People can overcome their differences, and when united, move toward a world of greater fairness and justice. As in folk music, each person has a unique role to play.

Most of my work for the past 25 years has been devoted to organizing demonstrations, benefits and campaigns, many of which have had the effect of bringing a policy debate to public focus or moving a political agenda forward. It's become a cliché to say 'think globally and act locally,' but it works.

When people sing together, community is created. Together we rejoice, we celebrate, we mourn and we comfort each other. Through music, we reach each others hearts and souls. Music allows us to find a connection.

We Americans are world leaders and we must lead by example - particularly in times that require careful deliberation before any precipitous action - lest we fail to walk in the shoes of those we might injure.

To cure the violence, we must identify and heal the causes of hatred and violence. If we dont deal with the causes we will never be safe.

We can only move to a long-term resolution regarding terrorism and war by planting seeds of peace. We have to start with ourselves.

The songs worked as a different kind of rhetoric, one that could reach the fence-sitters.