Americans Idle

American Idol makes me sick. So do the umpteen-million people who watch it, and the slightly fewer people who vote for the winners, losers ... or whatever they vote for. I've never voted and never will. I'd rather watch Ruben Studdard exfoliate his feet than watch the show.

More Americans apparently vote for talent-less karaoke singers on an hour-long commercial than vote for the president of the United States. That should be pretty un-@#$%ing-believable, but in 2006 America unfortunately it is not. Wife Swap, Deal or No Deal and Marry My Dad earn higher television ratings than Frontline, Now or Meet the Press.

Such is the sad, sad state of our country. So many irresponsible, inconsiderate, sheltered, self-centered, loathsome citizens. They Idol-ize loony tune crooners while those who truly are worth looking at and looking up to receive no notice.

Save one.

One indeed. There is but one man who deserves such idolatry. He betters and saves lives, influences millions and will continue his crusade to end poverty and suffering until every African has an equal chance as an American.

Bono. Time magazine's 2005 Person of the Year (along with Bill and Melinda Gates), the leader of the Greatest Band in the World, and one of the few who deserves a moniker such as “Idol” or “Hero.” As enormous a task as basically saving all of Africa is, if one person can get it done, it is Bono.

He first visited Africa in 1984, when he went to Ethiopia. On his last day there, a man handed Bono his baby and said, “Take him with you.” He knew in Ireland his son would live, in Ethiopia his son would die.

Last year Bono and the ONE campaign convinced the G8 to forgive the debt of Africa's poorest countries, although recently news reports indicate that the nations may be backtracking on their pledge to increase aid to $50 billion by 2010. Last week the U.S. House of Representatives slashed President Bush's foreign aid package from $3 billion to $600 million, but the ONE campaign responded with nearly 200,000 letters to Congress.

For more than a year now I have been a member of ONE; and for nearly 16 years, U2's One has been my favorite song. I listened to various versions on shuffle while writing and editing this piece. The words continue to take on new meaning while infuriating, motivating and inspiring me:

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other

It is time for the strong to carry the weak, for the fortunate to carry the less fortunate, for the wealthy to carry the poor, for the haves to carry the have-nots.

In seventh grade I first read the story of Kitty Genovese, who was attacked and murdered while neighbors listened or watched but did nothing to help. I couldn't understand how people were so inhuman as to not save someone else's life.

Africa is in a bad state. But America is in a worse state. Millions sit by idly while others – in Africa or on the other side of town – suffer or die for seemingly no reason. I used to change the channel when the “Save the Children” commercials came on late at night. That was someone else's problem. It was ugly, disgusting, and tasteless. Both the images and my attitude.

The world has long been in trouble, and Africa has probably always been at the front of the line. Every night the evening news paints pictures of problems around the world. Yet I'd watch with concern and curiosity ... and do nothing. It was someone else's problem. Then and now, my friends, my family and my colleagues, they don't so much turn away as turn the page. Images shown during dinner are forgotten by dessert.

I can't believe the news today. I can't close my eyes and make it go away. How long? How long must we sing this song?

That's up to us. That's up to each of us.

So I pledge. I pledge to spend my life, my time, my energy and my money making a difference. I haven't the affluence or influence of Bono, but I have a voice. I will contribute my excess time, energy and money. And I will make a difference. It is not someone else's problem, it is my problem. It is our problem. It is your problem.

It is your responsibility.