| To get behind any celebrity-driven effort to end world poverty, a certain level of hypocrisy has to be forgiven. When mega-stars like Brad Pitt, Madonna and Will Smith showed up on broadcasts of last Saturday’s Live 8 concerts, I found it best not to think about their personal fortunes. As they told us it’s up to you and me to do everything we can to end poverty, I had to overlook the fact that the message was coming from super-rich people who own multiple extravagant residences in the priciest regions of the world.
When it comes to rich celebrities paired with poverty causes, the trick is to be grateful that the stars concerned are using their fame to bring needed attention to crisis situations. They are also applying headline-grabbing pressure on politicians to make positive changes. That’s good. That’s very good.
It’s also important to note that Bob Geldof, U2’s Bono and the other driving forces behind Live 8 claimed that it was not about charity, it was about justice. Viewers weren’t asked to send in a cheque. They were asked to add their name to a huge international online petition at www.live8live.com. Apparently the petition will be presented to the leaders of the G8 nations at their summit this week in Gleneagles, Scotland.
By putting your moniker on the reported list of more than 25 million names, you said you are in favour of the world’s most powerful nations (the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia) cancelling all debt owed to them by developing countries. You also said you want the G8 nations to double the amount of aid they supply to the poorest regions of the world, and you want international trade rules altered so struggling nations could better compete.
Again, it all sounds very good. While I doubt the G8 countries will actually adopt these proposals, let’s put them out there. It’s hard to envision a George W. Bush-led America diverting significant funds from its reckless "war on terror" to feed starving children, but hey, let’s take the shot. You don’t know if you don’t ask, right? So I did it. I added my name to the Live 8 petition.
For the most part, the Live 8 concerts were an entertaining and noble effort. The London gig was particularly memorable. U2, Sir Paul McCartney, a reunited Pink Floyd, The Killers, Madonna and Robbie Williams put out some solid, crowd-pleasing sets while delivering their message of hope.
And while the Canadian gig suffered more than a few technical glitches and Ben Mulroney’s hosting of CTV’s coverage pretty much sucked, the show itself delivered many musical high points. Neil Young, Barenaked Ladies, DMC, Deep Purple, Jann Arden, Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip, Mötley Crüe and Simple Plan all delivered solid performances.
Still, with all the good music, positive vibes and my general belief in the cause, I didn’t instantly put my name on the Live 8 petition. It took some time. In fact, I didn’t do it until more than a day after all the shows had wrapped. Why? I had to overcome the bad taste left in my mouth by the posers, the performers that didn’t seem to be truly behind the cause. Two prime offenders leap to mind.
One is that not-so-humble Canadian gal Celine Dion. Good on the 35,000-plus people at the Barrie, Ontario Live 8 show who booed her ass when concert hosts Dan Aykroyd and Tom Green attempted to introduce her. It seems the crowd was aggravated that Dion was not actually in Barrie or any of the other Live 8 performance venues. She was in Las Vegas on her massive Caesar’s Palace show stage that goes along with her long-running, huge-money gig with the casino. Dion was so concerned for the cause that all she could manage was a brief interruption in one of her regular Vegas performances. With her large doe eyes staring earnestly into the camera, Dion said she hoped, "The leaders of the world will open their hearts and give the necessary help to those in need."
Having watched Dion’s urgent appeal a few times now, I can say it is one of the most contrived loads of crap that has ever been shovelled. I especially loved it when she sighed ever so dramatically, presumably in an effort to contain herself. Time and time again, from her Caesar’s Palace deal, to her Air Canada and Chrysler endorsement agreements, Dion has proved she’s all about the cash. The decision to feature this over-the-top money-grubber in a show about ending poverty was as ill-conceived as it was ill-received by the audience in Barrie.
Also offensive was the inclusion of Toby Keith in the Philadelphia Live 8 lineup. Here’s an artist who has so tirelessly supported the American war on terror that he wrote a song about it, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue." Its lyrics include, "You’ll be sorry that you messed with The U.S. of A. ’cause we’ll put a boot in your ass. It’s the American way."
The same guy who supports the boot that has been put in the ass of the poor people of Iraq now wants you to know he’s in favour of helping the poor in other parts of the world. You’re selling, Toby, but we’re not buying.
Yes, a little hypocrisy can be forgiven for the proper cause, but there are limits, and Dion and Keith as a part of Live 8 stretches them to the breaking point. Let’s hope future events of a similar nature give as much thought to the selection of their messengers as they do to the message. |
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