Attempted rebirth of Camelot, USA?

TIME MAGAZINE'S 2005 PICK

Bono, Bill & Melinda: Gimme a break!

Not so long ago, I congratulated myself for having survived the 1960s more or less intact. I was able to shed any lint that may have brushed off onto me from the phony Camelot era.

And meanwhile, during the past decade I’ve come to pay little or no attention to Time Magazine’s annual naming the person having made the most impact on the world—mainly because the magazine some time ago moved its original definition to include the thing, event, or . . . well, just about whatever happens to occur to its editors as politically correct--natural disasters, concepts, ideas. . . . whatever might attract the most advertising revenue for the week.

This morning, CNN aired a special on this year’s choice (little wonder, since CNN and Time Magazine are bugs in a corporate rug) swooning and bearing clear evidence that PC-ism, akin to the best days the do-gooder flower children had to offer, is being reborn. Those ushering in the renaissance: Bill Gates (with wife, Melinda) and Bono.

It seems the Gates--the richest couple in the world--have been unloading their money—34 billions (that's "b") of it—as fast as they can on a lot of philanthropic causes. As admirable as that may be, their redirected targets in Africa, led by their new pal, the rock star Bono (a jazzed up copy of hippiedom's rockers) , lends an up-to-date face to international raising of money. It's particularly 21st century that Bill and Melinda would engage the world's best known rocker as their shill who warms up millions of his international fans with his guitar and high-level amp noise to extol the Family Gates while simultaneously urging other celebs to join the “cause.”

What's the “cause” this time around? Bono, in his indefatigable (is it Irish or Brit?) accent, explains that, with the lavish spread of the Gates’ money, “we will finally defeat AIDS” (would it be too presumptuous of me to be highly skeptical of this claim?). Furthermore, Bono continues, “we can wipe out hunger on the planet” (again, my skepticism is showing). Finally, he assures us, “love, not war,” will finally cure mankind’s ills (I'm confused--I thought he said it was the Gates' money--but I digress).

This might have been but one more rich man's attempt to assuage his conscience--and that it undoubtedly was, but now they're adding an interesting twist to this renascent Camelot. In a brief clip where Bono isn’t singing or rocking—he's holding forth at an Honest-to-God revival meeting somewhere in Africa. Not even a guitar in hand--only a microphone, belting out the stock revivalist phrases, just like the best of ‘em—Benny Hinn, Billy Graham, Jimmy Swaggart and the rest--working the crowds into a frenzy.

It’s not just “Just Give Peace a Chance” or “Kumbaya,” etcetera, all over again. This time there’s a clear attempt to link it with Jesus. It's almost as offensive as the charities that use the phrase "Junk for Jesus." The next career move for Bono--maybe even Bill Gates (who must be getting bored with his duties at Microsoft)--my instinct leads me to guess, could soon be a presidential appointment to some goodwill ambassadorship.

A not-so-surprising strategy—with the support of Time magazine and other corporate giants--perhaps will be the most successful of all past attempts to benefit its sponsors: Bono, MTV, Microsoft Corporation, as well as dozens of designated "charity" organizations. But it strikes me odd that, given that the targets of this giant media event are overwhelmingly black Africans, the "music" genre ("rap") plied mainly by American blacks--with a few white exceptions like Eminem--is conspicuously absent in this coalition of the rich and willing. Does this signal some kind reverse race card? Or am I being too sensitive?)

In the end, what about the mesmerized millions who have little to hang onto, save a thin filament of hope these super stars are expert in raising? And when the spotlight turns to other themes in other parts of the world? What then?