his achievements in that regard, not his music or the fact he is in the public eye or his haircut.

There are people alive now from what he has done and he has made a big change in many lives. That is what he is being honoured for and he deserves it. End of story.

beller b

He has done a lot of good you can't takethat away from him....
Often wondered what exactly "Freedom Of The City" means,??
is it you can go where you like..is it that bouncers can't refuse to let you into Lillies or the like....??

AARRRGH

Flukey wrote:

Maybe one thing hasn't changed, as some of the posts in this thread prove. We are still a nation of begrudgers.

Maybe, but Geldof is an embarrassment. Not to Ireland (I don't care about that) but to himself. Totally deluded.

At least Bono knows he's just a "face" for publicity. Geldof actually thinks he is on the ball, articulate, intelligent. He's just deluded.

whiskeyman

dublindude wrote:

actually thinks he is on the ball, articulate, intelligent. He's just deluded.

sounds like most politicians in the Dáil....

Flukey

dublindude wrote:

Geldof is an embarrassment.

So someone that does as much good as he has done is an embarassment? What does it matter how he is in himself if he can achieve what he has achieved. How many times do I have to say it? It is for what he has done that he has been honoured. Whether you like him or not, and whatever about how he is, you can't deny what he has done. Maybe he is deluded or a bit scruffy looking or many of the other things that people hold against him, but he has done a lot of good.

Rantorama

Ireland was a hole in the 70's, he was just saying what everyone thought.

He could easily be sitting back feet up rollin a few fat ones,fair ****s to him he used the exposure that celebrity has given him to highlight isuses in the thrid world.

Dades

dublindude wrote:

At least Bono knows he's just a "face" for publicity. Geldof actually thinks he is on the ball, articulate, intelligent. He's just deluded.

Sweet Jesus.

He's only deluded if he thinks a world full of people like you crowd would care the leave the planet a better place for the next generation.

I watched him on Jonathan Ross before G8 and I never heard somebody sum up the problems with the world in 2 minutes with such clarity and passion. He also made JR look like a immature schoolboy.

And for the record Geldof was very reluctant have anything to do with Live8. He was almost guilted into doing what his gut told him was a bad idea.

whiskeyman

The Atheist wrote:

I watched him on Jonathan Ross before G8 and I never heard somebody sum up the problems with the world in 2 minutes with such clarity and passion. He also made JR look like a immature schoolboy.

.

I watched that too.
It was simply amazing. It was a highly emotional speech that nearly left Ross speechless (which is hard to do!!).
He got a huge cheer and standing ovation for it.

AARRRGH

The Atheist wrote:

Sweet Jesus.

He's only deluded if he thinks a world full of people like you crowd would care the leave the planet a better place for the next generation.

I watched him on Jonathan Ross before G8 and I never heard somebody sum up the problems with the world in 2 minutes with such clarity and passion. He also made JR look like a immature schoolboy.

And for the record Geldof was very reluctant have anything to do with Live8. He was almost guilted into doing what his gut told him was a bad idea.

He's deluded because he thinks the world is a simple place with simple to fix problems. For example, everytime he says "it's not difficult, we just have to do it", I cringe. He has no idea about the reality of politics (not saying I do, but I know it is not black and white.)

Also, his work has not helped Africa. The place is getting worse. He's deluded if he thinks he can help the situation. The sad reality is no one (who is important) gives a **** about Africa.

whiskeyman

dublindude wrote:

Also, his work has not helped Africa.

Oh just cop on.
I think it's you who is deluded.

So you say the millions raised over the years hasnt helped?
It has helped, but it hasnt solved the problems.
That's up to our Governments who arent doing a good job at that, and it's that reason Bob is so outspoken.
We all know he's fighting a losing battle, but there's no need to attack him - it's our leaders we need to attack for not doing enough.
At least show respect for what he has done.

AARRRGH

whiskeyman wrote:

Oh just cop on.
I think it's you who is deluded.

So you say the millions raised over the years hasnt helped?
It has helped, but it hasnt solved the problems.
That's up to our Governments who arent doing a good job at that, and it's that reason Bob is so outspoken.
We all know he's fighting a losing battle, but there's no need to attack him - it's our leaders we need to attack for not doing enough.
At least show respect for what he has done.

There is a big difference between sending some money to Africa and changing the world. He thinks he' changing the world. He's not.

Yes, I agree sending the money is great, but he is still completely deluded that he can change the world.

