Politics and Culture - American Profiles In Radical Independence

“Every good act is charity. A man's true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.”

~ Moliere

When brought face to face with adversity we have the choice between forgetting our original reasons for fighting and standing fast in the creation of new opportunities in the sweet race towards the finish line in the accomplishment of our original goals.

~Khalfani A King

There is more than a verbal tie between the words common, community, and communication.... Try the experiment of communicating, with fullness and accuracy, some experience to another, especially if it be somewhat complicated, and you will find your own attitude toward your experience changing.

~ John Dewey

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

~ Confucius

There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help.

~ Jan Schakowsky

He who never sacrificed a present to a future good or a personal to a general one can speak of happiness only as the blind do of colors.

~ Olympia Brown

Freedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them -- and then, the opportunity to choose.

~ C. Wright Mills

If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell.

~ Lance Armstrong

“Have you ever watched a crab on the shore crawling backward in search of the Atlantic Ocean, and missing? That's the way the mind of man operates.”

~ Henry Louis Mencken

“Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.”

~ Janwillem Va De Wetering

“Power comes not from the barrel of a gun, but from one's awareness of his or her own cultural strength and the unlimited capacity to empathize with, feel for, care, and love one's brothers and sisters.”

~ Addison Gayle, Jr.

In today’s conversation there will be no quotes from famous men or women of world history nor will there be a summation to try and put a spin on the issue that is up for discussion.

"Fanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim."

~ George Santayana

Compassion literally means to feel with, to suffer with. Everyone is capable of compassion, and yet everyone tends to avoid it because it's uncomfortable. And the avoidance produces psychic numbing -- resistance to experiencing our pain for the world and other beings.

~ Joanna Macy

"We don’t always get it all right; there’s no place else I would rather build my life. Cause it’s a Kid with a Chance, it’s a Rock and Roll band it’s a Farmer cutting hay. It’s a Big Flag flying in the Summer wind over a Fallen Heroes Grave."

~Rodney Atkins “It’s America”