Sir Bono!

Bono receives honorary knighthood
U2 singer Bono has accepted an honorary knighthood at a ceremony in Dublin.

Fellow band members The Edge and Adam Clayton joined the frontman's wife and four children at the British ambassador David Reddaway's official residence.

The rock star and campaigner, 46, is not entitled to be called "Sir" because he is not a British citizen.

He said: "You have permission to call me anything you want except Sir." But he did suggest alternatives: "Lord of lords, your demi-godness," he joked.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair described the star as an inspiration in the fight against global poverty, in a letter that was read out at the small gathering.

Bono has become a vocal campaigner about issues of aid and fair trade, particularly in Africa.

"I'll leave it to others far more knowledgeable than me to talk about U2's music - all I'll say is that, along with millions of others right across the world, I'm a huge fan," Mr Blair wrote.

The U2 singer's new title is Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

He said the accolade would help him secure talks about Third World debt with politicians around the world.

"An award like this actually really helps me get through a few doors I wouldn't get through and that's the truth, that's the way the world is," he said.

'New era'

He added: "It has been a great year for this award to happen in, and it does feel like this country and Great Britain are closer than they have ever been."

He was planning a more low-key ceremony until he saw last week's historic talks between Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, he said.

"I wasn't even going to have a bit of a do, I was going to slip it in, keep it very, very quiet," the star said.

"But when I saw Big Ian sitting down there with Gerry Adams I just thought this is the end of an era, but the beginning of a much better one."

Other previous non-British recipients of the KBE include Bob Geldof, Bill Gates, Placido Domingo, Rudolf Giuliani and Steven Spielberg.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6507065.stm

I believe he deserves honors. he has done so much for the poor, the sick and
under developed regions of the world. :)

This quote is my hope as well.

"But when I saw Big Ian sitting down there with Gerry Adams I just thought this is the end of an era, but the beginning of a much better one."

Well deserved.

I have been keeping up with this story at U2's website.
Here is another link, I love the quote that Bono's 5 year old son John was thinking that he was going to be a Jedi Knight and get a light saber. :)

Bono's a British Knight

Chris, have you seen the photos of Bono and his wife Ali taken at today's ceremony?
There are some really cute photos of them together.
I don't have a link right now but if you want I can try to post it later.

Wow! I have to say, Bono's combination of hard work, brilliant mind, and sincerity really does conjure a chivalrous archetype of all-around honor and being a credit to one's nation. We are amused and then some! ;)

Love, Columbine

Well done and well deserved. Way to go Bono, my favorite humanitarian and rock star. :D