"The Idea of America". Bono, Georgetown University, 11/12/12

Anyways, it's not a right-left issue, it's a right-wrong issue.

And America's consistently been on the side of what's right.

Because when it comes down to it, this is about keeping faith with the idea of America.

Because America is an idea, isn't it? I mean, Ireland's a great country, but it's not an idea. Great Britain's a great country, but it's not an idea.

That's how we see you around the world… as one of the greatest ideas in human history. Right up there with the Renaissance... right up there with crop rotation… The Beatles' White Album...

That idea, the America idea, it's an idea. The idea is that you and me are created equal…

It will ensure that an economic recession need not become an equality recession.

The idea that life is not meant to be endured, but enjoyed.

The idea that if we have dignity… if we have justice… then leave it to us, we can do the rest.

This country was the first to claw its way out of darkness and put that on paper. And God love you for it. Because these aren't just American ideas anymore. There's no copyright on them. You've brought them into the world. It's a wide world now.

I know Americans say they have a bit of the world in them. And you do. The family tree has a lot of branches. But the thing is… the world has a bit of America in it, too. These truths… your truths… they are self-evident in us.

So those people I've been talking about today… the poor… they're not those people.

They're not "them." They're "us." They're you.

They may be separated from us by oceans and circumstance. But they dream as you dream. They value what you value. There is no them, only us…

That American anthem is not exceptionalism… it's universalism. There is no them, only us.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/social-enterprise-network/2012/nov/14/social-enterpise-bono-georgetown?client=safari