Bono: "You do not have to become a monster to defeat a monster"

[babylonsister]

http://www.attytood.com/2007/09/bono_you_do_not_have_to_become_1.html

Bono: "You do not have to become a monster to defeat a monster"


snip//

But his strongest words of the night were this warning:

Today I read in the Economist an article reporting that over 38 percent of Americans support some type of torture in exceptional circumstances. My country? No. Your country? Tell me no. Today, when I receive this great honor, I ask you, I implore you as an Irishman who has seen some of these things close up, I ask you to remember, you do not have to become a monster to defeat a monster. Your America’s better than that.

He expounded on that theme earlier in the day, when he met with some editorial writers and reporters at the offices of the Daily News and Inquirer. He was asked a question about America's standing in the world, in light of Abu Ghraib:

You lead the world in fighting HIV AIDS,, but these are dangerous times for America. Brand USA has never been in such a vulnerable state," Bono responded. He said something to the effect that the neon was fading "a little bit in the grubby storefont of some corner of the world somebody’s thrown a petrol bomb throough it."

He described a phone call that he said he'd received recently from an American four-star general and commander of European forces, Jim Jones. "Of all the surreal encounters," Bono said. He said Jones told him that U.S. security overseas needs a development component.

Bono said Jones told him:

"'I'm a Marine,' he said, 'and Marines do not mind being fired at for the right reasons, they don't mind being shot at for the right reasons -- they don't like being shot at for the wrong reasons.' We didn't discuss Abu Ghraib but that’s a part of it... ‘ What he did say was the United States had heroic men and women and they had good intentions and they weren't getting across. He said we had billions and billions in high tech equipment floating in the Mediterranean, aircraft carriers off the coast of Lebanon, and he said we’re losing the war because Hamas are building schools.

Bono said that America could improve its standing in the world by spending relatively small amounts on medicine, doctors, and schools. The good news that I picked up from the meeting is that Bono and his allies on the Africa issue are paying super close attention to the 2008 election -- in fact he acknowledged that one reason he wanted to meet with the Daily News and Inquirer is because he knows that Pennsylvania is a battleground state. I'd like to see tonight's message become part of the '08 debate -- in both parties.

[zalinda]

1. And, this is the reason that dems don't fight like repubs

For all who say, why don't the dems get down in the dirt with the repubs, this is why. We are above that, and it is one of the things I love about the Democratic party. We don't slime, we don't cheat, and we don't take unfair advantage (9/11) of a situation. We are the ones who have morals.

zalinda