Bono (U2) wrote an essay on Kerry for Time's 100 Most influential people edition

[karynnj]

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” the Scriptures say. To which we might add: Sleep-deprived, coffee-stained and stubborn are the peacemakers. It couldn’t be less romantic, if we’re honest. Diplomacy is the art of getting people who disagree on everything to agree on one thing. There are meetings. Many of them. They are long, the rooms are cold, the sandwiches are bad. The white doves of peace rarely appear, and if they do, it’s only after a brutal process that very few have the skill or stamina to navigate.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is one of the few. He has a lot of things, but stamina has gotta be right up there. Under that hard hat of a haircut is a hard head. But there’s a powerful left-brain-right-brain thing happening in there, so uncommon among tough-minded men.
I’ve known Kerry since he was a Senator, a pioneer of the U.S. effort to end AIDS, which is working, by the way. As Secretary of State he’s been taking on dangers that seem just as intractable—civil wars, climate change, the spread of nuclear weapons—brokering deals that might bring some sanity to an insane world. Peacemakers inch their way into such agreements—even the big ones—slowly, tacking left, then right, navigating dark and uncharted waters like the Navy lieutenant Kerry once was.

http://time.com/4301293/john-kerry-2016-time-100/

Interesting descriptions. One insightful comment is that there is a powerful left brain-right-brain thing happening, which Bono goes on to describe as uncommon among tough minded men.

There was a short mention in the WP last week that after Kerry went on his around the world trip that included Iraq, Afghanistan and Hiroshima, Japan, he was seen eating dinner in DC with Bono. (Not to mention this old DU posting when Bono gave Kerry one of his guitars - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=273x45212 )

[MH1]

1. This is great. LOL -

Under that hard hat of a haircut is a hard head.

And this -

I had a cycling accident and spent six weeks in bed. Kerry had a cycling accident, and I don’t think he even noticed.

[karynnj]

3. It was amazing that he continued to work through that accident

- even joining a conference in Paris on ISIS via phone BEFORE he was operated on and continuing to work on the Iran deal from a hospital bed - as many pundits spoke of how he could not possibly continue negotiating and this might end chances of a deal.

[underpants]

2. Bono is great at that

Bono introducing Sinatra for a lifetime achievement award at the 1994 Grammys.

[karynnj]

4. That is cool - and I don't think I ever heard it before Thanks nt

[MBS]

5. This is fantastic, thanks.

First, he TOTALLY deserves to be one of the "100", to say the least.
And to have such an insightful salute. .well, just perfect.
Thanks again for posting this.

[wisteria]

6. How nice.

[politicasista]

7. ...

[politicasista]

8. Saw this in the hard copy a while back

Nice piece.