U2 frontman Bono appeared in front of a US Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Capitol Hill on Tuesday where he offered his own strategy of fighting Islamist extremism and violence in the Middle East. Kill them with comedy.
Bono suggested that we send some of the West’s most popular comedians to face ISIS. Some of those he recommended for deployment were Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, and Sacha Baron Cohen. Essentially Bono is urging Congress to fight with laughs instead of bombs and to meet violence with violence is to “speak their language.”
“Don’t laugh,” he said to the room. “I think comedy should be deployed. It’s like, you speak violence, you speak their language. But if you laugh at them when they’re goose-stepping down the street, then it takes away their power.”
“So I am suggesting that the Senate send in Amy Schumer and Chris Rock and Sacha Baron Cohen, thank you.”
Amy Schumer apparently hadn’t been notified of the singer’s plans.
Holy shit https://t.co/Hzn4KNloAh
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) April 12, 2016
Bono turned to a more serious note and talked about the refugee crisis, calling for a major aid plan to be implemented in areas of the Middle East where people are fleeing.
“When aid is structured properly, with a focus on fighting poverty and improving governance, it could just be the best bulwark we have against the extremism of our age.”
[The Independent] Featured image via Matthias Muehlbradt (Flickr)
BobF
April 14, 2016 at 6:56 pm
Yeah, Bono obviously has a firm grasp on the realities of extremist Muslims – wouldn’t it be hilarious if Amy Schumer walks onstage not wearing a hijab and gets shot? That’ll teach ’em!
Simon Peters
April 15, 2016 at 5:46 am
My feeling about the tax exile Bono is the same as the Beatles to Yoko – ONO!