As a young woman, I attended Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, South Africa, which was then not segregated. But I witnessed the weight of Apartheid everywhere around me.

I mention my age because I find people in this country - women, not men, of course - women are so troubled by their age. There's a culture of youth, and it's a phony culture.

I grew up in a dictatorship in East Africa.

When you're threatened, or something hard hits you, acknowledge it, embrace it. Don't pretend that you didn't get hurt - hurt, cry, think about it. And then you let it go and try something else.

Political campaigns are the graveyard of real ideas and the birthplace of empty promises.

You can call me Mama T anytime.

John will never send a boy or girl in a uniform anywhere in the world because of our need and greed for oil.