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To supplement the president's overseas efforts, several "Keeping America's Promise" rallies will be staged throughout the coming months, which in keeping with The Heart of America Tour's tradition will focus on spiritual centers, learning institutions, and localized community centers in hopes of spreading the awareness and subsequent action from the grassroots on up. For Bono in particular, getting to meet with these various groups since December has led him to a greater appreciation of America as a whole, especially the churches that he previously viewed with cynicism.

"I didn't have a very good impression of the church up to that point, in the sense of their ability to sort of wake the sleeping giant and put it to work for the world's most vulnerable," he admitted to ChristianityToday.com. "I kind of thought the church was asleep and it turned into a 'holy-bless-me club' or whatever you want to call it, [but] I'm glad to say I was wrong. Particularly evangelicals, who seemed very judgmental to me over the years, turned out to be incredibly generous in their time and their support of this effort. I've really had my view of the church turned upside down, but I will be honest. … it's ruined things for me now. People are asking "why aren't I at mass?" It's a [challenge], but it's [also] given me great faith in the church. I have always had it in God.

As for whether or not Bono's participation in DATA's efforts and close monitoring of President Bush's AIDS related actions will be the springboard for his own venturing into politics someday, U2 fans need not hold their breath as this singer plans to stick to his day job. "I think as the old adage goes, I wouldn't move to a smaller house," he said laughing. "I don't think my job is politics. I think my job is to break the ground for politicians to allow our activists to sow seeds. Ideas of changes have always come from culture. In a healthy democracy and society there should always be exchange between the art, economics and politics. … Great ideas and great melodies have a lot in common [and] this is one of them."

For more information on DATA go to www.datadata.org. For more information on Bono and U2 log onto www.U2.com.

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