well, there's always charity work
Yesterday's Live 8 concerts went off without a hitch, but it appears poverty still exists this morning, so I guess the effort by Bob "One Concert, One Cause, Every Twenty Years" Geldof can be labeled a failure.
Seriously, all this "we don't want your donations, we just want your voice" stuff is a little wrong-headed. You can voice all the opinions you want but if you don't contribute, whether by action or funding, you're just a little flag waving in the wind, and sooner or later you're just going to go home. Big concerts these days just seem to be reasons to get drunk, sunburned (and in the case of the Woodstock reunion, gangbanged) and listen to some music that is much more enjoyable on CD. If I were a cause man, I'd simply be doing what I can for my local charity or developing a group to spearhead some form of grass-roots activism (two words which have taken on a dirty meaning these days, though in their basic forms they are ultimately the most honest and positive tools for progress).
But let's be clear on something: I am not a cause man. In fact, I find most causes these days to be overblown, didactic, badly-managed, poorly-directed and usually really, really annoying. At least, the ones that get all the press. If I had to fight for a cause it would be the one that would eliminate all other issues were it to be successful: for people to treat each other kindly, respectfully, and to act honorably and with some modicum of dignity. I do not care about your color, ethnicity, sexual preference, political belief, depth of faith, intelligence level or breadth of achievement. If you can step up to me and be a human being for a moment, I'll be alright with that.
you say you want a revolution?
Seriously, all this "we don't want your donations, we just want your voice" stuff is a little wrong-headed. You can voice all the opinions you want but if you don't contribute, whether by action or funding, you're just a little flag waving in the wind, and sooner or later you're just going to go home. Big concerts these days just seem to be reasons to get drunk, sunburned (and in the case of the Woodstock reunion, gangbanged) and listen to some music that is much more enjoyable on CD. If I were a cause man, I'd simply be doing what I can for my local charity or developing a group to spearhead some form of grass-roots activism (two words which have taken on a dirty meaning these days, though in their basic forms they are ultimately the most honest and positive tools for progress).
But let's be clear on something: I am not a cause man. In fact, I find most causes these days to be overblown, didactic, badly-managed, poorly-directed and usually really, really annoying. At least, the ones that get all the press. If I had to fight for a cause it would be the one that would eliminate all other issues were it to be successful: for people to treat each other kindly, respectfully, and to act honorably and with some modicum of dignity. I do not care about your color, ethnicity, sexual preference, political belief, depth of faith, intelligence level or breadth of achievement. If you can step up to me and be a human being for a moment, I'll be alright with that.
you say you want a revolution?
posted by scn at 10:47 AM
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