To be connected to America’s causes — liberty, equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people — brings happiness more sublime than life’s fleeting pleasures. Our identities and sense of worth are not circumscribed but enlarged by serving good causes bigger than ourselves. "Fellow Americans" — that association has meant more to me than any other. I lived and died a proud American. We are citizens of the world’s greatest republic, a nation of ideals, not blood and soil. We are blessed and are a blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world. We have helped liberate more people from tyranny and poverty than ever before in history. We have acquired great wealth and power in the process. We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.
quote by John McCain
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
I’d like to see our politics begin to return to the purposes and practices that distinguish our history from the history of other nations. I would like to see us recover our sense that we are more alike than different. We are citizens of a republic made of shared ideals forged in a new world to replace the tribal enmities that tormented the old one. Even in times of political turmoil such as these, we share that awesome heritage and the responsibility to embrace it. Whether we think each other right or wrong in our views on the issues of the day, we owe each other our respect, as long as our character merits respect, and as long as we share, for all our differences, for all the rancorous debates that enliven and sometimes demean our politics, a mutual devotion to the ideals our nation was conceived to uphold, that all are created equal, and liberty and equal justice are the natural rights of all. Those rights inhabit the human heart, and from there, though they may be assailed, they can never be wrenched. I want to urge Americans, for as long as I can, to remember that this shared devotion to human rights is our truest heritage and our most important loyalty.
quote by John McCain
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
Vote! | Copy!
America s Strength (series #2)
As a youngster I began to wonder “ how this great nation came to be”.
People from all over the world looking for a new life to escape tyranny.
This became AMERICAS history.
Then we had our civil war and we fought as state to state.
We all became UNITED and that made this nation great.
So we put the two together and the UNITED STATES was formed.
Little did we know- that this would be the “ norm”.
Look around you, and you will see
Every ethnic group, that’s how we came to be.
AMERICA is not just a country, but a land
Where the bell of freedom rings
And from every country, its people it will bring.
AMERICA is a dream- a vision, a quest- if you must
But in this great nation we put all our trust.
So give us your humble, your poor, your weak
If freedom is what they seek.
This is what made this nation, and gave dreams to all mankind
For we will fight for this country, our lives we’ll put on the line.
We will get stronger, and you will weaken and die
For you can not break our spirit, no matter how you try.
“ now many will say I’m a dreamer”
But that’s how this world came to be
Every small dream has become a reality.
We wanted to hide the pictures and videos
From our children of what you had done.
Because we had felt that they was much to young.
Now we’ve decided to teach and show them about
This cowardly act, and to give them knowledge
And show them all the facts.
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Much time has passed since the first colonists came to rocky shores and dark forests of an unknown continent, much time since President Washington led a young people into the experience of nationhood, much time since President Lincoln saw the American nation through the ordeal of fraternal war — and in these years our population, our plenty and our power have all grown apace. … Yet, as our power has grown, so has our peril. Today we give our thanks, most of all, for the ideals of honor and faith we inherit from our forefathers — for the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they possessed and which we must seek every day to emulate. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them. Let us therefore proclaim our gratitude to Providence for manifold blessings — let us be humbly thankful for inherited ideals — and let us resolve to share those blessings and those ideals with our fellow human beings throughout the world.
quote by John F. Kennedy
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
Vote! | Copy!
America, the Truth
George Washington
did not part the Red Sea,
and lead us into the
Promised Land...
God, not even a white God,
did not tell us to...
slaughter the Native Americans,
and take their lands by force!
we are not the 'chosen people'!
we're just people, people
like all other people
around the world!
first, and foremost,
we are citizens of the world.
any blessing we have received
comes with the responsibility
to share it with the world...
not to force our idealogies
whether for profit or pride...
if we stand for freedom,
it means freedom for all...
regardless of color, creed,
or nationality...
we cannot rise any higher
than our actions...
cannot liberate without
first liberating ourselves...
cannot build a future
without including all
of humanity, great and small!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Our identity as a nation — unlike many other nations — is not determined by geography or ethnicity, by soil or blood. Being an American involves the embrace of high ideals and civic responsibility. We become the heirs of Thomas Jefferson by accepting the ideal of human dignity found in the Declaration of Independence. We become the heirs of James Madison by understanding the genius and values of the U.S. Constitution. We become the heirs of Martin Luther King, Jr., by recognizing one another not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. This means that people of every race, religion, and ethnicity can be fully and equally American. It means that bigotry or white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed. And it means that the very identity of our nation depends on the passing of civic ideals to the next generation.
quote by George W. Bush
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
Vote! | Copy!
