There is one tradition in America I am proud to inherit. It is our first freedom and the truest expression of our Americanism: the ability to dissent without fear. It is our right to utter the words, "I disagree." We must feel at liberty to speak those words to our neighbors, our clergy, our educators, our news media, our lawmakers and, above all, to the one among us we elect President.

if I could calm or restrain youfor the sake of pitysave the pistolsave the cynic's tonguesave the cool white staretreat me to an honest face sometime

threats like, "if you don't mind I will beat on your behind" "slap you, slap you silly" made me say,"o, what's the matter here?"

heaven, is this heaven where we are?

see them walking, if you dareif you call that walkingstumble, stagger, fall and drag themselvesalong the streets of heaven

where is the halothat should glow 'round your faceand where are the wings thatshould grow from your shoulder blades?

these sobering sights I've seenin the City of Angelshave all been one rude awakeningthat was due to mein this city of fallen angels

the color of the sky as far as I can see is coal graylift my head from the pillow and then fall againwith a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weathera quiver in my lips as if I might cry