Bono on Saturday at President Joe Biden’s White House Presidential Medal of Freedom receive. In a ceremony that also honored Denzel Washington, Michael J. Fox, Bill Nye the Science Guy and others.
“Thank you, President Biden. Frontmen aren’t humble, but today I was,” wrote Bono after the medal was awarded on social media.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll gave me my freedom. And with it the privilege of working with those who had to fight so much harder for their freedom. And I want to do it for my bandmates. Edge, Adam and Larry. Without which I would never have found my voice.”
U2 on X:
The singer also wrote on the occasion of the awarding of the USA’s highest civilian award a guest comment for The Atlanticin which he wrote about the connection between music and the pursuit of freedom.
“Freedom is a word that appears with embarrassing frequency in rock ‘n’ roll songs,” Bono wrote, citing Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom” as a notable example.
Here Bono receives the “Presidential Medal of Freedom” from Joe Biden:
“The reason I’m getting on this slippery soapbox called “Freedom” today is because I’m getting a presidential medal with that name. An honor I receive primarily for the work of others, including my bandmates and our fellow activists. And that got me thinking about the topic again. When we rock stars talk about freedom, we mean libertinism rather than liberation. But growing up in 1960s Ireland, the latter had its place too. We were crazy about freedoms we didn’t have. Political freedom, religious freedom and (most certainly) sexual freedom.”
“Rock ‘n’ roll promised a freedom that could not be contained or silenced. An international language of liberation. The folk singers’ freedom songs became electric. The encrypted messages of gospel music blossomed into funk and soul. Even disco promised emancipation,” Bono wrote.
“At U2, we wanted our song ‘Pride (In the Name of Love)’ to sound like the freedom we advocate for in our work with Amnesty International. That’s how unbearable we were.”
Activist against AIDS and poverty
In honoring Bono, the White House recognized “the frontman of the legendary rock band U2 and a pioneering activist against AIDS and poverty. He brought together politicians from opposing parties to create the United States’ AIDS program PEPFAR. And is co-founder of the campaign organizations ONE and (RED).”
Other recipients at the White House on Saturday included Hillary Clinton, Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, soccer star Lionel Messi, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, George Soros, designer Ralph Lauren, chef Jose Andres and conservationist Jane Goodall.
“President Biden believes that great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair chance and put decency above all else,” it said on Saturday an explanation of the White House.
“These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place. They are great leaders. Because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world.”