PS thanks for for editing out the bit where you think i'm crazy (just because I have different opinions to you.)

whiskeyman

dublindude wrote:

There is a big difference between sending some money to Africa and changing the world. He thinks he' changing the world. He's not.
Yes, I agree sending the money is great, but he is still completely deluded that he can change the world.

He never has said he himself is changing the world. He is so outspoken because he sees the potential to change the current situation in Africa and he's just disillusioned as to why nothing is being done about it.
He knows he himself cant do that - thats up to our Governments.
He's trying his best to get public and political support for them to change it.

dublindude wrote:

PS thanks for for editing out the bit where you think i'm crazy (just because I have different opinions to you.)

neh.... no bother.

IceHawk

whiskeyman is right. Dublindude, the entire point of Live 8 was that it doesn't make enough of a difference to simply send money out to Africa. The purpose was to raise people's awareness of their ability to change what is going on over there by using political pressure.

And if you honestly think that the millions sent out to Africa after the first Live Aid and all the work Bob Geldof has done out there hasn't made any difference then you are not particularly bright.

dbnavan

whiskeyman wrote:

He knows he himself cant do that - thats up to our Governments.
He's trying his best to get public and political support for them to change it.

He is a high profile musician that can use his position to raise awareness and get the attention. he never claimed to be able to solve these problems himself. he just highlighted them to the people who matter eg: the G8.

That simple, and fair play to him, how he conducts his private life or how he lives is immaterial.

28064212

Actually, a lot of the world's problems are that simple. Stuff like not selling arms to corrupt governments in Africa, who are probably actually using the aid money they received that was supposed to be used to provide water and food to the 90% of their people still living in squalor. But then of course, if that happened, all the arms contractors wouldn't make as much profit, and some innocent American might lose his job

Tar.Aldarion

what has he done for the city to get the freedom of it?is that not the point of the award?

AARRRGH

whiskeyman wrote:

He never has said he himself is changing the world. He is so outspoken because he sees the potential to change the current situation in Africa and he's just disillusioned as to why nothing is being done about it.
He knows he himself cant do that - thats up to our Governments.
He's trying his best to get public and political support for them to change it.

I defo heard him ranting on about how simple it is to change the world. I'm quoting, "they just have to do it, it's that simple".

However, I don't want to get in an argument

His work is good, but his motivations/intelligence is very suspect to me.

:cool:

whiskeyman

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

is that not the point of the award?

Nope...
The Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin is the highest honour the City Council may bestow and it is conferred very rarely. The recipient becomes an Honorary Citizen of Dublin and although no financial or other benefits are attached to the award, the prestige which it carries is immense. The Honorary Freedom of Dublin was instituted under the Municipal Privileges Act, 1876 and is currently conferred under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2001.

Holders of the ancient Freedom of Dublin received the following privileges:

*The right to vote in municipal and parliamentary elections.

*The right to bring goods into Dublin through the city gates, without paying customs duties.

*The right to pasture sheep on common ground within the city boundaries, such as Hoggen Green (modern-day College Green) or St. Stephen’s Green.

Holders of the ancient Freedom of Dublin had the following duties:

*Each freeman had to be ready to defend the city from attack and could be called upon to join the city militia at short notice.

*In 1454, an act was passed stating that every merchant admitted to the freedom of Dublin had to possess a coat of mail, a bow, a light helmet and a sword of his own; freemen from all the other trade guilds had to have a bow, arrows and a sword.

*In 1465, an act was passed stating that each freeman had to provide himself with a longbow of his own length, made of yew, witch-hazel or ash, and twelve arrows of the same wood.

Holders include Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev, and I cant think of anything they've done for Dublin.

Tar.Aldarion

*The right to bring goods into Dublin through the city gates, without paying customs duties.

*The right to pasture sheep on common ground within the city boundaries, such as Hoggen Green (modern-day College Green) or St. Stephen’s Green

*In 1454, an act was passed stating that every merchant admitted to the freedom of Dublin had to possess a coat of mail, a bow, a light helmet and a sword of his own; freemen from all the other trade guilds had to have a bow, arrows and a sword.

*In 1465, an act was passed stating that each freeman had to provide himself with a longbow of his own length, made of yew, witch-hazel or ash, and twelve arrows of the same wood.


fookin' hell,i want it!


*Each freeman had to be ready to defend the city from attack and could be called upon to join the city militia at short notice.

heh that would be funny


quick Mandela,geldof aid us!!!