Читать книгу Thanks Be to Bono - Brent Barton - Страница 8

For over twenty-five years I have proclaimed the Good News message of U2. As a disciple and an early pioneer in U2opian thought, I helped found the First Temple of Bono (later TEMPLE™) and I have dedicated my life to the celebration and praise of the music, lyrics, and deeds of the band and its members. From the early days of preaching on the street, with just me and my guitar, to the opening of the URBAN TEMPLE™ and TEMPLE SUBURB™ multiplexes, to the greater global ministry expansion, I have made it my goal in life my – mission, my purpose – to magnify all that is great about this music and this thing some have referred to as a mysterious spirit.

And there is so much that is great and good! Of the billions of U2 fans in this world, I am just but one small voice in the crowd, singing. I sing and I praise with great joy and enthusiasm.

You will have to excuse me. I can be loud and boisterous at times. I am the guy at the dinner party who uncomfortably brings up the subject of religion. I am the guy who stands up and shouts woo-hoo, even at those moments when it may be inappropriate to do so. Cheers. I am the guy that will drop an F-bomb in the midst of a prim and proper polite conversation. Fuck yeah! Out of nowhere. Boom, right-atch-ya, I preach with a saucy tongue. I like to add me some spice. And uh-huh you better believe I use exclamation points! Because I’ve got me a point to make. Full stop, period.

I say what I have to say with plenty of passion, that’s just my style. That’s how I rock’n roll-it, you know what I’m saying?

I could say that I’m the guy who makes no apologies, but I’m being honest here, now, and I find that these days I’m apologizing all the time.

I am truly and indeed sorry.

I am sorry.

I’m sorry I raised my voice.

I raised it up, alright.

I’m sorry if I screamed and yelled.

I know it’s rude, to some. But I can’t help myself. I’m just excited about being alive in the world today. It’s not my intention to offend. I’ve been told that I am a very poor judge when it comes to determining what is or is not appropriate to say or do. I’ve always wanted to be the good guy here. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to be. If all that is good were to ever form an alliance, I want to be an enthusiastic member. I want to be a part of that team. Helping out, for good, for others, not just myself, spreading goodness to all and to everybody. I’m not a bad guy.

Now I know that all of this talk, over justice, and freedom, and religion, all this yadda yadda bleep bleep can be a little bit unsettling for some. It can get uncomfortable. And that’s okay. It’s become common for us to see life as an oppositional exercise. We see all of these hard lines all over the place. Lines that separate us. Lines that define our horizons. In fact, there are no lines. None! No lines. There are no lines. That’s what we were telling people. We were telling people and we were asking them to be all grown-up about it. Get over this illusion that we’ve succumbed to. Theses line appear as obstacles. We must remember, as a people, that obstacles can be overcome.

Please.

This moment, here, now, needn’t be an awkward moment.

None of this needs to be.

This moment, let’s follow it.

Let’s check it out.

Hear it. That beat, beat, beat of a song beat, thumping.