I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation.
quote by Coretta Scott King
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
It is distressing to me that we live in an age in which we still must fight to protect our civil rights as Americans, in which a hate crime perpetrated against someone based their sexual orientation can go unpunished, and in which discrimination is being written into our laws.
quote by John Conyers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Battle.... (We Have Fought)
the battle we have fought for so long,
as a 'free' society...
in the name of justice, equality, diversity,
responsibility, and freedom...
has reached the point of decision.
we either move forward no matter
what the cost...
believing the dream is worth the price...
or we crawl back into the cave
of self-fulfillment at the cost of all others.
prejudice and discrimination have gone from color
to religion to sex and sexual orientation,
and now to those enslaved by poverty.
we cannot turn our backs on each other...
we cannot allow the few to destroy the world.
we are responsible, we are a part of each other.
when one is hungry, we are all hungry.
when one family is homeless, we are all homeless.
when one person is a victim
of prejudice, hatred, and injustice...
we all are!
when one eats, all should eat.
when one has a chance to work,
all should have that chance...
when one child gets an education,
all should have that right.
this is the time, and this is the place...
it is now that we must choose!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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The criteria for serving one's country should be competence, courage and willingness to serve. When we deny people the chance to serve because of their sexual orientation, we deprive them of their rights of citizenship, and we deprive our armed forces the service of willing and capable Americans.
quote by Diane Feinstein
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All Americans value the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, and I believe this is essential for our continued way of life. But with this freedom comes responsibility. That responsibility has been abdicated here by some in the media and some in the government.
quote by Steven Hatfill
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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How Do We Deal With Prejudice?
even those of us who've worked very hard
at not being prejudiced, have some type of
prejudice remaining. for example:
it could be prejudice by color, over religion,
over political views, concerning sexual orient-
ation.... prejudice against those who have money,
or those who dont! ...etc.
all prejudice is wrong by nature, most of it grounded
in the 'self'... in our own irrational fears, and our
stubborn streak of ignorance....
it's always taught, but doesnt have to be allowed!
it ofen hides under the banner of morality, or the
flags of patriotism...
we battle prejudice by being open minded, being
willing to listen, and learning to see ourselves
in other people...
if we say we have no prejudices, we have lost,
and prejudice has us bound.
if we admit our prejudices, name them, look at
them with naked eyes and resolve, then we're making
headway....
prejudice in the end is humanity failing to be human!
being human is a 24 hour a day,7 days a week job!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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I absolutely believe in assimilation. I don't believe I'm any different from straight people. My wants and needs are the same as theirs. I don't look at sexual orientation as that big of a deal. It's just an orientation.
quote by Chastity Bono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Break Your Laws
when your laws
are applied and enforced
differently to people
according to their religious,
political, or sexual orientation...
when they by application
favor the rich over the poor,
the few over the many.
when they take away dignity,
and individual rights...
when they are used to abuse,
manipulate, and enslave...
when they are immoral,
unjust, and demeaning...
when they stand against freedom...
i will break your laws
with total commitment!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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These are men and women who are willing to risk their lives in defense of their country. And the fact that their orientation - sexual orientation's been held against them is a blot on our nation's reputation.
quote by Dick Durbin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Thirty years ago, in 1976, the notion of organized activity to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was an extremely controversial one.
quote by Robert Brady
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Freedom Riders
we are born to fight cause freedom
we ride forth constantly in cause freedom
we must speak fight for all who cannot
or will not fight
cause freedom
for themselves
but cause freedom
is not fighting deception oil wars
cause freedom is human rights
human rights regardless
of age race religion gender
for all citizens of this planet
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Like A Mask
ignorant people
wear prejudice like a mask,
hiding their own fears
and insecurities.
it's not the color of skin,
but the color of a man's heart.
it's not religious beliefs,
or sexual orientation,
but the basic humanity of all men!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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You Cannot!
you cannot win freedom by bloodshed!
fighting for preordained sections of land,
oil and mineral rights....
we dont own the earth,
................and never will!
you cannot convert other peoples
to your capitalistic form of Christianity
with a sword and vengeance....
ask the Native Americans
.....how they feel about this!
you cannot bring about justice,
when your judicial system is oiled
with money and color...
when you have more people in prison
than any other country!
you cannot convince anyone to do
the right thing when everything you do
is based on selfish greed....
doing the right thing means being human,
being human is something we've forgotten!
you cannot bring about change,
unless you're willing to change yourselves...
all good things begin within....
we are what we choose to be,
not what we pretend to be!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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It is capitalist America that produced the modern independent woman. Never in history have women had more freedom of choice in regard to dress, behavior, career, and sexual orientation.
