October 12, 2006

Bono vs. MacKaye

Both Bono and Ian Mackaye espouse similar philosophies; loving one another and helping each other out seem to be the two pillars they share and upon which their differences rest. Bono races around the world decrying third world debt, AIDS and let's face it, anything that brings tears to the eyes of the less fortunate. He also laces his songs with political and religious content thus bolstering his views with something other than pure introspective belief. He also doesn't mind saying that he's an Irishman through and through and loves to enjoy a pint every now and than with his fellow mates; Bono also invites his fans to pubs whenever he has time and is physically in Dublin. I have and will always admire Bono if not for his songs and music than for his acumen as an ambassador for humanity. My concern is simply, "Does his actions actually inspire people into action?"
Ian MacKaye on the other hand is a local celebrity known internationally. I stress the "local" rather than the "international". Mackaye along with his previous incarnation, Minor Threat and with his current (and I hope not defunct) band Fugazi have also been politically charged. Mackaye has played free shows around D.C. championing many cuases such as battered women, homelessness and the arts. Mackaye also initiated the philosophy of "Straight Edge" which espouses no use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and meat (some are vegans). Mackaye believes in these principles and makes sure he does not impose them upon anyone else. So I ask the following question, "Does his actions actually inspire people into action?"
I would like to start of by saying that action (along with invention) is 1% inspiration and 99% prespiration (thanks Mr. Edison). My belief is that Bono gets a certain message out there; he informs people and can better inform people because he is a trustworthy individual and has captured the spotlight. In this regard Bono is a better foreign news outlet than CNN. I think that the work needed to illiminate the problems that Bono speaks off is quiet alarming and overwhelming; for a country who's attention span is about 22mins the task is almost laughable. MacKaye inspires as well but also falls short of inspring a majority of his fans into action. MacKaye's challange is that his road is too hard. No one wants to give up eating meat and alcohol. Smokers want to smoke. For example a smoker can be very anti big business but by purchasing smokes he/she is aiding one of the largest corp. and corp. lobby in America. When given choice between ideals and addiction many will choose addiction. MacKaye and Bono both inspire in similar ways (ideals etc.) but where as MacKaye's road is too bumpy, Bono's road is too long. The former's road asks for personel sacrifice while the latters asks for attention and work.

3 comments:

Mike said...

So are you telling us that we should never try? I was about to give some money to a couple of hungry orphans who've been tapping on my window for weeks, but now that I've read this post, I'll thank them to get their dirty, little shoe-less feet off my solid gold welcome mat.
Also, I don't think Ian MacKaye's cause is straight-edge living. He advocates for local political action on things like homelessness, gentirfication, and reproductive freedom. The straight edge thing, I think, was just a Minor Threat thing.

Scrap Heap Pete said...

Bono may be more effective at inspiring people because he is more well known (and he has that sexy Irish skin tone). However, there's a slippery slope between using the resources that fame and fortune provide you for the greater good and letting those resources totally corrupt you.

Marie Debris said...

Bono is done. I am not inspired by someone who is best friends with Oprah Winfrey. I am not inspired by someone who inspires middle-aged housewives who have nothing better to do at 4pm than watch Oprah and eat bon bons. I am not inspired by someone who plays the theme song for World Cup soccer. I am not inspired . . .