Pride (Bono's Game of Blood)

by Fred Johnston Sat Aug 05, 2006 00:48

There is an island off the coast of Northern Brittany called the Isle Bono! What do you suggest people do re: his alleged involvement in the US company as you describe?

by James - Caliche con Carne Sat Aug 05, 2006 01:21

Hi, Fred, everyone. This is James, the guy who wrote the words to the parody. At the end of the post is a link to an article about Bono and the video game, and after that link is an address people can write to learn more about the campaign that's building around this video game.

I haven't been directly involved with efforts to stop the game, but am involved with the Venezuela Solidarity Network (in the US, not the Australian one). We wrote Bono a letter informing him about the game (Mercenaries 2), and asking him to intervene and use his influence to stop the game's release. He hasn't even bothered to respond.

So I would think one thing people could do is write, email, or call him and urge him to come out against the game. If nothing else, one can submit a comment at the U2 website, at:

http://www.u2.com/contact.php

Also, writing vsn@afgj.org, they can give you more details about contact information.

People in Venezuela are taking this game very seriously. And as I'm sure everyone knows, here in the United States (I'm from Arizona), every day our government leaders and corporate press are doing all they can to slander and isolate the people of Venezuela and their electoral choices. Our government has already supported one coup attempt against Chávez. So for Pandemic (the company behind the game, and a company which has contracted in the past with the US military) to be releasing this game, and for Bono to be associated with that company and it's game, is both sad and irresponsible.

By the way, this parody is strictly something I did on my own, and is not being put out in the name of the Venezuela Solidarity Network. I stress that, because it's attitude is kind of snide and confrontational--also, we did this so quickly, and the quality of the recording and performance isn't that great.

by Leperrechaun Sat Aug 05, 2006 03:22

James, you ask whether Bono is just a corporate whore. The answer is very clearly yes for a long period of time (see link below). This is a guy who tours starving Africa with the US Treasury Sec. and works with (Sir) Bog Geldof to promote NGO corporate culture which is rejected by the actual African nations it's supposed to help. He's a man with a good voice and not enough brain power or honesty to be considered as anything other than an ENTERTAINER.

http://www.dissensus.com/showthread.php?t=2995

http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/1285.html

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2002/03/24409.html

But, what else would you expect from a Jehova's Witness?

by Bonk - Super Mario Bros. Sat Aug 05, 2006 17:45

It's a GAME people, get over Yourselves, if your outraged by this-why not by HALO?
Why not by Grand Theft Auto?
Why not by Any Military themed GAMES ?
Why not any Games which have in any way, shape or form anything construed as violent?
if you dont your hypocrisy is showing.
How truly pathetic with everything in the world today to worry about, you've picked this.

by Reality Deliverer Sat Aug 05, 2006 18:08

Why not get outraged over games themed around torturing children? Or how about Sim Concentration Camp? Or .... oh wait! you would be outraged over those.

Add to that that the game in question is (like America's Army) a piece of propaganda and normalisation of the idea of violence against other countries, happening at a time when Venezuela is under threat from the USA (has survived at least one clearly documented coup attempt against it's democratically elected leader ... a coup which the USA welcomed very quickly as legitimate!) and it's pretty obvious that this is an unacceptable game and that Bono is an eejit for being involved with it.

by Not outraged Sat Aug 05, 2006 18:19

If you want some serious outrage, look up what Colonel Hewson did here in the civilising mission of 1650. How's about a game on that subject.

by Paul Sat Aug 05, 2006 18:58

So , if you went to the Cine to see "Schindlers list" did that make you an advocate of genocide? If you went to see "Mississippi Burning" did that make you a Klansmen? It's ENTERTAINMENT, nothing more, worthless vegetative entertainment.

by Deirdre Tue Aug 08, 2006 16:35

Apart from the Venezuela video game, there were articles in all the papers in the last few days outlining how the U2 publishing company is now setting up in the Netherlands to avoid the new government cap on the artist's exemption. Even with the cap, which allows people to earn 250,000 tax free, the tax is tiny in percentage compared to that of normal working people, but they are moving their company abroad to avoid it. It's incredible hypocrisy. How anyone could take either Bono or Geldof seriously as authorities on development and poverty alleviation, when they are so wedded to wealth and the interests of the powerful, and so shameless about it, beats me.

