"Pansy" reference in Hillary Clinton endorsement raises some hackles

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley's high-profile embrace of Hillary Clinton may not play out as an unalloyed asset for her. The main sound bite he delivered in endorsing her presidential candidacy today sparked criticism (muted, for the most part) for being an insult to gays.

Referring to his own reputation as a hard-charging politician, he said, "I've been accused of being persistent and downright aggravating." As Clinton stood next to him in an auditorium at North Carolina State University, he added, "But this lady right here makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy." (More about the event is available here.)

The first definition in Webster's New World Dictionary for pansy is "any of various violets." But then there's this: "[Slang] an effeminate man; esp. an effeminate male homosexual: often a contemptuous term."

Although Barack Obama's overdue stiff-arm of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright overwhelmed coverage of virtually anything else in politics today, Easley's comment did not go completely unnoticed.

As of this afternoon, a  handful of blogs had commented on it, including this post on The Smoking Gun, which noted that when Clinton ...

"stepped up to the mic to accept Easley's endorsement, (she) said nothing about his 'pansy' comment."

The Drudge Report linked to this item, meaning awareness of Easley's phrase is likely to grow.

We checked with the Washington headquarters of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's premier group promoting gay rights, and it already had a statement in the works.

Trevor Thomas, the group's deputy communications director, sent out this e-mail a few minutes later: "We certainly wish the governor would have chosen his words better and have expressed our disappointment to his staff.”

We've asked the Clinton campaign for a comment but, as of now, nothing has been issued.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

 

Comments

[poet1b]

This is just more nit picking political correctness nonsense blown grossly out of context. The word pansy also refers to "a timid man or boy considered childish or unassertive", or in general some one who is overly effeminate. It seems that any reference that could mean a man is effeminate has been turned into offensive attacks against gays. Why don't we ban every possible word in the English language that some one might find offensive, and stop communicating all together.

Maybe we should start banning words like non-college grad or professional because they are classest code words. The term lower income, definitely offensive. There has to be large numbers of other words that the muttering of should lead to immediate social condemnation.

[kellyiz]

Lets give Hillary equal time..why elect her and Bill again?

Hillary Clinton Won't Be Deposed in Fraud Case before November
By Fred Lucas
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
April 29, 2008

(CNSNews.com) - A fundraising controversy involving Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senate run that has moved through California's courts for about five years probably will have no effect on the presidential race, given the latest court ruling.

Superior Court Judge Aurelio Munoz of Los Angeles ruled Friday that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, will not have to be deposed in the fraud lawsuit brought by Hollywood businessman Peter F. Paul against former President Bill Clinton until after the November 2008 elections

[Joe]

If Hillary is so "tough," why did she whine like a scared little girl when Rick Lazio tried to shake her hand in a debate? Hillary is not tough: she simply surrounds herself with political thugs.

[kg]

HILLARY VOTED to 4000+ US ARMY DEATHS and 1 Millions IRAQI Deaths and $4 GAS by VOTING "4" IRAQ WAR.

http://icasualties.org/oif/

[kg]

Just Words?! Clinton Says Actions Matter - They Do!

CLINTONS:
Paula Jones - LIE
MONICA - LIE,
BOSNIA - LIE,
COLUMBIA - LIE,
IRAQ VOTE - LIE,
NAFTA - LIE,
WRIGHT ONLY FRIEND OF OBAMA NOT CLINTON - LIE,
RUNNING FOR 2008 BUT NOT FOR 2012 - LIE
RACE CARD - LIE
RE-OPENING MI, FL VOTE - LIE
OBAMA AS VP - LIE
POPULAR VOTE - LIE
FERRARO - LIE
FARRAKHAN NOT FRIEND FOR ED RANDELL - LIE
$105 MILLION ASSET, 50% NOT FROM LOBBYISTS - LIE
ENDING IRAQ WAR - LIE
BILL, not intentionally "RACE CARD" topic every primary day to capture more WHITE VOTES - LIE
NOT FLIP-FLOPING ON OBAMA ELECTABILITY IN DEBATE vs RALLY - LIE
CLAIMING HER FAILED HEALTH INSURANCE UNIVERSAL - LIE
BILL "NOT" Bombing other countries 7 times day before Monica's Court Appearance - LIE
HILLARY NOT USING 3AM Ad, "BIN LADEN" to use BUSH SCARE TACTICS - LIE
Last 20 YEARS its "BUSH+CLINTONS" like SADDAM HUSSAIN did to IRAQ REGIME. USA IS NOT REGIME - LIE

Do you really want to VOTE for 8 more years of these?

[Virginia]

I am getting very weary of Hillary's "tough broad" stance! As a woman, I would like to see a Strong Woman as POTUS, but this boilermaker driinking, "I can do anything better than a man" ,Annie Oakly persona is really stupid. Let's wait for a woman who can be proud of being a woman and show that feminine qualities are equal to the job . The great woman of history have kept their womanly qualities, without being masculine!

