Reactionary

Some are saying they’re selling their U2 CDs. Others are threatening to take down their websites, cancelling book-writing projects etc. U2Literary.com will stay up as long as life is mine to use on it. I’m not mad at U2. I don’t hate them. I’m not angry at them. While I feel many of these other reactions are knee-jerk and quick in the wake of the recent mess, I think many will relent. Some may leave the U2 camp and follow other bands instead. I ask, was your interest so fleeting in the first place? Does this or any future disaster suddenly negate the wealth of brilliance in their work you have gained from. Their work isn’t your accomplishment, it’s theirs, and yours to enjoy as you would a painting. If you leave, the painting won’t suffer, it’ll shine on for others to see. If you leave, all you do is deny yourself the honor of looking upon it. They are a gift, take it or leave it.

What I am is saddened by what I feel is a slow denial of their own art. As the creators, they are the only ones who may leave it or kill it or deface it. (It still bugs me when people snicker at Bono when he gets the words “wrong”. He wrote them; they’re his to foul up, even if it is an unintentional mistake.) It’s their choice to make, but I can still feel wounded at what I think is even greater than any charity work– the original idea, the light you make out of the talents given to you. They took four Dublin boys and squeezed, until they produced diamonds.

It may be due to my Aries nature, if you believe in that crap. I’m going down with this ship if going down is the destination here. There’s something about them and their work that speaks beyond money, and tours, and distraction on their part. That they appear to be abandoning it doesn’t by nature mean their past work (what you fell in love with) is suddenly tarnished or bereft of merit. Whatever you loved should still be there. Of course it’s your choice ultimately, but I won’t quit and I won’t leave. It was in his voice, and as long as I have ears to listen, I hear it over and over and over again, something I will only deny myself if I leave. I’m sticking, even after the well runs dry.

Bono, it’s in your voice. And I hear it ringing like a bell…

Posted on January 31st, 2005 under Tunes •  Print •  Email • RSS 2.0 feed • Both comments and pings are currently closed