My encounters with racism are sort of second-hand situations where I might be standing around with a group of white friends and someone makes a comment that they wouldn't make at my family reunion.

One if you attack my integrity I will defend myself. If you attack my patriotism I will defend myself. If you come after my family I will counter-attack viciously I will destroy you.

Democrats can neither control nor predict whether our GOP counterparts are really ready to play chicken with the U.S. economy. But we can assure the American people that our party takes the nation's faith and credit seriously.

We consider Christmas as the encounter the great encounter the historical encounter the decisive encounter between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly let him rejoice.

I feel that the Christian experience and the Jewish one have much to give each other. If this open society continues and there is no return to political anti-Semitism then this encounter deeper than any theology may happen.

The new spirituality is that it will produce an experience in human encounters in which we become a living demonstration of the basic spiritual teaching 'We are all one.'

Man learns through experience and the spiritual path is full of different kinds of experiences. He will encounter many difficulties and obstacles and they are the very experiences he needs to encourage and complete the cleansing process.

In Canada women's rights are a vital part of our effort to build a society of real equality - not just for some but for all Canadians. A society in which women no longer encounter discrimination nor are shut out from opportunities open to others.

In fact I believe that we need better sex education in our own culture here in America so that young folk learn about things like venereal disease before they encounter it.

Unless children have strong education and strong families and strong communities and decent housing it's not enough to go sit in at a lunch counter.

To counter the avoidance of intellectual challenge and responsibility we must reduce the domination of certainty in education.

Education can counteract the natural tendency to do the wrong thing but the inexorable succession of generations requires that the basis for this knowledge be constantly refreshed.

Instead of plotting the demise of the traditional family as some politicians and religious leaders would have you believe gay people mow their lawns and watch 'American Idol' and video their children's concerts and have the same hopes and dreams that their straight counterparts do.

We have the opportunity to provide the first FDA reviewed and approved over-the-counter option that can help people lose weight and make changes to their lifestyle and diet.

Individuals approaching death often experience encounters with their dead relatives who seem to welcome them to the next world. These deathbed visions are authentic and convincing they are often followed by a state of euphoria and seem to ease the transition.

Death's an old joke but each individual encounters it anew.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations all pride all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death leaving only what is truly important.