Here are some neat quotes I've heard lately:
"My true friends are those who qualify for my time and attention through their additions to my life."
"A person breaks their family curse first through a new set of beliefs, followed by a new set of corresponding actions."
"My vocation is only the reward from a society that has lost its former glory, and now tends to teach the ways of sweat and heavy labor to produce anything from the Earth."
"Actions, not reasoning, changes one's emotions."
Words of Wonder
In case you're interested about the origins:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/reid.asp
Words of Wisdom -- Richard Reid trial:
Ruling by Judge William Young U.S. District Court.
Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say.
After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stated "I think I ought not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below on
January 30, 2003 United States vs. Reid.
Judge Young:
"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court
imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you
to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney
General.
On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in
prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run
consecutive with the other. That's 80 years.
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years
consecutive to the 80 years just imposed.
The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of
$250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million.
The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to
restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to
Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.
The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment.
The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply
because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life
sentences so I need go no further.
This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes.
It is a fair and just sentence.
It is a righteous sentence. Let me explain this to you.
We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist
co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans.
We have been through the fire before. There is all too
much war talk here.
And I say that to everyone with the utmost
respect. Here in this court, where we deal with individuals as
individuals, and care for individuals as individuals.
As human beings, we reach out for justice. You are not an enemy
combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war.
You are a terrorist.
To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too
much stature.
Whether it is the officers of government who do it, or your attorney
who does it, or that happens to be your view, you are a terrorist.
And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not treat with
terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them
down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of
line in this court.
You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior.
I know warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal guilty of
multiple attempted murders.
In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you
first were taken off that plane and into custody and you
wondered where the press and where the TV crews were,
and he said you're no big deal.
You're no big deal.
What your counsel, what your able counsel and what the
equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I
have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did
something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this
courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to
say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort
of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you
are guilty of doing. And I have an answer for you. It may not
satisfy you. But as I search this entire record, it comes as close
to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that is most precious.
You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom.
Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and
go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose.
Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry
it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize
individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful
courtroom so that everyone can see, truly see that justice is
administered fairly, individually, and discretely.
It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously
on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their representation
of you before other judges.
We are about it. Because we all know that the way we
treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no
mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden, pay any
price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark
it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say
here.
The day after tomorrow it will be forgotten.
But this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and
courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather
to see that justice, individual justice.
Justice, not war Individual justice is in fact being done.
The very President of the United States through his officers will
have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which
specific matters can be judged, and juries of citizens will gather
to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and
refine our sense of justice.
See that flag, Mr. Reid?
That's the flag of the United States of America.
That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten.
That flag stands for freedom. You know it always will.
Custody, Mr. Officer.
Stand him down."
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/reid.asp
Words of Wisdom -- Richard Reid trial:
Ruling by Judge William Young U.S. District Court.
Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say.
After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stated "I think I ought not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below on
January 30, 2003 United States vs. Reid.
Judge Young:
"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court
imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you
to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney
General.
On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in
prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run
consecutive with the other. That's 80 years.
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years
consecutive to the 80 years just imposed.
The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of
$250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million.
The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to
restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to
Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.
The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment.
The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply
because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life
sentences so I need go no further.
This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes.
It is a fair and just sentence.
It is a righteous sentence. Let me explain this to you.
We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist
co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans.
We have been through the fire before. There is all too
much war talk here.
And I say that to everyone with the utmost
respect. Here in this court, where we deal with individuals as
individuals, and care for individuals as individuals.
As human beings, we reach out for justice. You are not an enemy
combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war.
You are a terrorist.
To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too
much stature.
Whether it is the officers of government who do it, or your attorney
who does it, or that happens to be your view, you are a terrorist.
And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not treat with
terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them
down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of
line in this court.
You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior.
I know warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal guilty of
multiple attempted murders.
In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you
first were taken off that plane and into custody and you
wondered where the press and where the TV crews were,
and he said you're no big deal.
You're no big deal.
What your counsel, what your able counsel and what the
equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I
have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did
something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this
courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to
say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort
of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you
are guilty of doing. And I have an answer for you. It may not
satisfy you. But as I search this entire record, it comes as close
to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that is most precious.
You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom.
Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and
go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose.
Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry
it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize
individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful
courtroom so that everyone can see, truly see that justice is
administered fairly, individually, and discretely.
It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously
on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their representation
of you before other judges.
We are about it. Because we all know that the way we
treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no
mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden, pay any
price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark
it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say
here.
The day after tomorrow it will be forgotten.
But this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and
courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather
to see that justice, individual justice.
Justice, not war Individual justice is in fact being done.
The very President of the United States through his officers will
have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which
specific matters can be judged, and juries of citizens will gather
to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and
refine our sense of justice.
See that flag, Mr. Reid?
That's the flag of the United States of America.
That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten.
That flag stands for freedom. You know it always will.
Custody, Mr. Officer.
Stand him down."