Good article on the ridiculousness that was Live 8.

This whole thing wasn't about Africa. It was about the greater glorification
of Bob Geldof. The dude was the third-rate frontman for a second-rate band, and he hasn't had a headline in the 20 years since he first set off this orgy of self-promotion. Now he wants the spotlight again, so he organized this thing so a whole new generation of people can talk about what a great "humanitarian" he is.

 

At least they are channeling their talent into efforts to raise money for a (in their mind) worthy cause.

It's a hell of a lot better than their telling us who we should vote for. I'll take a Bono over 1 million Sarandons and Garafolos any day.

 

SCREW AFRICA!!!! Do they even have a football team? We are -----U-A------We are------U-A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go headhunters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

i dont think they are raising money, only "awareness". i guess they are raising money in the sense that the awareness they want is for us to pressure our leaders to give money by taking our tax money and giving it to africa.

so instead of raising money, they are hoping to trick us into asking our leaders to take our money from us. that way you can force people to give. that is much worse than a charitable concert.

i saw this ad on tv for one.org or whatever with all the celebrities, and tom hanks is on there and he says "we do not want your money, we want your voice" . so i read about it, and they want our voice to tell our leaders to put 1% of our nation's money to poverty. so they do specifically want our money.

 

Ah, but you fail to factor in the slut factor, my friend.

Put her next to an average looker and her value depreciates sharply.

 

was some good performances. that's all i really cared about.

holding us hostages for tax money kinda ruins it.

 

The world would never accept the real solution to africa's problems.. take countries with legit governments, boost their military, and help them destroy all opposition... The only way for those countries to join the 21st century is that type of structure... but the world would cry for the victims of war and say we are once again bringing violence to the dark continent. I see it as an example of what happens in this country everyday, but on a larger scale.

Here, our social wellfare system throws money at people who need help. When we do this, we arent solving a problem, we are treating a symptom. In order for a person on wellfare here to improve, the person has to show some initiative and work to improve his/her own life. To many people cry "show me the money" but never try to move up beyond the level they are at. It is too easy to work only SO hard, and have the rest given to you. Yes, there are those who need it, who cant possible move up the social ladder, but i see them as more the exception than the rule. I have lived in poverty and managed to put myself through college. I know others who have done the same with multiple kids attached. It can be done.

Expand this to africa. The masses ruled by the few with the guns and the money. How about some initiative. You have a legit government? They are being beat down by the warlords? pick up a gun, pick up a stick, use your fists, and help your government put them down. Dont beg the world to do it for you. Most of the successful democracies in the world are successful because they were paid for with blood.

If an african country steps up to the plate and gets itself straightened out, I am all for throwing money at them. Not in handouts, but in investments. A country is a corporation waiting for stockholders. Show us you have an up and coming Intel, not an Amtrak.

Ive taken alot of classes on africa (social studies major). Im not just some guy who is spouting crap without knowing the history. I know that what "the West" has done there has set them way back. From slavery to colonialism, the US and (mostly, though they will never admit it) Europe has set Africa up for failure, mainly by dividing the country up with no regard for local ethnic groups, tradition, etc. HOWEVER, Africa, the world is not going to weep for you. You are the latest in a long history of exploitation of the weak by the powerful. That is the way of the world. It has alway been, it will always be. The weak only rise by bringing themselves up, not by waiting for others to drag them from the depths.

Africa and its sister continent to our south are the great wild cards of the next few centuries. Should they choose to step into the modern world, they will challenge us for power in the world. Look for new Chinas to rise out of Africa and South America. All they have to do is show some initiative.

 

That will never happen. You have studied them, I've lived with them. There is no way they will ever amount to anything.