Event Coverage: Bono Speaks at the ASAE Forum, Feb. 3, 2006* - Page 2

Jamila · 02-12-2006, 11:10 PM

This is my only other post in this thread. I wanted to take some time and think out my comments as well as possible because my desire is to increase communication and understanding - not animosity and separation.

I want to preface my comments by saying that, from an emotional viewpoint, I completely understand where this young girl's mother is coming from. I have raised three children through their teenage years (I am Bono's age) and I appreciate the desire to protect one's children from what might be potential harm. I can assure her that I have no desire to hurt anyone's feelings, but simply to report the truth - the facts of what happened that night.

The simple truth of the events on stage between Bono and the young woman occurred as reported. Shortly after Bono's question to her, she did leave the stage. That was a simple report of what happened - it was a neutral statement. There was no negative or positive connotation to my statement. THE NEGATIVE CONNOTATION WAS PUT THERE BY THE MOTHER AND OTHERS POSTING IN THE THREAD. My question would be why did they immediately interpret a neutral statement negatively?

Next, when one covers an event like this as a featured article, one is mandated by journalistic standards to report facts, not "truthiness". Posting in forum is different - there one has a bit more leeway for stretching the truth to make everything appear a specific way to suit the poster. I am not a proponet of "truthiness" passing itself off as fact and I will not report truthiness so that everyone can feel warm and fuzzy. That would denigrate the quality of reporting that the editors here at Interference have been striving for during the last few years.

Everyone here, including me, supports this young woman. But more importantly, I need to support the millions of innocent and destitute people in Africa who are being decimated by AIDS and extreme poverty. Ultimately, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THIS STORY.

Everyday, tens of thousands of them die of totally preventable causes which ONE is working very hard to eliminate. ONE has been very successful in gathering the interest of people through Bono and U2, but the movement to eradicate AIDS and extreme poverty is much larger than Bono and takes much more determination and hard work than simply wearing a white band.

Our support for ONE should have little to do with our affection for Bono - it needs to have more to do with our concern and activism for the People of Africa and our outrage at the comfortable lifestyles that we have in our country compared to the destitute lives that millions of Africans are forced to live.

This is what ONE is all about - and not meeting Bono.

Undoubtedly the people with Bono that night got his signature for the young woman because they would love to encourage her to join ONE and become an active member in getting her school to become a ONE school - which is what she originally said in her question (to help bring ONE to her school) to Bono which brought her up onstage.

There is a positive aspect to all this IF people want to look at it positively.

If this moment in time can be used to encourage and motivate others to get off the sidelines of watching ONE and to become active participants in the movement to end AIDS and extreme poverty from decimating Africa and leaving in its aftermath millions of AIDS orphaned African children, then the way events transpired on that night in DC should be thought of as a blessing in disguise.

You and me will go on with our lives with or without Bono, but the people of Africa don't have this option. And it is their lives and futures which are ultimately most important.

Let's put the focus on where Bono would want us to focus - not on him, but on the People of Africa.

I leave you all in Love and Peace and CoExistence.

But I will never turn my back on the poor and the helpless in our world - they will always be my first concern.

As they are with Bono.

biff · 02-12-2006, 11:29 PM

"THE NEGATIVE CONNOTATION WAS PUT THERE BY THE MOTHER AND OTHERS POSTING IN THE THREAD. My question would be why did they immediately interpret a neutral statement negatively."

Everybody's wrong, and you are right.

dsmith2904 · 02-13-2006, 11:53 AM

Okay, I'm locking this thread.

02-12-2006, 11:29 PM	#17
biff Rock n' Roll Doggie Premium Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I may have lost my way Posts: 3,779 Local Time: 03:50 PM	"THE NEGATIVE CONNOTATION WAS PUT THERE BY THE MOTHER AND OTHERS POSTING IN THE THREAD. My question would be why did they immediately interpret a neutral statement negatively." Everybody's wrong, and you are right. __________________

02-13-2006, 11:53 AM	#18
dsmith2904 Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB Premium Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Choosing Hope Over Fear Posts: 9,059 Local Time: 12:50 PM	Okay, I'm locking this thread. __________________ Don't you know it's gonna be alright?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

02-12-2006, 11:10 PM	#16
Jamila Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 5,251 Local Time: 02:50 PM	This is my only other post in this thread. I wanted to take some time and think out my comments as well as possible because my desire is to increase communication and understanding - not animosity and separation. I want to preface my comments by saying that, from an emotional viewpoint, I completely understand where this young girl's mother is coming from. I have raised three children through their teenage years (I am Bono's age) and I appreciate the desire to protect one's children from what might be potential harm. I can assure her that I have no desire to hurt anyone's feelings, but simply to report the truth - the facts of what happened that night. The simple truth of the events on stage between Bono and the young woman occurred as reported. Shortly after Bono's question to her, she did leave the stage. That was a simple report of what happened - it was a neutral statement. There was no negative or positive connotation to my statement. THE NEGATIVE CONNOTATION WAS PUT THERE BY THE MOTHER AND OTHERS POSTING IN THE THREAD. My question would be why did they immediately interpret a neutral statement negatively? Next, when one covers an event like this as a featured article, one is mandated by journalistic standards to report facts, not "truthiness". Posting in forum is different - there one has a bit more leeway for stretching the truth to make everything appear a specific way to suit the poster. I am not a proponet of "truthiness" passing itself off as fact and I will not report truthiness so that everyone can feel warm and fuzzy. That would denigrate the quality of reporting that the editors here at Interference have been striving for during the last few years. Everyone here, including me, supports this young woman. But more importantly, I need to support the millions of innocent and destitute people in Africa who are being decimated by AIDS and extreme poverty. Ultimately, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THIS STORY. Everyday, tens of thousands of them die of totally preventable causes which ONE is working very hard to eliminate. ONE has been very successful in gathering the interest of people through Bono and U2, but the movement to eradicate AIDS and extreme poverty is much larger than Bono and takes much more determination and hard work than simply wearing a white band. Our support for ONE should have little to do with our affection for Bono - it needs to have more to do with our concern and activism for the People of Africa and our outrage at the comfortable lifestyles that we have in our country compared to the destitute lives that millions of Africans are forced to live. This is what ONE is all about - and not meeting Bono. Undoubtedly the people with Bono that night got his signature for the young woman because they would love to encourage her to join ONE and become an active member in getting her school to become a ONE school - which is what she originally said in her question (to help bring ONE to her school) to Bono which brought her up onstage. There is a positive aspect to all this IF people want to look at it positively. If this moment in time can be used to encourage and motivate others to get off the sidelines of watching ONE and to become active participants in the movement to end AIDS and extreme poverty from decimating Africa and leaving in its aftermath millions of AIDS orphaned African children, then the way events transpired on that night in DC should be thought of as a blessing in disguise. You and me will go on with our lives with or without Bono, but the people of Africa don't have this option. And it is their lives and futures which are ultimately most important. Let's put the focus on where Bono would want us to focus - not on him, but on the People of Africa. I leave you all in Love and Peace and CoExistence. But I will never turn my back on the poor and the helpless in our world - they will always be my first concern. As they are with Bono.