Politics
Ariana Baio
Mar 17, 2022
Video
In an effort to honor Ukraine, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi decided she would read a poem about Ukraine by none other than U2 singer, Bono.
Every year on St. Patrick's Day, the US government hosts a luncheon to honor the friendship between Ireland and the US and oppose the violence and terrorism in Northern Ireland. This year, Pelosi lead the luncheon at the Capitol by starting with remarks from Bono.
Before introducing traditional river dancers, Pelosi read a poem from Bono which she says was sent to her that morning. In the poem, Bono compares the war in Ukraine to the war in Northern Ireland.
"Oh Saint Patrick, he drove out the snakes with his prayers, but not that's all it takes, for the snake symbolizes an evil that rises and hides in your heart as it breaks, and the evil risen from my friends from the darkness that lives in some men
But in sorrow and fear, that's when saints can appear to drive out those old snakes once again, and they struggle for us to be free from the psycho in this human family, Ireland's sorrow and pain is now the Ukraine and St. Patrick's name is now Zelensky."
It was a nice thought. However, people on social media did not find the poem as endearing as intended.
A poem by Bono about Ukraine read by Nancy Pelosi on St. Patrick\u2019s Day? Haven\u2019t the Ukrainians suffered enough— jump aside (@jump aside) 1647541665
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Many cracked jokes at the Speaker of the House's decision to read Bono's poem during the Friends of Ireland meeting, calling it 'cringy'.
I'm thinking Putin will surrender after Pelosi reads a poem.pic.twitter.com/au9X1ySBFK— In_God_We_Trust (@In_God_We_Trust) 1647539770
"Oh my god it's structured as a three-verse limerick (think 'there once was a man from Nantucket')," Christopher Ingraham said on Twitter.
"Americans: Can we have healthcare? Pelosi: Best I can do is a poem by Bono," Hanuman Welch joked.
Nancy Pelosi says that she will read a poem by Bono about Ukraine.\n\nThe US should hack Russian TV and broadcast it there, it\u2019ll be so cringe that they\u2019ll immediately surrender.— Chris Rose (@Chris Rose) 1647538919
The poem compares Zelensky to St. Patrick and The Troubles to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Both situations have similarities but comparing the two felt wrong to some people.
Ultimately, it's giving celebrities singing imagine to lift spirits during a pandemic.
The Independent has a proud history of campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and launch this petition in the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we are calling on the government to go further and faster to ensure help is delivered.
To find out more about our Refugees Welcome campaign, click here.
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