Here is a great body of our Jewish citizens from whom have sprung men of genius in every walk of our varied life; men who have conceived of its ideals with singular clearness; and led enterprises with sprit & sagacity... They are not Jews in America, they are American citizens.
quote by Woodrow Wilson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Tye
I was once a great queen of Egypt,
Though I ‘am just a lifeless mummy now,
I was once at the heart of Egyptian life,
I became first queen of real power,
I helped shape history through my actions,
My name still lives on today,
People still carry my name after all these years,
I have become as close to immortal as any human can,
History still remembers who I was,
The Tye name lives on across the world,
People still us my name with pride,
Though I died so long ago I still live on,
Showing the world what I achieved,
I was the first woman to become an equal to men,
People respected me for my wisdom and intellect,
I paved the way for all those who followed me,
I was the first of many great queens though-out history,
I ‘am a sign of what could be achieved by one person.
poem by Christopher Tye
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Injustice In Politics
white collar crime is
immoral an injustice
that many countries
have corrupted allowed
to breed multiply infest
their codes legal systems
bedrock middle working classes
should both teach their children
honour pride dignity of honest
workers is never for sale;
politicians are servants
of the people the nation
their goal in politics
cannot be to amass
wealth for themselves
at the cost of a nations
pride causing poverty
for our fellow citizens;
God said the master
to the slave is equal
politicians today need
to remember history
previous past generations
humane great leaders
who worked
not for themselves
who worked
for the good
of their nation
their people;
who believed in
peace at home
peace in the world
if we continue
to allow disease
white collar crime
to amass millions
billions illegally
for putrid debased
individuals never tried
for heinous greed crimes
upon society perpetrated;
then how can
our nations prosper
when the fat
of the land
is stolen
not shared
people need hope
belief in equal justice
in their nations laws;
people are not
animals they need
a little appreciation
the odd luxury
for themselves
their children
left with nothing
but bare bones
lean nasty blamed
for their own
unemployment
misery poverty;
risks not just
broken lives
but a cold hard
mean day
of accounting
rage vented
a little compassion
goes a long way
justice equality for all
solves many problems
before they crisis arise
time world governments
address the real issues
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
One Person Cannot Bring Peace
One person cannot bring peace to our World but when millions of good people unite
And march for peace in every village, town and city the war inclined may see some light
Beyond the darkness that surrounds them and through the windows of their soul
The light of change may even penetrate we can change others by thought control.
Gandhi brought great change through non violence no greater power than people power
Divided good people are defeated and their flower of peace is a wilting flower
But united we can bring about change as peace never comes through the gun
The dead never hear the birds singing at the going down of the sun
Refugee camps all over the World are crowded with war refugees
Billions are spent on war weaponry and little on poverty and disease
In the news each day we hear of violence and too much of war and terror we hear
The war men with their war on terror have found new ways of spreading fear.
Amongst the fearful population who believe everything that they say
We lose our own sense of direction when respect to such people we pay
You show some people a flowering garden they only see weeds and decay
And any hope of peace will keep on fading as long as the negative have things their own way.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
We must restore the soul of America. Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses. It is time for our better angels to prevail. Tonight, the whole world is watching America. I believe at our best America is a beacon for the globe. And we lead not by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.... Now, together — on eagle's wings — we embark on the work that God and history have called upon us to do. With full hearts and steady hands, with faith in America and in each other, with a love of country — and a thirst for justice — let us be the nation that we know we can be. A nation united. A nation strengthened. A nation healed. The United States of America.
quote by Joe Biden
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
Vote! | Copy!
