While our country has made great strides in breaking down the barriers which for so long denied equal opportunity to all Americans, we are not yet the beautiful symphony of brotherhood of Dr. King's dream.
Americans are blessed with great plenty; we are a generous people and we have a moral obligation to assist those who are suffering from poverty, disease, war and famine.
The prompt assimilation of that intelligence will be essential if we are to avoid another September 11th.
It is now conventional wisdom that Americans do not care why we went to war in Iraq, that it is enough that the world is better off without Saddam Hussein.
Although every step must be taken to protect against a chemical or biological attack in America, our nation would survive the use of those weapons as we did when anthrax was mailed to our Capitol and other targets.
The legacy of the Armenian Genocide is woven into the fabric of America.
Unquestionably, the world is better off without Saddam.
We must either reduce the number of our engagements or increase the number of our troops.
And in this community, as in all others, the Golden Rule still applies - we must be act toward other nations as we would have them act towards America.
In fact, the converse is true: At a time when the United States has been called on for a level of moral leadership, vision and inspiration not seen since World War II, we cannot afford to dissemble about crimes against humanity.
Neither the University of Michigan nor its law school uses a quota system.
Some argue that recognition of the genocide has become even more problematic now, when the world is at war with terrorism and the United States cannot afford to offend the sensibility of our Turkish ally.
An America that inspires hope in its ideals must complement an America that inspires awe in its strength.
But it is equally incontrovertible that if our intelligence gathering process is seriously flawed, we had better find out and find out fast if we are to avoid another Sept. 11.
The war in Iraq has been extremely divisive here at home, and has also divided the world community.
Our failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq thus far has been deeply troubling, and our intelligence-gathering process needs thorough and unbiased investigation.
Much has changed since the end of the Cold War that augurs well for the survival of our nation.
The new century has brought on its own terrible dangers, which although not reaching the apocalyptic potential of the Cold War, still have the capacity to shake our world.
Democracies are poor breeding grounds for terrorism and war.
We will not let terrorists change our way of life; we will not live in fear; and we will not undermine the civil liberties that characterize our Democracy.
