Political Quotes

“Mr. President, my late grandfather was one of the most influential people in my life. Until his death when I was 13, ``Papa'' was a mentor who spent countless hours on our front porch with me discussing history, politics and baseball. As a Cuban immigrant, he knew how special America is, and it is one lesson from him that I will never forget. Papa was also my hero for the way he lived his life. Stricken by polio as a boy, he would be disabled for the rest of his life. He would often walk miles to work at a cigar factory to provide for his family. Because of his disability, walking was difficult for him and he would often return home at night with his clothes dirty from repeatedly falling to the ground. But he kept getting up, and lived a life that I admire and will never forget. Because of him, I knew from a very early age the inherent dignity and beauty evident in every disabled human being on earth, whether they were born with their disability or developed it in the course of their lives. The landmark Americans With Disabilities Act, enshrined into law many fundamental rights to help disabled people live life. As Americans, it should make us all proud because it is one reason the United States has set the gold standard in the world for disability rights.…”