Irish Times hard criticism on Bono (+1 by me too)

Is the U2 frontman deaf to the suffering of his people?

It has come to On The Record ’s attention that one of the country’s most high-profile rock stars is missing in action. At a time of great national crisis, we have heard from Westlife and Jim Corr about the troubles which now face us. Yes, we’ve chuckled loudly at what they’ve had to say, but they have nonetheless been with us in our hour of need.
One man, though, remains missing. Cometh the hour and cometh the crisis, there’s no sign of Bono.
Of course, he hasn’t gone too far. This was the week when he and The Edge were caught up in the furore over the Broadway production Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark , with advance previews slating the $65 million show’s “baffling script” and “dull score” (the latter composed by the U2 duo).
There was also an incident in New Zealand where Bono dedicated a song to the 29 miners who died in an explosion at the country’s River Pike mine. Some fans at the Auckland show thought the choice of I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For was “insensitive”.
However, the U2 frontman’s silence on Ireland’s economic woes is baffling. It’s remarkable that there’s been nothing from him, especially given Bono’s propensity to comment on national and international events. All we can find is an aside at an Athens concert in September comparing the Greeks to the Irish (“not only are we broke, but our lands are capable of god-like genius”).
Perhaps part of his reticence to comment is down to the band’s 2006 decision to move part of their business to The Netherlands to avail of their lower tax rate.
Still, it would be nice to hear from him.

source : http://www.irishtimes.com/