Live 8: Retard Fest 2005
I’ve been gone for the 4th of July weekend (happy Independence Day all you “Colonials!”), so I missed the “Live 8″ brouhaha. I realize that I’m a little late in commenting, but I just couldn’t resist throwing my two cents in, if only to make the obvious “Live Masturb8: Socialist Circle Jerk 2005″ joke or point out the irony of naming a concert aimed at eliminating poverty with a homonym of the past tense of “eat.”
This is without doubt a moment in history where ordinary people can grasp the chance to achieve something truly monumental and demand from the 8 world leaders at G8 an end to poverty.
The G8 leaders have it within their power to alter history. They will only have the will to do so if tens of thousands of people show them that enough is enough.
By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children.”
Live 8 Website
Grandiose, eh? That, and the biggest pack of lies ever sung.
Africa is one of the most naturally resourceful hunks of land on the planet. These know-nothing rich celebrities are used to being able to solve any problem by throwing money at it, and can’t imagine that eliminating “poverty” requires anything but vast amounts of cash from the free nations of the world. Oh, I’m sorry… did I say “free?” I meant “rich.” Filthy rich. Evil rich. Repressive rich. War machine rich. Anything to hide the fact that the reason that nations prosper is freedom and capitalism.
See, according to these idiots, America was just lucky. We got ahead in the world, and now our vast wealth is oppressing Africa. If only they had enough money to reach critical mass and join the big boys of the globe!
People are in poverty in Africa because of oppressive governments. Without property rights, personal freedoms, and some sort of capitalistic society, people cannot rise out of poverty. Calling for a doubling of “aid” to Africa is like calling for money to be given to parents who beat their children, so that they can buy them bandages for their wounds. Does this solve domestic abuse?
There is a solution to poverty: creating opportunity. As long as people live in slavery to their oppressive governments in Africa, all the money in the world is useless to them because they lack the freedom and the power to utilize it and provide for themselves. Free money, food or medicine are not substitutes for freedom.
You want to eliminate poverty? Kill the tyrants who impose it. Set up a government of the people and let capitalism work its magic. Of course, if this actually happened, the same lobster-dining assholes who performed at “Live 8″ would be performing at a concert protesting the liberation of Africa.
OK OK but the Pink FLOYD .. ohhh man … get out ! i pay all my money to see live ! Im a musician and this band are realy realy great !!!
The Pink Floyd show was histtory on LIVE 8 !!!
Peace
Villas
Great rant! I could have hardly said it better myself. While I would certainly love to see certain bands perform like this, I am appalled by the hypocrisy of the lobster-eating arsehole celebrities. The types of opportunities and material culture that have made these people rich and famous are abhorrent and evil once they’ve ‘arrived’—it’s such a crock of crap!
We are lucky in America. We’re lucky because we had some people with real balls and guts who fought to set things right. Thank God for liberty and Independence Day!
Mark’s Live 8: Retard Fest 2005
Mark has a great post on real reasons why Africa is poor.
People are in poverty in Africa because of oppressive governments. Without property rights, personal freedoms, and some sort of capitalistic society, people cannot rise out of poverty. Callin…
Bono and Pink Floyd were jerkin’ off on stage. What a great way to make money for Africa.
Now that’s is an effectively vicious rant. Excellent.
I suppose it’s easy to deliver a rant opposing anything just so you don’t have to feel guilty about forking over a couple of bucks to help people in need. Yeah, the govt’s are corrupt and if the US tried to interfere, we’d be in the same predicament as Afghanistan, Iraq, etc… We’d be the “bad guys” all over again…SO instead of bring the military/political aspect into this, what’s wrong with helping FEED some needy mouths? Are you against helping others? What’s wrong with wealthy celebrities using their own money towards the same cause? As far as I’m concerned, they can throw their money at this Live 8 all they want. The concerts beat the foo-foo $1000/plate dinners that politicians hold to raise money to fund their big mouths.
Clearly though, you are insensitive just by calling it a “retard fest”…I am a Special Education teacher and that’s just ignorant and plain mean of you. So go back to your nice, well-fed little lifestyle and attempt some compassion towards those less fortunate than yourself. You might be a better person someday.
First, the governments are so corrupt over there, that more of the money I’d give would be used to oppress the people of Africa than to feed them. Even if I ignore that, I’m not so keen on feeding people just so so they remain complacent about their slavery. Aid money has not, and will not ever eliminate poverty or hunger so long as Africans remain oppressed by their governments. It is pointless to give a man enough food to live for another month when he’ll still be in the same situation the next month, and the next month, ad infinitum. Unless you’re willing to take responsibility of providing for all of Africa’s needs for the rest of your life, what’s the point? What does it matter if someone starves today, or a year from now?
Of course, there is one way you can care for an African without causing economic hardships on his neighbors and funding his terrorist government: adopt an African child. I’ve felt strongly about doing this for some time. I have no special desire to “pass on my seed as many times as possible,” so why not adopt?
No, I don’t really think that rock stars are mentally disabled… I was referring to their view of the situation in Africa, which is, in my opinion simple-minded, lacking in subtlety, naive… all synonyms of “retarded.” No offense was meant to those with genuine mental disabilities.
It’s not a lack of compassion on my part, but a different view on how to best relieve their suffering. I simply do not believe that keeping an enslaved, oppressed person fed is anything but a delay of the inevitable, and may actually worsen their situation, considering that the distribution channels for aid are hopelessly corrupted.
[...] Bryan is forced to clean install Windows XP after attempting to use a Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter. Owen compares MovableType v3.2 to WordPress v1.5. Michael releases K2 (Kubrick v2) to the public as an alpha release. Brian is back with a new addition to his family. Where are those baby pictures? Khaled ruminates on the recent incident in London. Craig has returned, and he is finally feeling “normal”. Orson discusses “stretching” your brain through video games. Angsuman asks, “Is PHP secure?” Mark shares his feelings on Live 8. Tom discovers that Microsoft may be embracing web standards. And, Podz has a visit from the site-stealing Googlebot. [...]
[...] Fortunately, the “imposter” just posted up the link that Bryan requested… which you can find here. I thank the imposter for taking the time to find the link… but I forewarn you all that “JP Charlatans” could be potentially putting themselves at risk. [...]
Food = energy = philosophical debate. If you are starving, your concerns are not to liberate yourself, whether you can vote, or if the capitalist system would set you free…your needs are so much more basic… You watch the crops die, you watch the animals die, you see all those things around you which give you dignity and hope erode and fade. Simple to sit here in our complacent full-bellied world and debate – philosophy is the luxury of those who eat.
True “teach a person to fish” can apply here…but not at this level of suffering. In our countries we do not have capital punishment for not understanding our rights or for those who lack ambition. We do not even kill those who have committed a crime in a torturous or drawn out manner. Why should we punish the people of Africa for the fact that they do not have good governance? If we do not intervene in this manner we WILL be the bad guys. We will also miss out on opportunities to gain access to the ears of those governments we would like to persuade to improve conditions, to respect human rights, and move towards a more transparent and accountable form of government.
The ol’ cliche prevention is better than cure comes to mind when speaking of poverty in Africa. You can’t use the fact that people are so hungry they don’t care about capitalism e.t.c. But that still doesn’t solve anything, because once again as mentioned ad nauseum, there’s no point feeding someone if their not going to learn to feed themselves. i.e become self sustaining.
Nice post mark.
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