Geldof vs. Geldof

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Paulos Yrgaw(06/10/05)

Bob Geldof did not have a road to Damascus experience like St. Paul nor he had a mystical connection with the higher self to make an impact on millions of lives circa twenty years ago. Way before he was the Geldof as he is known today, he glimpsed in to stardom when he set out to make a living in an entertainment business with the smash hit songs such as "I don’t like Mondays" when he was with the "The Boomtown Rats" band in the early 1980s. His complete transformation into a patron-saint of the starved made it into the history books with an indelible ink when he run into a TV news footage about dying Ethiopians of starvation young and old in hundreds. He stretched a helping hand to the people when he mobilized practically all the makers and shakers to pour their savings to save lives with the moving song "Do they know it is Christmas" in mid 1980s. The selfless Geldof later on in his life became dead-broke as one reporter put it, "he could not even pay his phone bills." Indeed if there is such a thing called a secular humanist, Bob Geldof is a paragon and an epitome to that effect. After disappearing virtually into oblivion for several years, in recent years however, he emerged into the stage of history with the same noble mission when Prime Minister Tony Blair came up with an ambitious and passionate road map in tandem with other African leaders to obliterate the age old specter of Africa otherwise known as poverty "once and for all". Once again, Bob Geldof true to the calling of history, crossed the oceans and traversed terrains to help this time not only Ethiopia but the whole continent. When the modus operandi (Structural Adjustment Program) of the international agencies call for a better governance, democratic principles, respect for human rights enter alia of the supplicating nations, he utilized his reputation and advocated on behalf of the struggling nations to the wealthy countries to ease up their sublime and hypocritical demands and pressures on the receiving ends.

Interestingly enough, the selection of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi raised eyebrows augmented with envy and jealousy in some quarters and pride and sense of recognition in others. The screening of Meles Zenawi to make it to the commission however, did not come in a smooth sailing. Ethiopia was being accused of posturing a stiff neck invariably to some human rights violations and other outstanding issues pertaining international rules. At that time, Bob Geldof, in recognition to his specific roles, did not play the "big brother is watching" gymnastics, again his role was a humanitarian role nothing more nothing less. These days however, he seems to have lost his prospects and gave an impression of relapsing to his prior to 1980s self. Today, according to channel 4 news outlet, he slapped left and right Prime Minister Meles Zenawi by unleashing condescending attitude with unbecoming and disrespectful language with a potential of compromising their future relations. His remarks, if they in fact are remarks, are way out of the mark. Before letting himself over charged with transient sentiments, he should have laid out the facts and should have selected his words carefully, if he is not endowed with the wisdom of respecting a person, at least he should have a respect to the office of the Prime Minister. That considering for now as none-issue, Ethiopia deserves a respect and a salute for bending backwards to accommodate every thing the tenets of democracy asks for to a group of people who are hell bent to read democracy backwards. While the death of young Ethiopians is sad and tragic, the effort the incumbent government is exerting in order to prove to the world that Ethiopia is capable of shining democracy while fighting poverty deserves recognition to say the least. Misplacing his role into playing the wealthy and the powerful will only render Bob Geldof undo his well earned legacy.

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