Mel Gibson is my friend. I love Mel. He's not the person that I hear people are often trying to diminish. Whatever his challenges are in life, he still remains someone I'm very close to.

Democracy is about criticism. I didn't elect Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the time. Period. The exceptionalism of a black U.S. President is not important to me. It's what he does. And who he has at the table. And what he does to change the world - that's what's important.

It is the most painful thing to see how young children become collateral damage of wars, but when peace treaties are signed landmines do not respect any of these accords. And as long as these silent killers linger after wars, children will never know peace

It's important for people of color to link up with issues around globalization, food security, health, the environment.

Im a child of the Civil Rights Movement.

One of the main purveyors of violence in this world has been this country America.

The exceptionalism of a black U.S. President is not important to me. It's what he does - and who he has at the table.