Cynicism is only the most common form of naivety.

"No one should be naive about aid. It cannot make poverty history, and it can do harm. But to say that nothing works is wrong. Cynicism is only the most common form of naivety." Helping Africa Help Itself The Economist - July 2nd 2005

There have been more positive things said about Live8 than negative ones. I resisted writing about the concert on Saturday before the euphoria of the event had died away. A steady line of rock and pop stars worked the crowd and the media, largely, very skillfully to put across the message that it's time to Make Poverty History.

As a boy rock and roll was a tool of the devil. My fervently pentecostal family could only see evil in the activities of popular musicians. When the Beatles, The Stones, The Who and their ilk entered the scene with their "sexual revolution" and "drugs culture" their fears were substantiated. The devil was at work and nothing good could come from their music.

Similar condemnation was never dispensed to politicians who were busy creating the nuclear deterrant and doing little to address global injustice. It was enough to pray for those in authority.

As I watched the Live8 concert I reflected on the reversal of roles. The rock stars had become the saints urging the nation to raise its voice in protest - to be on the side of the angels - against the powers of darkness about to assemble in Gleneagles for the G8 conference.

My take on this is that creative people are always a bit scary. They challenge our comfortable lives and make us think about what we're doing. As a boy the challenge to our sanctimonious religion was unsophiticated. It could almost be summed up in the catch phrase "If it feels good - do it." Anathama to the strict code of our faith. This weekend some of those same people and their successors used their creativity to challenge the most powerful world leaders. It remained unsophisticated. The catch phrase this time; "Make Poverty History". But it challenges our comfortable life style and threatens our economic security.

The message my parents condemned in the sixties has in many ways led to a more liberal and tolerant society. Equally the message of Live8 can lead to as more equal world - but it will take time and pain to get there. I just hope that naivety on the part of the concert goers doesn't lead to cynycism in the short term while those with power embark on the long road to justice.