By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times
Much is being said and written about the United States of America as we continue the America/250 celebration through the end of this calendar year.
I salute all of those folks who are working so diligently to make sure we honor our heroes of the past as we anticipate those whose heroism and patriotism will lead our homeland to even greater heights.
As partisan politics gets nastier on all levels, we should recall the advice of Roman orator and author Marcus Tullius Cicero who wrote: “Promises are not to be kept, if the keeping of them is to prove harmful to those to whom you have made them.”
From one of America’s Cold War enemies — Nikita Krushchev –came this wry observation about politics: “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers.”
In terms of the risks of public indifference to politics, no one said it better than the smartest American, Albert Einstein: “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
The warmongers who wanted us to attack Iran didn’t know what movie producer Steven Spielberg already understood about a revolution: “War is when the government tells you who the bad guy is. Revolution is when you decide that for yourself.”
Critics of the detention tactics of ICE agents must have read this quote from Benjamin Franklin:The practice of arbitrary imprisonments have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.
The beloved religious leader who wrote this understood public opinion: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” — Mother Theresa. Oscar-winner Ingrid Berman helped define ambition with these words: “Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.” Perhaps the bravest American woman of the first 250 gave this challenge to greatness: “Women must try to do as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” – Amelia Earhart. Rosa Parks, a courageous civil rights pioneer, helped us overcome doubts with: “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” My favorite came from singer Dolly Parton: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” (Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.)
Much is being said and written about the United States of America as we continue the America/250 celebration through the end of this calendar year.
I salute all of those folks who are working so diligently to make sure we honor our heroes of the past as we anticipate those whose heroism and patriotism will lead our homeland to even greater heights.
As partisan politics gets nastier on all levels, we should recall the advice of Roman orator and author Marcus Tullius Cicero who wrote: “Promises are not to be kept, if the keeping of them is to prove harmful to those to whom you have made them.”
From one of America’s Cold War enemies — Nikita Krushchev –came this wry observation about politics: “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers.”
In terms of the risks of public indifference to politics, no one said it better than the smartest American, Albert Einstein: “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
The warmongers who wanted us to attack Iran didn’t know what movie producer Steven Spielberg already understood about a revolution: “War is when the government tells you who the bad guy is. Revolution is when you decide that for yourself.”
Critics of the detention tactics of ICE agents must have read this quote from Benjamin Franklin:The practice of arbitrary imprisonments have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.
The beloved religious leader who wrote this understood public opinion: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” — Mother Theresa. Oscar-winner Ingrid Berman helped define ambition with these words: “Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.” Perhaps the bravest American woman of the first 250 gave this challenge to greatness: “Women must try to do as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” – Amelia Earhart. Rosa Parks, a courageous civil rights pioneer, helped us overcome doubts with: “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” My favorite came from singer Dolly Parton: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” (Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.)
Much is being said and written about the United States of America as we continue the America/250 celebration through the end of this calendar year.
I salute all of those folks who are working so diligently to make sure we honor our heroes of the past as we anticipate those whose heroism and patriotism will lead our homeland to even greater heights.
As partisan politics gets nastier on all levels, we should recall the advice of Roman orator and author Marcus Tullius Cicero who wrote: “Promises are not to be kept, if the keeping of them is to prove harmful to those to whom you have made them.”
From one of America’s Cold War enemies — Nikita Krushchev –came this wry observation about politics: “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers.”
In terms of the risks of public indifference to politics, no one said it better than the smartest American, Albert Einstein: “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
The warmongers who wanted us to attack Iran didn’t know what movie producer Steven Spielberg already understood about a revolution: “War is when the government tells you who the bad guy is. Revolution is when you decide that for yourself.”
Critics of the detention tactics of ICE agents must have read this quote from Benjamin Franklin:The practice of arbitrary imprisonments have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.
The beloved religious leader who wrote this understood public opinion: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” — Mother Theresa. Oscar-winner Ingrid Berman helped define ambition with these words: “Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.” Perhaps the bravest American woman of the first 250 gave this challenge to greatness: “Women must try to do as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” – Amelia Earhart. Rosa Parks, a courageous civil rights pioneer, helped us overcome doubts with: “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” My favorite came from singer Dolly Parton: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” (Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.)
Keith’s Post
Much is being said and written about the United States of America as we continue the America/250 celebration through the end of this calendar year.
I salute all of those folks who are working so diligently to make sure we honor our heroes of the past as we anticipate those whose heroism and patriotism will lead our homeland to even greater heights.
As partisan politics gets nastier on all levels, we should recall the advice of Roman orator and author Marcus Tullius Cicero who wrote: “Promises are not to be kept, if the keeping of them is to prove harmful to those to whom you have made them.”
From one of America’s Cold War enemies — Nikita Krushchev –came this wry observation about politics: “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers.”
In terms of the risks of public indifference to politics, no one said it better than the smartest American, Albert Einstein: “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
The warmongers who wanted us to attack Iran didn’t know what movie producer Steven Spielberg already understood about a revolution: “War is when the government tells you who the bad guy is. Revolution is when you decide that for yourself.”
Critics of the detention tactics of ICE agents must have read this quote from Benjamin Franklin:The practice of arbitrary imprisonments have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.
The beloved religious leader who wrote this understood public opinion: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” — Mother Theresa. Oscar-winner Ingrid Berman helped define ambition with these words: “Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.” Perhaps the bravest American woman of the first 250 gave this challenge to greatness: “Women must try to do as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” – Amelia Earhart. Rosa Parks, a courageous civil rights pioneer, helped us overcome doubts with: “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” My favorite came from singer Dolly Parton: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” (Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.)
