Quote Archives - The Citizen's Story

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September 28, 2017

“I’ll Always Stand”

Quotes

I served my country, as my son did, as my father did, as my nephew did – we all served so that people could do stupid things like kneel during the National Anthem. It’s not the time or place. I’ll always stand. Do I think it’s disrespectful? Yea, I do. But we fight for people to have that freedom of speech.

Laura, Army Veteran, Waukesha, WI

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September 26, 2017

I was born in 1936. I was only six years old when World War II broke out. I think that war affected me all my life, as far as the rationing, the black outs at night. We used to gather milkweed pods and take those to school in bags, and those were used in life vests for the army. I think that period of time showed me what we have in the United States, in terms of security. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we got in the world.

Rex, Retired Tool Designer, Northern Indiana

September 12, 2017

“People say this country is going into a downward spiral, and everyone is getting worse. And I just don’t think that’s true. There are good people everywhere. We just don’t see it that way (because of the media)…Something we could all do tomorrow to be better Americans is watch a different news channel. It may be hard to hear the information sometimes. But it wouldn’t hurt to just listen to the other side for once. If people did it, it would help them get to know other people.”

Maxwell, Student, Swanton, Ohio

September 7, 2017

“Initiate Change”

“We, as the voters and people, we need to get the politicians who are doing the wrong things (making back deals, taking money) out of office, and keep them out. We can’t keep voting for these senators over and over again and keep wondering why nothing is changing. We have to initiate change if we want change to happen.”

Jessica, Nanny

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September 1, 2017

A Civic Traitor?

“Republicans would look at me and say I’m a traitor to my party. Democrats would look at me and say I’m a traitor to my gender. So I don’t know if people would think I’m a good citizen.”

Amanda, U.S. State Department

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August 27, 2017

“Run for Office”

“My husband gave a perfect example of how to be a good citizen. He ran for office because there was something we didn’t think was quite right (the doubling of taxes), and wanted to do something about it. In that case it was to maintain the status quo, but to keep it good for other people in the town. So he ran. And he won.”

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August 25, 2017

“As long as you’re doing what you need to do, it doesn’t matter if you were born here”

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August 23, 2017

“Even though I am a liberal, I think that there are a greater proportion of conservatives who are good citizens than there are liberals. I think that conservative distrust of government institutions and belief in community institutions helps them work together towards a shared community vision in a way that many liberals don’t embody…Liberals underestimate how important that vision and those communities are.”

Matt, Philanthropic Advisor

August 18, 2017

To be an American in one word? Freedom. Freedom to be whatever you want to be. And do whatever it is that benefits yourself and benefits others.

Meng Ting, Graduate Student