I could easily have decided that life was cruel, that being black meant everything was stacked against me.

I don't believe that expressing your opinion, regardless of who is there, is being rude. And it's a shame that we've reached a level in our country where we think that you don't have the right to put your opinion out there.

It's very difficult to speak to a large group of people these days and not offend someone. I know people walk around with their feelings on their shoulders waiting for you to say something - ahh - did you hear that? And they can't hear anything else you say. The PC police are out in force at all times.

The doors of the world are opened to people who can read.

Because 9/11 is an isolated incident. Things that are isolated issues as opposed to things that fundamentally change the United Sates of America and shift power from the people to the government. That is a huge shift. You have to take a long-term look at something that fundamentally changes the power structure of America.

I always say if God didn't allow any bad things to happen, we would already be in heaven. And we are not there. That's where trust and faith comes in. You just say, "Lord, I don't understand it. But one thing I do know is that you understand it and that you are in control and I trust you."

People spending more of their own money on routine health care would make the system more competitive and transparent and restore the confidence between the patients and the doctors without government rationing.