During the days of segregation there was not a place of higher learning for African Americans. They were simply not welcome in many of the traditional schools. And from this backward policy grew the network of historical black colleges and universities.

Learning operatic roles is ongoing and I find that I can learn on the train or subway during a manicure getting my hair done and even while driving if I only look at the score at red lights.

I supported my friend Congressman Shuler over former Speaker Nancy Pelosi during our party's leadership elections in November citing a need for new leadership.

Bad leadership during the past years has cast on our Party the shadow of great and grave burdens.

I am not saying that during the Second World War Germany did not under the leadership of the National Socialist government commit crimes.

During the Cold War we gathered information by listening to the Soviets taking pictures of the Soviets and we allowed our human intelligence to decline.

For passion be it observed brings insight with it it can give a sort of intelligence to simpletons fools and idiots especially during youth.

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.

Anyone who said he wasn't afraid during the civil rights movement was either a liar or without imagination. I was scared all the time. My hands didn't shake but inside I was shaking.

Certain it is that a great responsibility rests upon the statesmen of all nations not only to fulfill the promises for reduction in armaments but to maintain the confidence of the people of the world in the hope of an enduring peace.

There is something uniquely depressing about the fact that the National Portrait Gallery's version of the Barack Obama 'Hope' poster previously belonged to a pair of lobbyists. Depressing because Mr. Obama's Washington was not supposed to be the lobbyists' Washington the place we learned to despise during the last administration.

I know we can't always know what medical surprises may happen during childbirth. But my hope is to go fully natural - no epidural no interventions. Wish me luck.

During the Second World War evacuated to non-Jewish households I encountered Christianity at home and in school.

I have this extraordinary life during the day and then I get to come home to my sweet husband who loves to cook with me. I have a nice glass of wine he has some scotch we chat we cook and we hang out with the dog. I have an absolute dream life.

With the help of a friend I got father into a wagon when the crowd had gone. I held his head in my lap during the ride home. I believed he was mortally wounded. He had been stabbed down through the kidneys leaving an ugly wound.

Don't corral me and I'll always come home. Just let me go out and play during the day.

Major league baseball has asked its players to stop tossing baseballs into the stands during games because they say fans fight over them and they get hurt. In fact the Florida Marlins said that's why they never hit any home runs. It's a safety issue.

Playing drums feels like coming home for me. Even during the White Stripes I thought: 'I'll do this for now but I'm really a drummer.' That's what I'll put on my passport application.

To be honest when I'm home every day is a Friday for me. It doesn't really matter what day it is for me. A lot of my friends actually have time off during the week and so it doesn't prohibit me from enjoying myself when I am home on a Monday or a Tuesday.

Home is the most popular and will be the most enduring of all earthly establishments.

That's all a man can hope for during his lifetime - to set an example - and when he is dead to be an inspiration for history.

One of the enduring problems with certain societies in the world - and this is certainly true of a lot of places in the Middle East - is that the capacity for self-governance and self-organizing just isn't there. It has to do with history.

During the last regular session and the most recent special session measures that I see as little more than Band-Aids were applied to three health programs in the state.

The lack of health care coverage has remained very important to me during my time in Congress and as a member of the House Subcommittee on Health I am working hard with my colleagues to correct these inequalities.