quote by Camille Paglia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Deep Level Concern
deep level concern;
our own national parks
used as collateral
on loans from China!
water rights to the Great Lakes,
and other bodies of water here...
sold to China!
our jobs, Joe blue collar working
families.... sold to China!
our oil profiteer wars,
financed by China!
sleeping with the country
with the worst human rights record,
dancing with the devil!
and now, our own police forces
committing acts of violence
and oppression against Americans!
against American people protesting,
standing up for freedom and equality!
standing against the profiteers!
reacting the same way,
and with the same types of oppression,
as China!
our rights,
...our freedom,
......our dignity.
even our rights to work and survive....
sold to....
.....and even worse,
...........sold by!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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And What About Freedom?
sad indeed,
there are other freedoms still
freedom from having no ideas, from this dryness,
freedom from having you
as a poet on forced wit and half-cooked cleverness
freedom from a reader
who has nothing to offer
except his own loneliness
his having nothing to do
freedom from long bored
to death
freedom from having nothing
to say and comment
freedom from this feeling of emptiness
this bigotry
this indigestion of dumb thoughts
freedom from impertinence, immateriality, irrelevance,
freedom from thinking about freedom
freedom from freedom itself
there are more
freedom from pain
is useless now
that you are dead.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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352
sad indeed,
there are other freedoms
still
freedom from having no ideas, from this dryness,
freedom from having you
as a poet on forced wit and half-cooked cleverness
freedom from a reader
who has nothing to offer
except his own loneliness
his having nothing to do
freedom from beng bored
to death
freedom from having nothing
to say and comment
freedom from this feeling of emptiness
this bigotry
this indigestion of dumb thoughts
freedom
from impertinence, immateriality, irrelevance,
freedom from thinking about freedom
freedom from freedom itself
there are more
freedom from pain
is useless now
that you are dead.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Did You Say That Your Only Freedom From Pain Is Death?
sad indeed,
there are other freedoms
still
freedom from having no ideas, from this dryness,
freedom from having you
as a poet on forced wit and half-cooked cleverness
freedom from a reader
who has nothing to offer
except his own loneliness
his having nothing to do
freedom from beng bored
to death
freedom from having nothing
to say and comment
freedom from this feeling of emptiness
this bigotry
this indigestion of dumb thoughts
freedom
from impertinence, immateriality, irrelevance,
freedom from thinking about freedom
freedom from freedom itself
there are more
freedom from pain
is useless now
that you are dead.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Orientation
Since a definite choice was made.
With a selected preference.
Now,
With introduction...
There comes,
An orientation?
With a hope,
Minds have been made up.
And the looking forward to lessons,
Eager to learn with a breeze to teach!
There is a point to this!
For many that would make sense.
However...
If a preference with a choice,
Has been selected consciously...
Why would someone then be conditioned,
To go through a process of orientation?
Hasn't that been decided?
Should there be a declaration made?
Somethings I just don't get.
Wouldn't it be great,
When upon establishing a relationship...
There was an understood 'orientation' period?
Something of a probation?
Like a 90 day trial?
*Congratulations.
You've passed.
Now you have full benefits.
With the both of us agreeing...
We will be happy with one another.*
And when someone should ask,
'What is your sexual orientation'?
Your response would be...
~Meet me at my home,
With a list of your choices...
With an elective.
And I will tell you immediately,
What your chances are.~
Skipping the need to through one's verbalized orientation,
And saving a whole lot of time invested...
Being undecisive!
But...
Getting a most cordial visit,
To view what can be expected...
On a campus to do what one pleases.
And hopefully graduates to something,
That will be a life filled with expereinces.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Verdict
The verdict was based on prejudice,
And the case was ablaze with fire!
But do come under the protection of my roof.
Persistent,
Humble,
Great potentials;
I only wanted you to know what occurred,
For the verdict was based on prejudice.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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The Man Who Took On Big Brother
The man who stand for human rights, freedom and justice
Is now in jail perhaps for a long stay
The authorities say he an an agitator
The only reason he is locked away.
He was a brave man to take on big brother
For those who take on big brother are few
And though he may spend many years behind bars
To a higher human principle he is true.
He could have kept his mouth shut like me and others
For human rights is not a popular thing
Instead he spoke his mind and got in trouble
And the wrath of big brother upon himself did bring.
He is that man who dared to take on big brother
But for his brave stand he is in jail today
And for speaking out for human rights and justice
His loss of freedom is the price he pay.
poem by Francis Duggan
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