Bono receives 2007 Liberty Medal in Philadelphia

By Eric Donovan
Collegian Staff
October 3, 2007

Philadelphia welcomed U2 front-man Bono Sept. 28 as he accepted the Liberty Medal award for his extensive humanitarian work in Africa. He is the most recent recipient of one of Philadelphia’s most prestigious awards.

“This is my country,” proclaimed Bono as he accepted the award from former president George H.W. Bush. Bono and his organization, Debt AIDS Trade Africa, were awarded the medal at the National Constitution Center.

The Liberty Medal is awarded annually to those “who advance the cause of liberty around the world,” according to the National Constitution Center. It was originally founded by the We the People 2000 celebration to continue the legacy of the constitution.

Bono and DATA join an elite group of individuals and organizations known for their humanitarian efforts and ongoing support of global aid. Past recipients include Iraqi President Hamid Karzai, former president Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela and former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

Bush, who was awarded along with former president Bill Clinton last year, was on hand to honor Bono and DATA. Also in attendance was Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a member of DATA’s policy advisory board, who accepted the award on the group’s behalf.

“We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor,” said Bono, borrowing a line from the Declaration of Independence. He went on to challenge everyone to make a promise for a better tomorrow: “What are we ready to pledge ourselves to?”

In his speech, Bono thanked several of his supporters, including President Bush, while he jokingly pointed out that he was not the house-trained guest the White House normally welcomes.

However, his speech took a serious turn, when he cited injustices all over the world.

“When you are trapped by poverty, you are not free. When trade laws prevent you from selling the food you grew, you are not free ... When you are a monk in Burma this very week, barred from entering a temple because of your gospel of peace ... well, then none of us are truly free,” Bono said.

As part of the award, the recipients received $100,000 prizes, which will be going to support DATA, according to Bono.

Some of Bono’s more recent humanitarian efforts include U2’s participation in the Live 8 global concert July 2005, which was held to raise awareness for and help end the growing levels of poverty in African nations. In addition, Bono helped create Project Red, an initiative to raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.

Bono vows to continue his humanitarian efforts as his life work: “America has so many great answers to offer…We can’t fix all the world’s problems, but the ones we can, we must.”

donovane16@lasalle.edu