You Cannot Judge The Worth Of People
You cannot judge the worth of people of any Nation by their elite sports stars or by their football team
Though by many such things are seen as quite important and very good for National esteem
Sport is important though quite over-rated there's more to life than at sports being the best
Of the generosity of a Race of people that surely could not be seen as a test
You cannot judge the worth of any people by their ranking as a World Super-power
In my school going days I did not respect the school yard bully though out of fear before him I did cower
You do not respect those that you do fear as fear from respect is quite a different thing
'Tis only out of fear that you pretend to like them and out of fear their praises you will sing
You can judge the worth of anybody if towards aggression they are not inclined
If they are blessed with the gift of compassion and to others they are generous and kind
People like them are good and kind and decent they are a credit to humanity
I know a few of their type but not many these people the unsung heroes to me
It does not mean that you are a good person if you are a celebrity or great at football
So many of their type are quite flawed people lets face it they are human after all.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
If we hold true to our ideals and our commitment to freedom, this generation of servicemen and women will have extended liberty to the Iraqi people, just as previous generations of Americans have all across the globe.
quote by James Talent
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
But the egoist has no ideals, for the knowledge that his ideals are only his ideals, frees him from their domination. He acts for his own interest, not for the interest of ideals.
quote by John Buchanan Robinson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Epilogue of Power
The more he gained
The more he lost
He who sought the greatest power
Tipping the scales in his favor
His ideals never flowered
No one to be his life saver
The more he strained
The more it cost
He whose sad power was denied
Sought for those similar to him
For a power world he tried
He needs more for that world so grim
The more it chained
The more it tossed
Because of his noble birthright
He suffered lost in confusion
Alone with his amazing might
Is true power an illusion?
poem by Xandra Smile
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Perpetuum Mobile
Between people's ideals and their fulfillment
There will always exist a difference in level,
Which surpasses the highest waterfall.
Nevertheless we can use rationally
This fall of expectations by building on it
Something like a hydroelectric power station.
With the energy obtained this way,
Even if we can't do more than light our cigarettes,
Still, this is quite something,
As while we smoke,
We can seriously
Think of even greater ideals.
poem by Marin Sorescu from The Youth of Don Quixote (1968), translated by Catalina Iliescu
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
Vote! | Copy! | In Spanish | In Romanian
This Thing Known As Power
This thing known as power is an addictive thing
And those who do have it to it try to cling
Abuse of power we do read of and hear of every day
Not all who have power use it in a good way
Dictators use the power that they have to suppress
And where Dictators rule you won't find happiness
They cling to their power by the medium of fear
Only of crimes against Humanity of their oppressive regimes we do hear
Power used in a good way happiness does create
And those who use their power for the good we ought to celebrate
Benevolent people with great power are becoming more rare
But blessed are those who for others do care
That philanthropic people are not many does seem sad to say
And of abuse of power we do read of and hear of every day.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Changed America
Getting our nation back on track
We the people of America will fight back
Our great nation is in trouble
Fear of failure doubled
Banks standing in line for bail outs
Companies folding jobs in doubt
Our generation must have things, things, things
Debt is the enemy it brings
From the top to the bottom you will find greed
Owe no man anything we must heed
The economic storm must end our generation
Life giving unity, knowing our need for determination
True our nation is in need of change
Reduction, production, should be in range
Early Americans weathered a great depression
Standing firmly together strong with aggression
Oue America is crashing and burning all around us
Wrapped in hunger, no jobs, global war who can we trust
Not to the left or to the right
In the middle a balance could be in sight
We have fallen the American people know
Technology along with new concepts must grow
Health care, stimulus, laws unknown
Oh where oh where do the people go
Every fire germinates a spark
Let no man or woman take your strength
Striving, struggling, trying at great lenght
Some argue that it's getting better
Read the fine print it's all in a letter
Getting our nation back on track
We the people of America will fight to get back
Wisdom demands you to be
Proactive and wise enough to embrace your self mastery
America, America oh what can we say
Generations will pay to live another prosperous new day
poem by Joyce Vajda
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Nigeria, Good People, Great Nation
Nigeria good people
Together we build a great nation
No doubt we are
The world even believes that
A change of mindset
Can bring us to great sunset
A sunset and a new dawn
Of a great Nigeria with good people
You can do something
To make this nation great
Have a change of mindset
Do that thing, good people
Goal getter for greater Nigeria
Good people we are
Great Nation, good people
poem by Ehimika Ehimigbai
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests and teach us what it means to be citizens.
George W. Bush in inaugural address (2001)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Power To The People
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Say you want a revolution
We better get on right away
Well you get on your feet
And out on the street
Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
A million workers working for nothing
You better give em what they really own
We got to put you down
When we come into town
Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
I gotta ask you comrades and brothers
How do you treat you own woman back home
She got to be herself
So she can free herself
Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Now, now, now, now
Oh well, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Yeah, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
song performed by by Lennon John
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!