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We are a heterogeneous party made up of Americans of diverse backgrounds.

Barbara Jordan

Let there be no illusions about the difficulty of forming this kind of a national community. It’s tough, difficult, not easy. But a spirit of harmony will survive in America only if each of us remembers that we share a common destiny.
BARBARA JORDAN

America Community Destiny
But this is the great danger America faces. That we will cease to be one nation and become instead a collection of interest groups: city against suburb, region against region, individual against individual. Each seeking to satisfy private wants.
BARBARA JORDAN

America Cities Groups
For our immigration policy to make sense, it is necessary to make distinctions between those who obey the law, and those who violate it.
BARBARA JORDAN

Distinction Immigration Law
Even as I stand here and admit that we have made mistakes I still believe that as the people of America sit in judgment on each party, they will recognize that our mistakes were mistakes of the heart. They’ll recognize that.
BARBARA JORDAN

Believe Mistake Party
If you had to work in the environment of Washington, D.C., as I do, and watch those men who are so imprisoned and so confined by their eighteenth-century thought patterns, you would know that if anybody is going to be liberated, it’s men who must be liberated in this country.
BARBARA JORDAN

Country Men Work
I believe that women have a capacity for understanding and compassion which a man structurally does not have, does not have it because he cannot have it. He’s just incapable of it.
BARBARA JORDAN

Believe Compassion Women
I live a day at a time. Each day I look for a kernel of excitement. In the morning, I say: ‘What is my exciting thing for today?’ Then, I do the day. Don’t ask me about tomorrow.
BARBARA JORDAN

Life Morning Motivational
We must not become the new puritans and reject our society. We must address and master the future together. It can be done if we restore the belief that we share a sense of national community, that we share a common national endeavor. It can be done.
BARBARA JORDAN

Community Done Together
When do any of us ever do enough?
BARBARA JORDAN

Any Effort Enough Hard Work
It is reason, and not passion, which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision.
BARBARA JORDAN

Decision Emotional Passion
Let each person do his or her part. If one citizen is unwilling to participate, all of us are going to suffer. For the American idea, though it is shared by all of us, is realized in each one of us.
BARBARA JORDAN

Citizens Ideas Suffering
The imperative is to define what is right and do it.
BARBARA JORDAN

Character Inspirational
If the society today allows wrongs to go unchallenged, the impression is created that those wrongs have the approval of the majority.
BARBARA JORDAN

Majority Peace Ubuntu
It is both a right and a responsibility of a democratic society to manage immigration so that it serves the national interest.
BARBARA JORDAN

Democratic Immigration Responsibility
Let us heed the voice of the people and recognize their common sense. If we do not, we not only blaspheme our political heritage, we ignore the common ties that bind all Americans.
BARBARA JORDAN

People Ties Voice
Life is too large to hang out a sign: ‘For Men Only.
BARBARA JORDAN

Hanging Life Men Out
Throughout out history, when people have looked for new ways to solve their problems, and to uphold the principles of this nation, many times they have turned to political parties. They have often turned to the Democratic Party.
BARBARA JORDAN

Party People Political
Our concept of governing is derived from our view of people. It is a concept deeply rooted in a set of beliefs firmly etched in the national conscience, of all of us.
BARBARA JORDAN

Belief People View
We cannot improve on the system of government handed down to us by the founders of the Republic. There is no way to improve upon that. But what we can do is to find new ways to implement that system and realize our destiny.
BARBARA JORDAN

Destiny Government Republic
I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in ‘We, the people.’
BARBARA JORDAN

Mistake People Years
If youre going to play the game properly, youd better know every rule.
BARBARA JORDAN

Games Play Political
What we have to do is strike a balance between the idea that government should do everything and the idea, the belief, that government ought to do nothing. Strike a balance.
BARBARA JORDAN

Balance Government Ideas
How do we create a harmonious society out of so many kinds of people? The key is tolerance — the one value that is indispensable in creating community.
BARBARA JORDAN

Creating Equality Keys Tolerance
It is a privilege to serve people, a privilege that must be earned, and once earned, there is an obligation to do something good with it.
BARBARA JORDAN

People Philanthropy Privilege
A nation is formed by the willingness of each of us to share in the responsibility for upholding the common good.
BARBARA JORDAN

Common Responsibility Share
I have confidence that we can form this kind of national community.
BARBARA JORDAN

Community Form Kind
We can certainly defuse the intensity of the anti-immigrant feeling if we can bring some reality to the discussion by showing that they are not using that many resources.
BARBARA JORDAN

Feelings Immigration Reality

We are a heterogeneous party made up of Americans of diverse backgrounds.

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We are a heterogeneous party made up of Americans of diverse backgrounds.

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