Comments on: Bono says what needed to be said

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:37:55 +0000

I do agree with that….

By: Geoff

Geoff — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:45:25 +0000

“And unless we look after our own country, we cannot help others.”

We’ve been doing the first half of this really well for a long time now. Maybe it’s time we tried the second half?

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:15:25 +0000

If we had a depression like the 20/30s, we would indeed.

I am not saying giving money to them is wrong, I am saying that unless we educate and help them with the resources we give them, they wont improve.

And unless we look after our own country, we cannot help others.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:01:20 +0000

Thanks for the comment Rick. My response:
1) My problem is not the bailout per se. My problem is with the concept that governments can put on a straight face and say that they do not have the cash to put towards the humanitarian crises that world poverty unquestionably is – and yet they can find a figure that dwarfs what is being asked for to prop up greedy banks. The conversation couldn’t be more ridiculously out of balance.

2) Spot on. But I desperately hope that the Christians will always stand with the poor in these situations.

3) I’d like to think that the compassionate goes a lot deeper than the anger and annoyance. I think that if the annoyance doesn’t rise up when faced with these issues – then the compassion isn’t what it should be. But equally – annoyance or anger isn’t the place to stay.

4) Mmmm – something to think about. And indeed I will.

By: rick

rick — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:52:10 +0000

Several disjointed thoughts:

1) Clinton said that the bailout (presuming done properly) was necessary. Without it, the ability to help with 25b or any amount later will be lost. So the bailout is not necessarily about greed, etc..
2) “western world” … I was thinking “fallen world” and in that context it would be expected.
3) 25b is good. But no matter what the amount, it is never enough so my advice is to stay compassionate and not annoyed. Once on the path of the latter, you’ve lost focus.
4) I’m very glad these Clinton and gang are doing this. At the same time every kind act is not necessarily a Kingdom act.

By: Prodigal Daughter

Prodigal Daughter — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:38:47 +0000

One of the many things I love about Bono is that he is not afraid to speak his mind and of course, his compassion for those in need.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:01:41 +0000

You don’t think that $25 billion would make a significant difference to reducing deaths from preventable diseases, and providing food and clean water supplies to communities in the two-thirds world? Seriously?

I’m not saying that it would eradicate poverty. But to place the comment “we would all need financial support” against the statistic of 25,000 children dying every day from preventable disease and hunger just makes me angry. We would only “need” financial support (for a good chunk of Australians) in order to continue to live our current consumer lifestyle. Would we “need” financial support to stop ourselves from going hungry? Or “need” financial support to stop ourselves from dying from diarrhea?

No. I’m sorry, but I just can’t contemplate the choice of my lifestyle over someone else’s life.

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:49:37 +0000

Totally agree that this is a huge problem but the fact is that money makes the world turn and without Wall St, we all would need financial support.

Also I do not want to be rude but the poor will always be with us and no amount of money will help them. For a lot of countries they need to change their cultures before they can experience freedom from their bondages.

A good example is that in certain ares of India, Rats (yes rats) are sacred and so they cannot kill or get rid of them. Even though they ruin a large part of their crops and food…