THE COMMON TOUCH

In reply to Greg Steinberg’s letter to Calendar (Aug. 16), I’m distraught to observe his misconception of U2.

Frankly, U2, and Bono Hewson in particular, sing “for the common man” for reasons foreign to some. They inform the world of drug abuse (“Running to Stand Still”), terrorism (“Mothers of the Disappeared”) and praise Martin Luther King (“Pride, in the Name of Love”).

Through their powerful music and meaningful lyrics, U2 becomes one with its audience regardless of the location or size of their inevitably sold-out concerts. U2, like many contemporary rock bands, does earn large amounts of money. Not from the exceeding prices of tickets, but rather from the magnitude of fans who stand in line hours before tickets go on sale to see four Irishmen who have gained moral dignity throughout the world with the attitude of making people, not money, their priority.

TRO KONIALIAN

Pasadena