Figured it out. Turns out that it's a font thing. I've run the steps indicated below and now I can read the text. It's still on a dark green background, but the text is readable.
On amazon ec2 ubuntu instance need to:
1) enable multiverse for apt-get
- Open
/etc/apt/sources.list
with any editor - On ec2 it seems the multiverse isn't present so copied these lines into the file and saved
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid multiverse
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-updates multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-updates multiverse
2) sudo apt-get update
3) sudo apt-get -y install x-ttcidfont-conf cabextract ttf-mscorefonts-installer
- this will bring up shell gui, use arrow down, tab, and enter to navigate
- accept EULA
4) sudo dpkg-reconfigure x-ttcidfont-conf
- choose freetype fonts