Bono expressed his gratitude after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The legendary U2 frontman was one of 19 people awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Joe Biden during a ceremony at the White House on Saturday (January 4).
“Thank you President Biden. The lead singer is not humble, but today I did it,” Bono wrote on U2’s Instagram account after receiving the medal. “Rock and roll has given me freedom… and the privilege of working with people who are fighting for their freedom. I want to give it up for my bandmates – Edge, Adam and Larry – without whom I would never have Find your own voice.
While receiving this honor, Bono also atlantictitled “Gorgeous, Banal Works of Freedom,” explores the connection between music and the pursuit of freedom.
“The word freedom appears in rock songs with an embarrassing frequency,” Bono began the column, citing Bob Dylan’s “Liberty Bell” as an example.
“The reason I climbed onto this slippery soapbox called ‘freedom’ today is because I have been awarded a Presidential Medal to that name – an honor I received primarily because of the work of others, That includes my bandmates and our fellow activists – which made me think about the topic again,” the Irish rocker continued. “When we rock stars talk about freedom, we mean more licentiousness than liberation, but growing up in Ireland in the 1960s, there was a place for the latter. We were crazy about freedoms we didn’t have: political freedom, religious freedom Freedom and (definitely) sexual freedom.
In honoring Bono, the White House highlighted the singer as “a pioneering activist in the fight against AIDS and poverty” and noted his role in uniting politicians from across the aisle to create the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) AIDS program. He is also a co-founder of the advocacy organizations ONE and (RED).
Other recipients of this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom include Hillary Clinton, Michael J. Fox, NBA legend Magic “Magic” Johnson, soccer icon Lionel Messi, scientist Bill Nye, Vogue Magazine editor Anna Wintour, George Soros, designer Ralph Lauren, chef José Andrés and conservationist Jane Goodall.
“President Biden believes in great leaders who keep the faith, give everyone a fair chance, and put decency above all else,” the White House wrote in a statement. “These nineteen individuals are great leaders. , they make America and the world a better place because they are great leaders because they are good people who make extraordinary contributions to their country and the world.
Watch Bono receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden in the video here.
