U2start.com | Pearl Jam

Originally posted by Yogi:http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/eddie-vedder-unleashes-anti-war-rant-onstage-in-england-20140716

And Israelis are now pissed. Like they're the ones getting killed.

That comments section is hysterical! Loads of deluded individuals tripping over themselves, what a pile of shit.

MoFoNYR15

11 years

Imagine That -- I’m Still Anti-War.
July 16 2014

Most of us have heard John Lennon sing

“You may say I’m a dreamer,… but I’m not the only one.”

And some of us, after another morning dose of news coverage full of
death and destruction, feel the need to reach out to others to see if
we are not alone in our outrage. With about a dozen assorted
ongoing conflicts in the news everyday, and with the stories
becoming more horrific, the level of sadness becomes unbearable.
And what becomes of our planet when that sadness becomes apathy?
Because we feel helpless. And we turn our heads and turn the page.

Currently, I’m full of hope. That hope springs from the multitudes of
people that our band has been fortunate enough to play for night
after night here in Europe. To see flags of so many different nations,
and to have these huge crowds gathered peacefully and joyfully is
the exact inspiration behind the words I felt the need to emphatically relay.
When attempting to make a plea for more peace in the world at a rock concert,
we are reflecting the feelings of all those we have come in contact with
so we may all have a better understanding of each other.

That’s not something I’m going to stop anytime soon. Call me naïve.
I’d rather be naïve, heartfelt and hopeful than resigned to say
nothing for fear of misinterpretation and retribution.

The majority of humans on this planet are more consumed by the
pursuit of love, health, family, food and shelter than any kind of war.

War hurts. It hurts no matter which sides the bombs are falling on.

With all the global achievements in modern technology,
enhanced communication and information devices, cracking the
human genome, land rovers on Mars etc., do we really have to
resign ourselves to the devastating reality that conflict will be
resolved with bombs, murder and acts of barbarism?

We are such a remarkable species. Capable of creating beauty.
Capable of awe-inspiring advancements. We must be capable of
resolving conflicts without bloodshed.

I don’t know how to reconcile the peaceful rainbow of flags we see
each night at our concerts with the daily news of a dozen global
conflicts and their horrific consequences. I don’t know how to
process the feeling of guilt and complicity when I hear about the
deaths of a civilian family from a U.S. drone strike. But I know that
we can’t let the sadness turn into apathy. And I do know we are
better off when we reach out to each other.

“I hope someday you’ll join us,…”

Won’t you listen to what the man said.

— Eddie Vedder

MoFoNYR15

11 years

^
Ed's open letter response.

RUMMY

11 years

Wow...I can't believe the publicity this thing is getting...admittedly, maybe it just because I'm just paying attention but, in any event, this is very interesting.

RUMMY

11 years

Also, I wish I was able to write something like EV just did. Too often I try to get words out about something at work or in a general conversation and feel that my thoughts are too jumbled and/or misdirected.

I guess that's what happens when you choose Math over English.

MoFoNYR15

11 years

Originally posted by RUMMY:Also, I wish I was able to write something like EV just did. Too often I try to get words out about something at work or in a general conversation and feel that my thoughts are too jumbled and/or misdirected.

I guess that's what happens when you choose Math over English.

I agree. It makes sense I guess... I could never write lyrics to a song. Forget it. He's amazing at that as well. His lyrics hit me harder as I get older...

RUMMY

11 years

I simply take the time to listen to (and read into) the lyrics as I get older.

Admittedly, I was all about the sound coming from the instruments and the bellow of EV's voice in the earlier days and didn't look for too much meaning in what he was actually saying.

I always hoped "Not For You" wasn't written for a guy like me....

RUMMY

11 years

Here's something I recently realized as well: Very few of PJ's songs/lyrics (at least their best ones) seem to have any sort of rhyming pattern. Sure, a song like "Wishlist" does (maybe too much so!) but this seems to be more of an exception to the rule than the norm.

LikeASong

11 years

Originally posted by MoFoNYR15:Imagine That -- I’m Still Anti-War.
July 16 2014

(...)

— Eddie Vedder

A.m.e.n.

KieranU2

11 years

That's the exact response I was expecting – an educated and literate retort to something that has been aimlessly blown out of proportion. Well said, big man.

Malahide

11 years

Hero

KieranU2

11 years

I'm quite glad I got 'All Or None' twice, it's quite a beautiful little song. Some great guitar work in it. Been loving the Benaroya version a lot recently.

Pearl Jam

what they said

did you know

you

forums

U2start