May 28, 2007

Passion, Not Fame, Sets Bono Apart in AIDS Fight

Engaging in some Memorial Day weekend shopping today, I went into the Gap. Jaded by the prices of their new summer dress collection, I walked over to check out the new PRODUCT (RED) merchandise – the Gap’s line of merchandise that funds AIDS relief efforts. No longer the centerpiece at the front of the store, the pile of rumpled red cotton tees with faded catchy, although somehow tired slogans lay piled on a table.

Yet just when it seemed that the short attention span of the American public was turning away from the AIDS campaign, the ringmaster pulled the spotlight back to the cause. Bono, lead singer of U2 and human rights advocate, will receive the Liberty Medal from the U.S. National Constitution Center this September.

The prize comes with an award of $100,000 which will be donated to Debt Aids Trade Africa, an organization founded by Bono several years ago. The Center describes itself as a non-partisan institution dedicated to promoting the relevance of the U.S. Constitution.

Bono did not attend the conference, perhaps because rocking out at the Cannes Film Festival wears a guy out, but released an inspiring statement reminding the world that everyone who participates in the fight against AIDS campaigns deserves a medal. Right on.

Still, the award seems questionable. Not because Bono is the recipient, since even if he’s your least favorite person – not counting Michael Moore – you have to admit he’s done some good. What is disturbing is that we give out awards for what is essentially a duty of all people.

The magnitude of Bono’s contribution is proportionate to his status in the public eye. Still, while Bono was picking up Grammy Awards with one hand and holding sick babies with the other, where was Keith Richards? Yeah, yeah, you were absolutely brilliant in the last Pirates movie and the world is forever grateful for your enlightening performance, but c’mon man, you’re not getting any younger.     

Before anyone scribbles an angry note in defense of Richards pointing to the good causes he has contributed to, let me make it clear that first, he’s just an example (I left the movie 40 minutes ago) and second, he’s not the only one. What sets Bono apart from other celebrities who like to donate a photo shoot to a cause or wear a ribbon is the intensity of his passion.

Signing checks is really not that hard, especially if your last paycheck had seven zeros on it. Neither is calling together a press conference to announce that you will be working with the UN to promote the welfare of dolphins, as Nick Carter, former member of the Backstreet Boys, said last week while holding a blow-up dolphin. At least Richards was willing to hang out with real fish.

As for Bono, he is now closer to the Nobel Peace Prize than ever, as six recipients of the Medal have gone on to win the award. I doubt that the committee that decides on the winner is sympathetic to lobbying, but sending them an INSPI(RED) shirt or two wouldn’t hurt.