In a world that seems to have lost its bearings, a world in which hate and cynicism appear to be the main standard bearers, what remains that is everlasting and good? Love. Hope. Optimism.
So here comes U2, with their new album, “Songs of Experience,” to remind us of that. With songs such as “Love Is All We Have Left” and “Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way,” they declare, “Nothing to stop this being the best day ever,” and also, “When you think you’re done, you’ve just begun.”
But U2 is not talking about a head in the sand, Pollyanna type of love, hope and optimism; instead they are resonating with that gained from wisdom and clarity. This is best exhibited in their song “You’re the Best Thing About Me,” the video which is above, which is a love song to everything that is wonderful about democracy, America and the welcoming of immigrants, but that also shades into a warning: “The best things are easy to destroy.”
Let’s move forward with love. With hope. With optimism. Because when you think you’re done, you’ve just begun.