Emanuel Cleaver: “Sometimes--not all the time, but sometimes--out of chaos we can find our purpose. It is going to be my prayer this night…”

“Sometimes--not all the time, but sometimes--out of chaos we can find our purpose. It is going to be my prayer this night and for the next few nights that this body can see clearly that our purpose is to lead our Nation away from the edge of the mare's nest of fear and a response to fear that creates even more fear. We do so by understanding that words matter. Words matter. They can do damage. I grew up in public housing in Texas right outside of Dallas, Texas, and in the projects they would say: Sticks and stones may break my words, but words can never hurt me. It wasn't true when I was a boy, and it is not true today. Words can hurt; words can horrify; words can hinder; but words can also heal. One of the things we need more today than we have in the immediate past, are words of healing instead of words of hate. ____________________”