Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS & RELATED ARTICLES

The Independent NOVEMBER 16, 2004 - by Brian Eno

CELEBRITY HELP FOR STARVING PEOPLE

Sir: I was disappointed by Joan Smith's sourly literal reading of Do They Know It's Christmas? ("Band Aid, famine and bone-headed celebrities", November 15). I doubt that the Muslim mothers and children who'll benefit from the proceeds of the recording will be as concerned as she is by its "Christian" content, and I doubt also that many of them will join her in saying, "No handouts please: what we need here is a political solution."

Of course, what's needed is a political solution, but it may be a long time coming. Is her sneery dismissal intended to suggest that any other action in the meantime is pointless and naive? These people need help now and a political solution for the future.

I can't help feeling that what really annoys Joan Smith is that these musicians have "risen above their station" by having the temerity to think they can make a difference to the world without understanding it as completely as she obviously does. Perhaps, in fact, they can't, but is it really so awful that they tried?