There are so many points in the video and on the website where Pastor Joel has completely missed the point. Sadly, the quotes and lyrics are taken out of context. The characters of The Fly and MacPhisto are taken out of context as those were personae Bono used to illustrate points about faith, the evils of this world, and how media manipulation can take words and images and place them out of context. It is rather ironic that U2’s artistic goal of ZooTV was the muse in the video feature on the site, and in doing so it proves U2’s point - anything can be taken out of context and twisted to fit an argument.

The video is bad (almost amusingly so) but what is really sad is that goodfight.org thinks that there is more value in “Exposing” the artists that youth identify with rather than using them as a starting point for meaningful conversations. How about using the “good” that is in the music and actions of secular artists (such as U2) to get people thinking and talking about altruistic and heavenly issues?

I can understand why many artists/groups make their list (e.g. Marilyn Manson, Iron Maiden, Britney Spears) but why U2?

Pastor Schimmel would do well to read the great Bono’s Prophetic Vox interview with Eugene Peterson posted on the main @U2 site before painting with such broad strokes.