by DennisL Tue Aug 08, 2006 18:42

I was going to give out about an over-reaction to a simple issue of it being "just a game", but then there was an interesting comment about the normalisation of violence against different countries...something quite normal for most people already. Hmmm.

by who Tue Aug 08, 2006 19:20

Joys of the EU anyone?

by Bicriu Wed Aug 09, 2006 01:28

"how anyone could take either Bono or Geldof seriously as authorities on development and poverty alleviation, when they are so wedded to wealth and the interests of the powerful, and so shameless about it, beats me."

maybe the extra money he generates from this move he will pour back into his efforts to alleviate world poverty.

"The only consistent people are the dead and Sunday Independent scribes"

by cool j Wed Aug 09, 2006 03:03

The small man with the big ego has just invested big money into Forbes magazine(an unashamed promoter of rampant capitilism which glories in the obscene wealth of a few to the detriment of the planet and most of its people!) - At least for once he's not behaving like a hypocrite!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS - As pointed out he's tranfered one of his holding companies to Holland in order to avoid paying a meagre amount of tax in this country - And this man was given the freedom of Dublin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Though that may make more sense than it appears in Ireland given the goings on for many a year iside a certain tent at the Galway races!!!

by Aran Thu Aug 10, 2006 17:30 aranmcgrath at yahoo dot com 0857213586

Lets face it- the man is a pompous little shit - he is one of the wealthiest men in Ireland and he has recently shifted his empire so he does not have to pay any tax in Ireland.I appreciate any efforts to alleviate world poverty but I think a large element of it is to boost his ego and alleviate any guilt he may feel about not contributing a thing to his own country (I find Geldof a bit more genuine)
I can understand a tax break for struggling artists (created by the late great CJH) we have agreat musical, literary and cultural tradition in this country but how the likes of U2 and Enya avail of it I can not understand.They are well aware of the poverty that still exists in this country and a fraction of their earnings would create a rake of much needed public services.He can try to save Africa all he wants, but we all pay taxes and we d'ont have the luxury of deciding where it goes-I'll finish with a well worn cliche-charity starts at home.

by shane - blackshamrock.org Sat Aug 12, 2006 01:28

I've lifted your article, with links and posted it on Blackshamrock.org underneath the article that's on there about the video game. Keep up the great work.

by Bad Sat Aug 12, 2006 09:07

after moving the bus-i-ness to another tax haven)- has anyone heard of the deals they made-
the original studio was gone (part of the re-furbishment ) of docklands areas- you know,
high property prices, anti-community. The re-zoners move in and communities move out.

U2 agreed to the demolition of their recording studio in exchange for the U2 tower. It
shadows one on the other side of the liffey- only thing is, they have made small
artistic communities, such as the graphic studio in Green Street East homeless, (or will).

It will stand as a symbol of the'artistic' worth of that group and of the consultative process
for the communities who are being shoved out by the planners, zoners, and developers.

A photo impression of the new premises was published in the Nationals , last week.

Great, Bono, have a tower block named after you.

What was the line: " true colours hide in blue and black, through ... and burning flak...'

by A. Bingo - Rock'n'Roll Tue Dec 25, 2007 18:23

U2 as four individuals is a legend band, marked lives of many people, but Bono's activity in a recent years (10 or so) is causing permanent damage for everything U2 stands for. He doesn't have a credit for hipocrisy, corporate sell-out, and kissing the butt of politicians who are responsible for death of millions in the world. Africa is a problem, but what about Iraq, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe, and finally poverty in USA and EU too. Is their blood less valued? Did he join some fancy cult or a club for extra rich who don't see what they don't want to see? Last resort - dont buy U2, until is real! Last couple of years are Greatest hits of the greatest hits of the hits from 80s anyway... Sorry Edge and others but someone needs to give this guy a wake up call - truth or oblivion, the choice is yours!