Stephen McBride ([email protected])
Sat, 24 Oct 1998 19:08:48 +0100
You know, some of these recent postings have alarmed me as to
the lack of critical faculties some wirelings seem to have! Maybe it
has to do with age, and maybe I was a lot more trusting when I
was a teenager!
At the minute I'm listening to The Who's "Won't get fooled again".
Those of you who think rock music can change things, take a
listen to this! The sad reality of life is that rock music entertains
us, but it changes nothing. The only people who change things are
politicians. They may choose to listen to rock stars, (like my
moronic Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who seems to think Noel
Gallagher has something coherent to say!) but this is only as they
chase votes. When the British PM, Harold Wilson gave the
Beatles MBE's in 1965, it wasn't because he believed in the power
of rock music! It was because his Parliamentary constituency of
Huyton is in Liverpool, and he wished to ensure his return to
parliament in the General Election of 1966!
Bono surprises me with his trust in Clinton! For heaven's sake,
Bono's Irish! We're taught not to trust politicians at birth! But what
really surprises me is that so many of you take his word as if it
comes from the mouth of God, and no-one seems to appy any
reasoning to his words. Personally I feel clinton was like all other
politicians. He appealed to voters by appearing to be in touch with
youth, etc. In reality he was a cynical man, who was extremely
adept at getting his own way. Clinton may not be a nice chap, but
he is a consummately gifted politician!
And "Bono's enemy, Pinochet"? Well, I'm sure bono had no more
liking for the man than the rest of us, but this really is overstating
Bono's importance!! I'm equally sure Augusto Pinochet had a
damn sight more to worry about, as the US ceased funding him!
And remember, this was a dictator who still kept his hands on the
reins of power in Chile. Chile's Upper House of Parliament is going
apeshit at the British because we've arrested him - because
Pinochet still has huge support with Chile's military.
Sadly, rock music does not change things. We may like to believe
it does, but the reality is different. Our leaders are not idiots. They
may be corrupt and untrustworthy, but they are certainly not idiots.
So they would never ever let a bunch of rock stars, who like the
rest of us, know little about the Machiavellian game of politics, near
any sort of political power. Unless, it suited them to do so. Hence
something like Live Aid. A supremely laudable effort by Geldof,
which politicans embraced, because it made them look good. If for
any reason, any major world leader had chosen to veto an
occasion like Live Aid, then it would not have occurred. Simple as
that.
I have always respected the likes of U2 for the things thay have
said, and i think te consciousness they have raised is valuable.
But, they are like you and I. Considerably more wealthy, but like
you and I. Fallible, capable of misunderstanding things, and
certainly utterly unable to influence world events - unless someone
in power sees it to their advantage to let them do so.
I am saddened that on occasions our liking for U2's undoubted
talents allows us to accept whatever they say because of who they
are. Let's use our reasoning faculties! They are god-given and
there for a purpose. Let's encourage each other to debate and use
our own brains, instead of letting Bono think for us! Because bono
is certainly capable of getting things wrong - as i am sure he would
tell you! Not having met the man, I can't say, but my intellect tells
me Bono is no fool, and probably finds unquestioning hero worship
a tad ncomfortable.
Doubtlesss, I will attract the usual flames, but hell, I'm 35 and a
school teacher! I deal with stroppy kids every day!!
As ever!!
Stephen
"I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world" - Walt Whitman
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Sat Oct 24 1998 - 11:11:00 PDT