Greatest Concert Ever?

Did Live 8 live up to Bob Geldof's billing as the "greatest concert ever"?

Obviously, when so many different artists are involved, there will be performances that one wouldn't seek out to view under other circumstances.

For me, the Live 8 concert had a bunch of those moments--many performers I didn't care to see. Nonetheless, it was an impressive gathering of talent.

I would guess that for most the significance of Live 8 is about whether or not the musicians and performers delivered. That's fair enough, but the reason for the concert wasn't about providing a day of entertainment for millions around the world. It was to rally support to influence G8 leaders to eradicate poverty in Africa.

I liked that Will Smith referred to the event as a worldwide "declaration of interdependence."

It is unconscionable for wealthy nations to ignore humanitarian crises. I think they have a moral responsibility to alleviate suffering. In that sense, I agree with the purpose of Live 8.

Something that concerns me though is the over-simplification of the issue.

At the Philadelphia venue, Will Smith said, "We are calling on the eight most powerful leaders to do what they can to end this daily tragedy. With the stroke of a pen, eight men can make a world of difference in the lives of billions of people."

I think it's a mistake to put that burden on eight men. There is a lot more involved in ending the tragedy than simply handing over billions of dollars and forgiving debt.

The government corruption and civil war that has plagued Africa won't go away with the stroke of a pen. If only that was the case, it would be so easy to put an end to the suffering and save so many lives. The situation is far more complex than one was led to believe by the comments made at today's concerts.

The fact is the G8 leaders alone do not have the power to eliminate poverty in Africa. They certainly have the power, and I believe moral obligation, to help; but it's unrealistic to depict them as being capable of stopping the suffering. It's unfair to say that they can, because it's not true.

Another thing to consider is personal responsibility.

Are the extremely well paid performers rethinking how they spend their money? Maybe having just one home instead of three or four, and then donating the funds to charities in Africa might be a good first step for them. Maybe living in a modest home, and driving less expensive cars, and forgoing the plastic surgery and spa treatments would be other good ideas. One more--if they all flew coach instead of on private jets, how much medicine could be purchased with those savings? I could go on and on.

I'm not just singling out the lavish lifestyles of the artists who performed today as examples of selfishness and overindulgence. I know there are many comforts I could give up in order to donate more money to help those who are sick and living in horrible conditions.

I think we all need to hold ourselves accountable and examine our consciences. What can we do to make a difference? Frankly, I think we need to do more than sign an online petition.

A suggestion: Donate to Catholic Relief Services. They don't channel contributions through corrupt governments. The organization provides aid to support programs that directly affect the people, and it doesn't spend excessively on administrative costs to prop up its own foundation. A contribution to CRS will make a difference.

In the final analysis, if Live 8 managed to bring attention to the disparity between life in a wealthy nation and life in impoverished areas of Africa, if it prompted individuals to write out a check and to get involved, the concert was a success.

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

--MOTHER TERESA