"My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total. I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution." -- Barbara Jordan

Max Sherman has compiled some of the late Ms. Jordan's speeches and words of wisdom in a book and DVD. For those of you looking for a primer on civic duty and responsibility to one's country perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the likes of Barbara Jordan. (AAS)

I've often written here about my admiration for strong women. I was brought up with a strong sense of right and wrong and a duty to serve one's community. That foundation is what drew me, like other members of my family, to politics.

Unfortunately, politics has very little to do with right and wrong and duty to one's community and country. For that reason, when I identify with a political leader that meets those criteria I feel validated in my own strong beliefs and hold out hope that someone will step up and I will have someone to admire and respect.

My fear is that it is a quixotic belief system and I will only have those leaders that inspired me as a child to look up to as an adult. I guess I'm saying I could really use a hero.