Partially Settled Vagabonds

This week's sign that the Apocalypse is upon us...

I almost fell out of bed last night, as I was flipping through channels and ran across yesterday's broadcast of the 700 Club, featuring Pat Robertson. I almost kept flipping when they began a report from Scotland and the G8 Summit. In the segment that followed, one of the reporters interviewed the lead singer of U2, Bono, regarding the need for aid to Africa. CBN and Bono. Strange bedfellows? Indeed. Given my disdain for celebrity and hyper-fundamentalism, I felt as though I were the third person in a bad "The Pope, a blonde, and a cowboy walk into a bar" joke. But, out of bizarre curiosity, I had to watch. When the segment ended and they cut back to P. Rob, I was expecting him to pooh-pooh the idea of wealthy nations giving more aid to Africa out of hand. But, to my amazement, the man I have often dismissed as a political hick and a theological hack resoundingly affirmed everything that had just been said. Then he launched into his own diatribe about the piddly amounts of foreign aid that wealthy countries give in comparison to the massive amounts spent on military aid. At the discharge, he implored the viewing audience to sign up for the "Make Poverty History" campaign (see banner on this site), and urge more giving to Africa and other underdeveloped countries.

Now, to be fair, I acknowledge that simple giving of aid may not be the best approach, as suggested by many people, including many leaders in African governments. But at least the discussion is on the table, and there seems to be more consensus on this one issue than there has been on any other issue in quite some time. And I'm culpable for interminably dismissing P. Rob out of hand, before giving a fair hearing.

Click here to read the interview w/ Bono.

posted by John and Mag @ 9:03 AM