Once you begin to explain or excuse all events on racial grounds, you begin to indulge in the perilous mythology of race.

Before my grandpa built his own church, we went to the neighboring town, and it was a white community. You know, up north, mostly middle European people and Indians, Chippewa Indians. We were welcome to that church, but once we got in, they didn't know what to do with us.

In our resolve to build a better world... we seek to summon what Abraham Lincoln called the better angels of our nature.

One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter.

I mean, my people were very, very simple. They were peasant people, you know?

My youngest uncle Randy and I were the first members of our entire family to ever go to college.

Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack.