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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 OPINION 
24

Hey, America, Your Time Is Now: Bono

Obama's Nobel is world's way of saying it's ready to swoon

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(Newser) – Conservatives sneered at European naivete and even liberals shrugged when Barack Obama won the Nobel, but for U2's Bono, "the virtual Obama is the real Obama, and the man might deserve the hype." The humanitarian rock star lays out the difficult tasks Obama faces, from religious extremism to climate change and poverty; while solutions are "doable," "the Nobel Peace Prize is the rest of the world saying, “Don’t blow it.”

It's a time of rebranding for a beleaguered America, writes Bono in a New York Times op-ed, and a hopeful world is ready to swoon. "The idea of America, from the very start, was supposed to be contagious enough to sweep up and enthrall the world. And it is. The world wants to believe in America again because the world needs to believe in America again."

U2's Bono performs with the band during their 360 world tour stop at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009.
U2's Bono performs with the band during their 360 world tour stop at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009.   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
U2's Bono attends the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 in New York.
U2's Bono attends the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 in New York.   (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)
U2 frontman Bono sings in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the inaugural concert for President-elect Barack Obama in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009.
U2 frontman Bono sings in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the inaugural concert for President-elect Barack Obama in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama speaks about being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama speaks about being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
In this Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 file photo, Chairman of the Nobel Committee, Thorbjoern Jagland, holds a picture of President Obama after Obama was announced winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
In this Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 file photo, Chairman of the Nobel Committee, Thorbjoern Jagland, holds a picture of President Obama after Obama was announced winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.   (AP Photo/Jon-Michael Josefsen, Scanpix)
President Barack Obama arrives in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, to speak about winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.
President Barack Obama arrives in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, to speak about winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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The president’s words are more than a pop song people want to hear on the radio. They are lifelines. In dangerous, clangorous times, the idea of America rings like a bell. - Bono

These new steps—and those 36 words—remind the world that America is not just a country but an idea, a great idea about opportunity for all and responsibility to your fellow man. - Bono

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
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24 comments
VIEWING:
 
Cat-Lover
Oct 18, 09 1:25 PM CDT
I wasn't a U-2 fan until now! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
Snowleopard
Oct 18, 09 2:21 PM CDT
bono's actually got some good wit.
Vote up! Vote down!
+5
IN RESPONSE:
Snowleopard
Oct 18, 09 2:22 PM CDT
...then again the irish tend to share that trait.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
gabo
Oct 18, 09 1:38 PM CDT
I've always liked him since he left Cher. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
IN RESPONSE:
Cat-Lover
Oct 18, 09 1:46 PM CDT
I like Letterman, too.
Vote up! Vote down!
-3

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