Bono: “America, a Great and Powerful Idea”
When you are a monk in Burma this very week, barred from entering a temple because of your gospel of peace … well, then none of us are truly free.
–Bono from U2
(Associated Press, 09/27/07)
These words from Bono are reminiscent of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., written nearly 45 years ago. (Perhaps that is where Bono received the inspiration for the aforementioned statement.)
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
–Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
(”A Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” 04/13/63)
Here’s more from Bono’s acceptance speech for the Liberty Medal for his work in Africa.
Calling America “my country,” Bono said he’s a fan of the United States despite its problems because of the country’s contributions to the world.
“Your America is where Neil Armstrong takes a walk on the moon,” Bono said. “Your America gave Europe the Marshall Plan. Your America gave the world the Peace Corps.”
“America is not just a country, it’s an idea, isn’t it? It’s a great and powerful idea,” he said. “The idea that all men are created equal, that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Bono exhorted Americans to pledge to continue to help the world.
“America has so many great answers to offer,” he said. “We can’t fix all the world’s problems, but the ones we can we must.”
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