Political Quotes

“John Lewis was a great American, but there was a humility in his heart that showed his greatness even more, and he gave speeches that stirred a nation. Who among us can forget his trademark speech of explaining how, as a young man, growing up on a farm, he practiced public speaking to an audience of chickens? He told that story over and over again. John Lewis used to say, ``People come up to me in the airport, and they say, `I'm going to cry. I'm going to pass out.' '' John's reply was, ``Please, don't pass out; I'm not a doctor.'' John Lewis was a healer and a balm for troubled souls. I was struck by an article in the Atlanta newspaper that talked about an incident that occurred in January of 2009. A former Ku Klux Klan member, Elwin Wilson, confessed to being part of the White mob that had bloodied John Lewis and other Freedom Riders in Rock Hill, SC, nearly 48 years before. Lewis noted in his 2012 book ``Across That Bridge'' that Wilson was the first of his attackers to apologize for his actions. Wilson traveled to Washington a short while later to meet Lewis face-to-face and ask for forgiveness. ``Without a moment of hesitation, I looked back at him and said, `I accept your apology,' '' John Lewis wrote. This was a great testament to the power of love to overcome hatred. John Lewis had another incident that I thought was worth mentioning this morning, as well, that was another example of the forgiveness.…”