I got an email today telling me that my membership to U2.com is due to expire in 7 days. I've been a member for, well, for more years than I can remember. I've successfully used it to get presale tickets for gigs in Ireland, the UK and, most recently the US. I have the CDs, DVD's, Blue Rays and Books that come as being a perk of a member of U2.com.
But... I can't, not any more.
Let me explain.
Growing up in the late 80s, U2 introduced me to Amnesty International, to Green Peace, to CND. In the 90s, Aids Awareness, they were Pro European, they were Anti Nationalism. In the 2000s, it was Drop the Debt and RED. Each and every one a worthy cause.
They've spoken and educated, at length, on the Northern Ireland Peace Process, on destruction of Sarajevo, on apartheid in South Africa...
But you know what they haven't spoken out against? They haven't spoken out absolute destruction and desecration of Gaza and Palestine, by Israel. They haven't spoken out about the deaths of well over 10,000 innocent Palestinian children, by Israel. They haven't spoken out the destruction of Palestinian hospitals, many with patients still in them, by Israel. They haven't spoken out, and that, for a band who built their career on standing up for, and shouting out for, those without a voice, those being brutalised by inhumane regimes, that is shameful.
Four lads from the north side of Dublin who said nothing, unlike the thousands from all over Dublin, all over Ireland, who every weekend, come rain or shine, our out protesting against this evil destruction of Palestine, by the Israeli Govt.
So no, I won't be signing up to U2.com again. No, I won't buying a ticket to see them again. No, no I won't be buying a new U2 album in the future.
So, we'll leave it at that lads. Thanks for the memories, I'd high hopes of making many more over the next 10 years, but it's just not to be..