The March on Washington was a March for Jobs and Freedom. There are still too many people who are unemployed or underemployed in America - they're black, white, Latino, Native American and Asian American.
John LewisRead
I never praised Mr. Snowden or said his actions rise to those of Mohandas Gandhi or other civil rights leaders.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote indicates a measured appreciation for Edward Snowden's actions but does not equate them with those of recognized civil rights leaders.
In this quote, John Lewis expresses his perspective on Edward Snowden's controversial whistleblowing actions. While Lewis acknowledges Snowden's courage in revealing government surveillance practices, he carefully distinguishes between Snowden's contributions and the historical impact of prominent civil rights leaders like Mohandas Gandhi, highlighting the complexity of heroism and ethical considerations in activism.
Themes
SnowdenCourageCivil RightsActivismEthics
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about government surveillance and whistleblowing, this quote can illustrate the complexity of heroism.
More from John Lewis
All quotes βThe scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society.
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Customs, traditions, laws should be flexible, within good reason, if that is what it takes to make our democracy work.
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I say to people today, 'You must be prepared if you believe in something. If you believe in something, you have to go for it. As individuals, we may not live to see the end.'
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We need someone who is going to stand up, speak up, and speak out for the people who need help, for the people who have been discriminated against.
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If it hadn't been for that march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, there would be no Barack Obama as President of the United States of America.
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