“I don’t pledge allegiance to no flag. I pledge allegiance to people who are important to me. People of various origins. People of different skin color and religion. People of different orientation. A big family of man/woman under one God, who became human. Who taught us to be truthful and to live humanely. A lord of peace who defied the masters of war an death. Who lay in a grave - a symbol of all the hopes that people had to bury - but rose from the dead, that we can rise and show our true colors where people value their origins, their blood, their pride in their race, their nation whatsoever. I pledge alliance to people who try to do their best - day by day - to make this world a better place. People who are not interested in a particular religion, but in spirituality. The ultimate concerns of life. The Living waters. People united in their wish to live in peace with their neighbors. Show some Reverence of Life. With them I share the hope that we don’t just pass our time - somewhere, somehow - but find true life and meaning.”

“I don’t pledge allegiance to no flag. I pledge allegiance to people who are important to me. People of various origins. People of different skin color and religion. People of different orientation. A big family of man/woman under one God, who became human. Who taught us to be truthful and to live humanely. A lord of peace who defied the masters of war an death. Who lay in a grave - a symbol of all the hopes that people had to bury - but rose from the dead, that we can rise and show our true colors where people value their origins, their blood, their pride in their race, their nation whatsoever. I pledge alliance to people who try to do their best - day by day - to make this world a better place. People who are not interested in a particular religion, but in spirituality. The ultimate concerns of life. The Living waters. People united in their wish to live in peace with their neighbors. Show some Reverence of Life. With them I share the hope that we don’t just pass our time - somewhere, somehow - but find true life and meaning.”

“Optimism is radical. It is the hard choice, the brave choice. And it is, it seems to me, most needed now, in the face of despair—just as a car is most useful when you have a distance to close. Otherwise it is a large, unmovable object parked in the garage. These days, the safest way for someone to appear intelligent is being skeptical by default. We seem sophisticated when we say “we don’t believe” and disingenuous when we say “we do.” History and fable have both proven that nothing is ever entirely lost. David can take Goliath. A beach in Normandy can turn the tide of war. Bravery can topple the powerful. These facts are often seen as exceptional, but they are not. Every day, we all become the balance of our choices—choices between love and fear, belief or despair. No hope is ever too small.”