Most Terrible Things, War, Genocide, Slavery, Disobedience, Obedience, Howard Zinn

“Historically, the most terrible things – war, genocide, and slavery – have resulted not from disobedience, but from obedience.” ― Howard Zinn

Found on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1899.Howard_Zinn.

Slavery, Colonialism, Women's Inequality, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

“Just as slavery and colonialism were a stain on previous centuries, women’s inequality should shame us all in the 21st. Because it is not only unacceptable; it is stupid.” - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, condemning the patriarchy in a speech on women and power.

Found in Ms. Magazine, Spring 2020, page 6.

Democracy, Atticus Finch, Minorities, Jim Crow, Slavery, President Barack Obama

"...If our democracy is to work the way it should in this increasingly diverse nation, then each one of us need to try to heed the advice of a great character in American fiction, Atticus Finch, who said 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.'

"For blacks and other minority groups, that means tying our own very real struggles for justice to the challenges that a lot of people in this country face. Not only the refugee or the immigrant or the rural poor or the transgender American, but also the middle-aged white guy who from the outside may seem like he’s got all the advantages, but has seen his world upended by economic, and cultural, and technological change.

"We have to pay attention and listen.

"For white Americans, it means acknowledging that the effects of slavery and Jim Crow didn’t suddenly vanish in the ’60s; that when minority groups voice discontent, they’re not just engaging in reverse racism or practicing political correctness; when they wage peaceful protest, they’re not demanding special treatment, but the equal treatment that our founders promised.

"For native-born Americans, it means reminding ourselves that the stereotypes about immigrants today were said, almost word for word, about the Irish, and Italians, and Poles, who it was said were going to destroy the fundamental character of America. And as it turned out, America wasn’t weakened by the presence of these newcomers; these newcomers embraced this nation’s creed, and this nation was strengthened.

"So regardless of the station we occupy; we all have to try harder; we all have to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do; that they value hard work and family just like we do; that their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own." - President Barack Obama, January 10, 2017, part of farewell speech

Slavery, Woman, History, Susan B. Anthony

"The prolonged slavery of woman is the darkest page in human history." - Susan B. Anthony, introduction, History of Woman Suffrage

Found on Notable Quotes at http://www.notable-quotes.com/a/anthony_susan_b.html.

Atticus Finch, Understand a Person, Slavery, Jim Crow, President Barack Obama

"...If our democracy is to work the way it should in this increasingly diverse nation, then each one of us need to try to heed the advice of a great character in American fiction, Atticus Finch, who said 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.'

"For blacks and other minority groups, that means tying our own very real struggles for justice to the challenges that a lot of people in this country face. Not only the refugee or the immigrant or the rural poor or the transgender American, but also the middle-aged white guy who from the outside may seem like he’s got all the advantages, but has seen his world upended by economic, and cultural, and technological change.

"We have to pay attention and listen.

"For white Americans, it means acknowledging that the effects of slavery and Jim Crow didn’t suddenly vanish in the ’60s; that when minority groups voice discontent, they’re not just engaging in reverse racism or practicing political correctness; when they wage peaceful protest, they’re not demanding special treatment, but the equal treatment that our founders promised.

"For native-born Americans, it means reminding ourselves that the stereotypes about immigrants today were said, almost word for word, about the Irish, and Italians, and Poles, who it was said were going to destroy the fundamental character of America. And as it turned out, America wasn’t weakened by the presence of these newcomers; these newcomers embraced this nation’s creed, and this nation was strengthened.

"So regardless of the station we occupy; we all have to try harder; we all have to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do; that they value hard work and family just like we do; that their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own." - President Barack Obama, January 10, 2017, part of farewell speech

Woman, Slavery, Susan B. Anthony

"It is often asserted that as woman has always been man's slave--subject--inferior--dependent, under all forms of government and religion, slavery must be her normal condition. This might have some weight had not the vast majority of men also been enslaved for centuries to kings and popes, and orders of nobility, who, in the progress of civilization, have reached complete equality." - SUSAN B. ANTHONY, introduction, History of Woman Suffrage

Found on Notable Quotes at http://www.notable-quotes.com/a/anthony_susan_b.html.