We the People
I greatly admire the brave souls that stand up and do good work for our environment. It is not easy work and it is not always appreciated or understood, but it is necessary. I was very excited to watch the opening episode of David Letterman's new Netflix show "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" featuring Barak Obama. After watching about half of the show, I realized I was missing an opportunity by not taking notes ... so I went back to the beginning and found many gems. May these words inspire my boys and all of Generation Z to remember history, to get involved and to vote for a better future. Enjoy!
"I was proud of the work we had done. I was ready for the next stage."
"She had to figure out how was she going to use the power of her office and her personality and ability to persuade, and she did a magnificent job. I am still in awe of the work that she did."
"One of the things Michelle figured out, in some ways faster than I ddi, was part of your ability to lead the country doesn't have to do with legislation, doesn't have to do with regulations, it has to do with shaping attitudes, shaping culture, increase in awareness."
"It's behavior. We watch the behavior and we learn from that. And the planting of the garden. That's a big gesture"
"It is something people can relate to. It is something they can see and feel and touch."
"Our ability to tell stores and relate to people."
"My son, in 20 years will say to me, 'Wait a minute, you knew this was a problem, but you didn't do anything about it." David Letterman
"How do we make an economy in this globalized technology environment that working for everyone?"
"You are entitled to your own opinions but you are not entitled to your own facts" Quote by Senator Patrick Moynihan, former Senator from New York
"My mother was the guiding spirit in my life."
"When I think about the values that carried me forward, they traced to her."
"Be Honest. Be Kind. Be Useful. Be Responsible. Work Hard. Treat Everyone with Respect."
"What I came to appreciate was the degree in which I wanted to be present in my children's life."
"My mother had great faith in education."
"Some force that was pushing us on .. Sometimes you have to be inspired and lifted up by the spirit of history." John Lewis
"We had been taught not to be a threat, but be determined and be orderly, peaceful and to abide by the philosophy and discipline of non-violence." John Lewis
"John Lewis, and everyone that marched, carried America across that bridge."
"What they teach us (John Lewis and MLK Jr.) is to ask ourselves questions. If we see cruelty, if we see inequities, if we see injustice. Why is that? Am I a part of this? Am I willing to do something about it? Are there sacrifices I am willing to do to change it? And that not always easy. But it is necessary. That is how progress is made."
"Nothing right in the world occurs without a fight, or at least some discomfort."
"America is a constant work in progress."
"The current administration is a major set back to the whole hopes, dreams and aspiration of a people. Not just the African Americans, but all Americans. Because of what has happened in America today is a threat, not just to our own country, but to the planet."
"I think in the whole struggle there will be some set backs, some delays, some interruption, but if you take a long hard look, we will get there. We will redeem the soul of America. We will make this piece look realistic. What we call America and the world will be better. We all have a role to play. We all can make a contribution." John Lewis
"People opt out themselves (to vote) because they don't think anything can happen. Your voice and your vote matter."
"Having children is like having your heart outside your body."
"I'd ask myself what will be most impactful? What will be most useful? What i realized is that the thing that I could probably do uniquely is work to train the next generation of leaders, to bring about change."
"We are social animals. If we see other who are volunteering, they'll think maybe I'll volunteer. If they see others voting, they'll think maybe I'll vote. If they feel as if there is a community around them that says this is the norm for us to feel like we have a say in our lives and we can connect with people even if they don't look exactly like we do or worship in the exact same way or have the same sexual orientation. But we have these common interests involved that thats the habits of the heart that we developed."
"Boy, am I lucky."