Bono's best sermon yet: Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast

[Sapphire Blue]

The National Prayer Breakfast is normally a time for reaffirming spiritual truths and testifying to the power of faith in people's individual lives, but not so much a moment for prophetic and controversial social utterances. There have been exceptions - when Sen. Mark Hatfield spoke courageously about the moral "shame" of the Vietnam War in the presence of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger (I know a lot about that prayer breakfast speech because I helped write it when I was a seminarian in Chicago); when Mother Theresa spoke about the sacredness of life and raised the issue of abortion with the Clintons on hand; and yesterday, when Bono spoke like a modern-day prophet about extreme global poverty and pandemic disease and called upon the American government, with George Bush and Congressional leaders present, to do much more.

The speech, published below, was the most explicit about religion and the role of faith that I had ever heard Bono deliver, and his insistence on the biblical requirements of justice and not just charity was reiterated over and over again. In a small session with religious editors afterward, Bono spoke about how the churches had led on the issue of debt cancellation with the Jubilee 2000 campaign, on HIV/AIDS, and now on global poverty reduction. "You're the bigger crowd," he said, "much more than my stadium audiences." He said the church will just hear "fanfare" from musicians.

But Bono is offering far more than fanfare, as his talk below demonstrates. To the religious editors he stressed how the justice issue is "really it," and said that the churches had to figure out how to make that clear to people and that "movement is the way" we will finally succeed. Bono said he believed that something is moving now and we have to create the momentum to accomplish our goals. On the way to the car afterward, we spoke together about how really crucial that movement building is, how nothing else will suffice to make the changes in our world that are so vitally and morally necessary, and how the strategy in the religious community is so key. We also talked about the Isaiah 58 passage he had quoted in his speech - that when we respond to the poor as the prophet instructs, "God will cover your back." This is one speech you will want to read and pass on to your friends.

- Jim Wallis

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojomail.display&issue=060203

Bono's best sermon yet: Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast

(Excerpt)

I mean, God may well be with us in our mansions on the hill. I hope so. He may well be with us as in all manner of controversial stuff. Maybe, maybe not. But the one thing we can all agree, all faiths and ideologies, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor.

God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them. "If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom with become like midday and the Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire in scorched places."

It's not a coincidence that in the scriptures, poverty is mentioned more than 2,100 times. It's not an accident. That's a lot of air time, 2,100 mentions. (You know, the only time Christ is judgmental is on the subject of the poor.) 'As you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40). As I say, good news to the poor.

(snip)

'Righteousness is this: that one should...give away wealth out of love for him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for the emancipation of the captives.' The Koran says that (2.177).

Thus sayeth the Lord: 'Bring the homeless poor into the house, when you see the naked, cover him, then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring fourth, then your Lord will be your rear guard.' The Jewish scripture says that. Isaiah 58 again.

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojomail.display&issue=060203

[Pirate Smile]

1. Thank you for posting this, Sapphire Blue. Recommended.

[MidwestTransplant]

2. How do the Fundies reconcile this quote with their attitude toward the

poor?

'As you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40).

[Sapphire Blue]

5. Exchange w/a Fundie...

Remember the "On Being Poor" thread posted a while back? (I can't find the link; advanced search is off, but here's the original author's link: http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/003704.html). I forwarded it on, and this was a reply from a 'Christian':

Her reply:

I've known a few of those things, but you know what is even sadder than that list? It's the realiztion that middle class in now poor by many of those same statements.

My reply:

Yes, what used to be the middle class is becoming poorer... if things don't change, the middle class will be a faint memory of what once was... instead there will only be the greedy 'haves & have mores', and the poor & the poorer. Poverty rates in this country have steadily increased in the last four years, 2001-2004. The UN recently released a report stating that parts of the USA are as poor as the Third World. Yet the brutal policies benefiting the rich & attacking the poor continue, while the 'haves & have mores' laugh... all the way to the bank. Where is the conscience of this nation? When will 'moral values' become a reality instead of empty words, instead of a slogan? When will the poor become visible to this greedy of this country? When will the poor be treated with justice and dignity? When will the people of this godforsaken greedy country demand justice for the least of these???

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, `Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.' " - Matthew 25:40

"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Her reply:

"I fully believe that nothing will change until our Lord comes back. Even He said "the poor you will have with you always". It is sad, as is the human condition - sin."

End of exchange; I didn't bother to reply again... wanted to tear my hair out!

[MidwestTransplant]

20. That allows her to basically rationalize any behavior/condition.

Pretty pathetic.

[Sapphire Blue]

21. True. Pathetic & frightening insight into Fundie thinking.

[suffragette]

3. saw some of this on cspan

While Bono was speaking, Bush was leaning away from him (surprised he didn't tip his chair) and making an extra pissy face.
Bono's doing well at pushing them into supporting something they would rather ignore.

[pacalo]

4. Beautiful!

And Bono spoke to the morally-challenged who consider Social Security & Medicare to be "entitlements".

[G_j]

6. that was quite good

thank you!
:thumbsup:

[The Stranger]

7. Oh my God. Is he denouncing the Illegal Iraq War or supporting it?

I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did - or did not to - to put the fire out in Africa.

Fuck the platitudes. It's the "ILLEGAL IRAQ WAR," Bono, can you say it?

[Sapphire Blue]

8. W/that statement, I'd say he was acknowledging it...

... rather than denouncing or supporting it.

[The Stranger]

10. All that talk and he can't find room to denounce an illegal fucking war?

As rich and powerful and supposedly Progressive as he is? Does he know the role that Rock and Roll played in the Peace Movement and in helping end another Illegal Fucking War?

