Robbie Robinson ([email protected])
Fri, 23 Oct 1998 22:56:19 -0700
What ever your take on the world situation, it certainly isn't the
way it was when that song was released. Don't get so simplistic there.
Just how can you mesure how much influence rock music has had on the
way things have turned out. I always considered rock as a medium that
spread the news of an underground change that was going on to a huge
number of people that might not of heard of it otherwise. A new way
of looking at the world and life that had far reaching but hard to
measure effects. Rock might not have instigated the changes, but it
spread it. All the people that really grew up listening to
rock are about the same age as U2 and are just beginning to move into
positions of power.
>
> 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.
If remember correctly, I've only see posts of Bono's words in
Rolling Stone. We haven't said anything about it yet. Your
the first. Don't attack the rest of Wire for something we haven't
done. Have you read the comments on Clinton the rest of the
contirbutors wrote? They're very clear on what they see the
situation to be. The government here (read that as Clinton's Republican
enemies) has treated the American citizens as an unimportant and childish
annoyance of low intelligence that they only have to con into voting
them into office every few years and like to ignore the rest of the
time. They're sitting up there amazed that we don't see things like
they want us to in respect to Clinton. They're totally out of touch with
what most Americans think. They have some sort of illusion that the other
90% of America thinks the same way their overly loud mouthed
conservative religious right-wing supportors do.
Most of the comments printed in Rolling Stone seem to reflect very well my
feelings on the subject and the feelings of many other Americans I've talked
with. This could posibally be the reason that you haven't heard any comments
about Bono's contribution to the article. We usually only speak up about
something we don't agree with.
> 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!
I'm afraid it's you that's sounding cynical here and one of the reasons
I like U2 is because they have fought tooth and nail not to become
cynical. Cynicism is a poison that keeps anything from being accomplished
because the cynic believes nothing can be done.
I remember well when Clinton took office. There was a lot of joy and
optimism among those that were so tired of the rampant
greed and total distain of the poor we had endured from the Republicans
for so many years. Clinton wanted to get the economy into shape but he
also had many ideas and plans to improve the lot of the "common" citizen.
He was going to take on the big coroporations that control America and
stop them from running roughshod over us. He wanted to rise the minimum wage,
get medical care for the millions of poor and working poor in American,
seriously attack the problem of the decline of educational quality and
many other things.
(don't believe the doctored stats the US government puts out. There
are really 20% of the American people that live below the poverty
line to such an extent that they will never get out of it no matter
how hard they work.) He used the ususal political skills to gain power,
but once he was there he had a plan we liked the sound of. He was stopped
in his tracks.
The giant corporations seemed to have won by throwing every cent
they could into backing his opponents and electing Clinton enemies.
We all know that there was lots of money backing Starr and all the players
in this investigation that belonged to people and organizations that
considered Clinton a threat to their plans for America. The Republicans
have control of congress and have blocked any serious attempt Clinton made
to help middle class and poor Americans because their masters saw these
moves as putting some small constrains on their rampant greed.
They won't let him do anything to help the situation the country is in
while they're pushing through everything they can that will benefit the
wealthy and the corporations that financed their elections.
Oh well, let me get off the soap box before I start foaming at the mouth.
> 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.
No, they are mostly corrupt, untrustworthy *and* idiots.
That's why they're so dangerous. Being crafty in a political
way doesn't require a lot of brain power. All it requires is
the abality to hire speech writers that can make you seem intelligent.
A truly intelligent politician is rare and a blessing or a curse on
the people depending on how he uses it.
> 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.
Oh, we (and U2) can influence world events. It just required a *lot*
of effort and cooperation. U2 is always ready to so what they
can to help *their* country. I think that most Americans are being
conned into thinking things are better here than they really are.
People are trying to organize and get something done, but not near
enough yet.
I just wish somebody could really catch the public attention and
tell the truth about what is going on here in a way that would cause
people to take action. The movie "Bullworth" just came to mind.
Of course, the hero ends up being shot by an assassin from the
Medical Insurance Corporations in that one.
> 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
What ho! Robbie
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Sat Oct 24 1998 - 23:03:14 PDT