Harper to Bono: Drop dead

I strongly suspect that, even now, Stephen Harper doesn't give a flying fuck what anyone in his own country, or any other country, thinks of his declining to meet with Bono.

This is not surprising to anyone familiar with Canadian politics. Harper barely has time for members of his own party caucus.

While this is something I don't care for in terms of domestic affairs, it's a different story on the world stage. Harper is a refreshing change from other Canadian politicians who serve as harmless lapdogs to, as Jay would suggest, more important politicians and countries.

Whatever I may think of Harper, and I'm not a fan of a lot of his decisions, he is entirely his own man and I admire him greatly for that. I have absolutely no problem with how he is representing Canada's interests around the world.

 

How on earth do you know that?

Newman may have simply said, 'these are the limits of what I will do for charity.'

Bono has raised more money for the impoverished than Paul Newman.

Just not remotely up for debate.

 

OK, now this interests me. because Canadian nationalism is not a force I have remotely reckoned with -- probably for exactly those reasons outlined above. If Harper's doing this for the reasons stated above, then I understand exactly why he's doing it. Will he do it to Fredo? Or the new guy in Britain? I will stay tuned. Thanks Double J.

 

He's a Canadian.

Oh, and I think he's a doofus.

And I suspect Bono DOES know more about this than the former head of the ultra right wing National Citizen's Coalition.

 

Why does being a celebrity automatically exclude you from being well-versed and maybe even an authoratative figure when it comes to important issues. Is Bono using his celeb status to gain access? Sure! But is he using it to try to bring about an important change? Yes. So what's wrong with that.

All other arguments kind of fall by the wayside if you can't reconcile that.

 

Double J, (with whom I should have bet on the Stanley Cup Final) and I seldom see eye to eye on Mr. Harper who I believe is more interested in sucking up to Fredo than anything else.

And frankly, as a Canadian, I'm kinda embarrassed.

Bono isn't some two-bit musician--as if his artistry somehow diminishes all other aspects of his intellect--and Harper, instead of taking cheap shots about "celebrities", should have met with him.

Harper, despite coming off as a Rotarian lightweight, has a pretty keen intellect and doesn't suffer fools gladly--he's the Calvinist version of former PM Trudeau's Jesuit upbringing.

I suspect that Harper realised when it comes to the subject at hand, Bono was his intellectual equal, unlike a lot of the mouth-breathers the PM either beats up on or ignores in the Conservative Party caucus.

 

You've convinced me. That Bono is a first-class prick. How dare he try to give a voice to the millions of children crying right now because they have no parents and no food to eat. The fucking bastard. I hope he rots in hell. What gall.

 

Leave me out of this.

We're booked for Wednesday.

 

What is it about this story that makes you think Bono "expects" world leaders to meet with him and "kiss his ass?" He requested an audience and wasn't granted it. I saw no quotes from him complaining about it. I saw nothing where he said he couldn't believe he was turned down.

People get on the backs of Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and LeBron James for not using their voice to enact social change. Here, Bono is trying to do just that, using the platform he has been given by his fame to help the poor in Africa, and somehow that makes him a jerk? Celebrities can't win either way.

I, for one, am glad Muhammad Ali never listened to anyone who told him to "Shut up and box."

And, you know, that Martin Luther King was just a preacher. What the hell business did have trying to make policy? He should have stuck to talking about God. :

 

I saw nothing in the story that indicated Bono "expects" world leaders to listen to him. But as any advocate will tell you, you find a forum and you try to spread the message to anyone who will listen.

I don't know how you think or what you believe, but the way it comes off is your beef is with the fact that Bono is doing something other than entertaining. How dare he.

That may not be the way you intended it, but it makes you sound awfully petulant.