[Sapphire Blue]

11. That's not why he was there.

You seem really angry that he didn't speak about something which was not his focus at that particular time. I won't join your anger.

[The Stranger]

12. There is and was an elephant in the room he wouldn't seem to acknowledge.

If you aren't angry, then you haven't been paying attention.

[Sapphire Blue]

13. Don't play that game w/me. I've been paying attention, to a lot. Have you?

Have you read through Bono's speech? Do you realize that the world is bigger than the US & Iraq? Do you realize that poverty is killing people throughout the world? Right now... someone is dying from poverty. Dying as I type this, dying as you read it.

[The Stranger]

15. No one is advocating poverty here -- let's get that straight.

On the contrary, the war in Iraq is about poverty as well, and the massive exploitation of an impoverished, desert regime's only wealth, by the extremely rich, leaving more poor everywhere in the world for the aggrandizement of a very few.

If he sees that as inconsistent with poverty, then maybe someone can help Mr. Vox to understand before he makes these eloquent speeches.

But what is most alarming is the fear of dissent that has been created, and when there are those with the means and apparent inclination to support Progressive causes and the cause of Peace -- and they fail miserably -- it is not a simple omission, it borders on complicity.

He found room enough to include the war in his speech -- why not take a stand against it?

The silence is deafening, Bono.

[Sapphire Blue]

17. Please feel free to continue this argument w/yourself.

I'm not going to condemn Bono because he did not see fit to take on your agenda.

[The Stranger]

25. You consider the cause of peace someone's "agenda"?

That is the same word that Bill O'Reilley uses to describe Cindy Sheehan's efforts (and those of countless other Progressives) to stop the war.

[Sapphire Blue]

26. You are very peaceful, aren't you?

:sarcasm:

My goodness, comparing me to O'Reilley, now. Are you getting a little desperate in your provocation? Not gonna play.

Bye.

[Sapphire Blue]

27. If you feel so strongly, why don't you contact Bono, instead of...

... attempting to engage me in your disagreement?

[Sapphire Blue]

28. Have you contacted your Congress members to voice your opposition to...

... bush's latest war funding request? Here's a toll-free # for you: 1-800-426-8073.

[Tigress DEM]

18. BONO is on his own mission.

As I read it, he's saying, "Look, get it together and do right by the poor and oppressed" AND he doesn't give a flying monkey-fuck for ANY EXCUSES - including being involved in an illegal war that sucks all the money out of your country.

[Vinca]

9. Hmmm - I'm an atheist and not a big fan of Bono's, but

WOW - what a moving speech. If only God would get that message through to King George.

[sandnsea]

14. That was amazing

Best speech I've heard since I Have A Dream. Too bad it got no air time, and neither did the National Prayer Breakast. Not surprising I guess.

[Sapphire Blue]

16. Video is available @ C-SPAN

http://www.c-span.org/ (VIDEO/AUDIO - Recent Programs )

[donheld]

19. Whatever anyone thinks of Bono

That is great! :yourock:

[bobbieinok]

22. religious wrong preachers constantly discuss M Teresa's sermon

against abortion at prayer breakfast when Bill and Hillary were there.....

they emphasize Clintons' facial expressions of disagreement, etc

wonder if they'll preach on W's reaction to this call for justice and love for the poor and helpless

suuuuuure

[clitzpah queen]

23. Great Speech BUT Media will exploit Pic of Bono Patting King George on Bac

They shook hands, and Bono slapped him on the back....aren't we all good ol' friends on the same page. Barak Obama was on that dias as well -- rich for his photo op. I agree with the Stranger, Sapphire -- that these visual endorsements and verbal ones too -- "the war on terror" is a right wing talking point -- condoning a plethora of crimes: Iraq War, Torture, Corporate corruption, increasing domestic and world poverty and misery, domestic spying, Loss of basic rights -- Bono should be giving this speech in OTHER venues. It really is THAT simple.
I applaud your advocacy for the poor and downtrodden, I supported you and participated in your efforts to fight that nasty Congressional Bill cutting services and benefits from those Most in need. But it's all connected to a Right Wing Agenda -- whose spokesmodel is George Bush -- Bono embracing him publically is horribly Wrong. (Just see how another cultural person, EARTHA KITT, handled HER criticism of the Viet Nam War by publically confronting Pres. Johnson at a luncheon -- it got HUGE press coverage (and cost her many years of her career).
Bono is an opportunist who doesn't really want to Risk anything by appeasing the worlds' two heinous leaders at this point in history: Bush and Blair (because of Blair's European cover for Bush)-- while he gets to Spout the Spiritual moral highground vis a vis poverty....etc.
This is NOT Moral Courage at a time like this!

[Sapphire Blue]

24. You know, I felt the same way about Clinton buddying up w/bush, Sr.

Hard to see them (Bono & Clinton) shaking hands w/the devil.

You have your opinion of Bono, I have mine. I won't condemn him.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

29. I watched this last night on CSpan and was mesmerized.

Like other, Atheist, No fan of Bono (never really paid that much attention to him before), but his message and delivery... Wow. Knocked me over.

Bush looked as "comfortable as a whore in church with a bastard on each knee."

If you haven't seen this, folks: DO.

[Patsy Stone]

30. Agreed.

I saw this yesterday and couldn't turn away.

There was a moment when Bono was thanking * for the $$ for African relief and * looked like he was being criticized. It was the strangest, most inappropriate reaction.