Political Quotes

“Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me. Madam Speaker, like many of you, I grew up singing that song. We sang it at camp, on holidays, and in school. It has no genre. It has been performed by country, soul, gospel, and Latin rock artists like Carlos Santana, Pat Boone, Johnny Mathis, Gladys Knight, Nat King Cole, and Mahalia Jackson. Here is its history. It was written back in the 1950s for a group of teenagers from different religions and racial and economic backgrounds. They were brought together in California at a workshop designed to create friendship and understanding through education. The teens said that singing helped them to create a climate where they would have world peace and understanding. I have been thinking about that a lot this past week, especially in the context of education. This is National Arts in Education Week. It is a time to celebrate and recognize the importance of arts education. Maybe you wonder why, Madam Speaker. There are many reasons, and here are three: Students do better in school when they have arts education. Arts education inspires creativity, which is important for economic growth and innovation. Importantly, the arts help heal, and students and our Nation need healing.”