Saving Africa

Just as soon as Bono and Madonna and Bob Geldoff donate 75% of their net worth to African causes, I'll jump in and do the same. At that point, I'll listen to them chastise us about greed. Until then, hypocrisy merits its own special corner in Hell.

When I was younger, one of my favorite songs was "It's Only Money" performed by Robin Trower (no one else posting on this board was even born when that was recorded). One line of the song went, "It's only money, and money don't satisfy." I had a friend who used to laugh when he heard that. He would say, "I never listen to rock and roll lyrics. When Robin Trower gives all his money away and puts on free concerts, then I'll listen to him when he talks about money."

I can't honestly say I've liked anything Bono or Madonna ever did. U2's music consists of about four basic riffs, retreaded endlessly, and Bono is an insufferable prig. Madonna's forte was teaching thirteen year old girls how to act like sluts. I hope she's proud of herself. I did like some of what Boomtown Rats did (once again, before you guys' time) and Geldoff did a passable job in The Wall. When these people get involved in this kind of thing, though, my appreciation of their music and my interest in their work declines exponentially. Listening to some self-absorbed, drugged-out, insanely wealthy rocker lecture me on the merits of collectivism ranks near the bottom of my "Cool Stuff I Want to Do Today" list.

As the beautiful and talented Laura Ingraham puts it so succinctly, "Shut up and sing."