Bono's Thoughts on World Aids Day 1 December

It is World Aids Day and a time for the world to reflect on the pandemic that eats up the entire continent of Africa and more generally every area of the world. HIV/AIDS is on the increase here in N. Ireland where are not even aware of its existence and wherever you are there are people infected or affected by this disease. Bono has heralded the cause and made so many sound bites that I could fill a book (and probably will) but here are just a few of his more provocatively prophetic preaches: -

"This is the defining moral issue of our time. Two and a half million Africans are going to die next year because they can't get hold of drugs we take for granted. We have these drugs that simply aren't getting to them. If you remember the story of the Good Samaritan, well, when it comes to Africa, we're not just crossing the road to avoid the man who needs help, we're catching a bus in the other direction.

And I think the American church is finally waking up to the emergency. The sleeping giant is lumbering to its feet and realizing AIDS is a bit like leprosy in the time of Christ. The church is realizing, hey, aren't we supposed to hang out with these people and help them?"

Bono as quoted by Memphis Commercial-Appeal, December 13, 2003

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WASHINGTON - A year ago, as we sat in a tour bus motoring across the Midwest where he was trying to raise consciousness about the AIDS emergency in Africa, Bono told me in no uncertain terms that he was pissed off at the American church.

"Christ's example is being demeaned by the church if they ignore the new leprosy, which is AIDS," he'd said. "The church is the sleeping giant here. If it wakes up to what's really going on in the rest of the world, it has a real role to play. If it doesn't, it will be irrelevant."

A lot can change in a year. Even the mind of a stubborn, quick-tempered Irish rock star.

As we sat in the lobby of the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C., Wednesday afternoon -- on the first anniversary of Bono and his Heart of America tour's stop in Chicago -- the 43-year-old lead singer of the Irish band U2 revealed that the greatest spiritual insight he's acquired lately was how he had underestimated churchfolk.

Given the facts -- 6,500 Africans die of AIDS every day because they can't afford antiretroviral drugs we take for granted in the United States and that cost less than $1 a day -- they responded. With gusto.

"I really am surprised and even a little disappointed that I can't continue to beat up the church, because they have really responded," Bono said, between sips of tea and puffs of a Marlboro Light. (He's down to three cigarettes a week these days, he said.)

"The sleeping giant kind of woke up and is really playing a huge role in getting the job done. I'm amazed and moved by it, actually," he said of the American church he's come to know and respect in the last year.

Cathleen Falsani - Chicago Sun-Times, December 05, 2003

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“Today – in the next twenty four hours – 5,500 Africans will die of AIDS. Today in childbirth 1,400 African mothers will pass on HIV to their newborns.

If this isn’t an emergency, what is? In the Scriptures we are not advised to love our neighbour, we are commanded. The Church needs to lead the way here, not drag its heels. The government needs guidance. We discuss; we debate; we put our hands in our pockets. We are generous even.

But, I tell you God is not looking for alms; God is looking for action. He is not just looking for our loose change – he’s looking for a tighter contract between us and our neighbour.

I should be preaching to the converted here. There are 2,300 verses of Scripture pertaining to the poor. History will judge us on how we deal with this crisis. God will judge us even harder.”

Bono – Transcript for video message recorded for Christian music festivals, plus Extrapolations as published in THE AWAKE PROJECT; Uniting Against The African Aids Crisis.

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