[Pam]

The Press is trying to make this a slur. Most people don't connect pansy and gay at all. Pansy brings up wimpy but it doesn't make one think of a homosexual. Maybe 30 or 40 years ago it did but it doesn't now.

The Press once again goes on the attack against Clinton using their own bias and bigotry. Shame on them.

Lets get to the issues. The Press is so tabloid and immature it's unbelievable.

[FahQue]

You people need to toughen up and quit being frigging pansies about every term used.

Practically everything is offensive to someone. I'm sure the term "pansy" was used to denote "wimps" long before the PC police decided "gay" no longer meant "happy"

[James Twait]

I am a 71 year old senior with a MA degree and I can recall the numerous times that youth sports coaches encouraged me and my team mates that we could beat the opponents by calling them" pansies". Should we get rid of any coach who has ever said that to his or her team? I think not. Took 71 years for me to be asked to focus on a single meaning for a word which has multiple meanings. I did learn a new meaning for a word which I have used before. Key word here is CONTEXT You negative folks need to get a life!!

[Ben Dover]

I guess we will have to boycott PIXAR now. They used the dreaded "P" word in Madagascar.

I think Hillary makes Rocky Balboa look like a pussy.

[Spruce Bringsteen]

If you are offended by the word PANSY this all I can say is that you are definitely a.....well.....flaming pansy.

[brian]

i'm an effeminate gay man, and i could not care less about this comment.

are we going to have "pansygate" now?

PLEASE. WHO CARES?

She is tougher than Rocky, and is the ONLY candidate I would consider voting for.

stop it. now.

[Durant Imboden]

Will Hillary denounce the governor, reject him, or both? And shouldn't we question her judgment for not having grilled the governor about homophobia before accepting his endorsement?

[Brian Schmidt, New Jersey]

Who was that woman crying In Connecticut? Looked like Hillary to me. Certainly looks like somebody was playing the pansy card then.

[tarheel]

where is north carolina university? might be missing a word there buddy

[smiley]

Poor choice of words - what he meant was: Compared to Rocky Balboa Clinton has reall b**ls! Does that take the heat off the gays? LOL

[javameish]

NC resident here - in local version of the English language, pansy and sissy are interchangable.

However If Gov. Easley got out into the world a bit more, or gosh, even out to different parts of the state, he might have figured out that not everyone thinks (or speaks) like him, before he had to get a hand slap.

That said - there really are bigger problems with his endorsement - McCain '08 would have been much better.

[xbjllb]

"Pansy" quaintly equates with the antiquated word "milquetoast" and is in no way any longer a sexual orientation reference. Not since we have so many other "wonderfully more descriptive" derogatory words that DO refer to sexual orientation like the "f" word, the "q" word, the "d" work, and the "c" and "a" words.

This attempt, if it's actually coming from the gay community at all, is merely the tiny contingent of gay ObamaNation trying to paint an ugly face on HRC's latest damaging endorsement.

Nothing more. Even they aren't really offended by this, but merely feinting for desperate political advantage.

Not working, by the way.

[Paul]

Wow, there are two types here, one type is saying what I think - (A) This is all a side issue, the issue is the comparison and implications made to Hillary's personality. So we want difficult people to run things? Somehow difficult is equal to strong? I don't think so. The pansy comment was a misstep and while it is offensive, it is not the end of the world. (B) It is better to get on to the real issues in America which are now practically overwhelming - a false war in Iraq, a real war on terror that has been forgotten along with Bin Laden, the crashing economy, the inequity in America, the oil and environmental crises, the mortgage crisis that is without borders and rippling globally (made in America though!), the deficit (trade and annual overspend for the false war), social insurance, health care, global relations, etc. etc..

The other types are basically seeing this as a small little foible unworthy of mention and trying to mitigate for Clinton - oh its not as bad as you are! Yeah, well, nobody is perfect. And least of all you! When you attack you are presuming that you don't make any mistakes yourself and you don't want this to be taken seriously. If it happened to the other side it would be a major test of character though. Let's get real and focus on more serious issues - I think that is the right message to the press and others.

[Chuck Hansen]

Has the word "pansy" actually been used to describe a gay person since, what, 1935? The governor did not say "queer" or "faggot" or anything remotely like that. He said "pansy" as in "wuss" or "pussy." Period. Get over it.

[Rob]

I'm gay - the word pansy bothers me - but - taken in context, I don't think the Gov was referring to me!! What bothers me a whole lot more is something very telling in Easley's other words, and one of the main reasons Senator Clinton should not be our next President. He described her as persistent and aggravating to underscore her strength. We REALLY do not need another divisive, polarized, insular individual leading this country - look what 8 years of that type of leadership has accomplished. This, in addition to her dishonesty, inconsistency on policy, and horrible management of her campaign and those around her, makes her totally ineligible for my vote. That said - Clinton supporters remember this next time you jump all over something one of Obama's supporters says and please, try to find some balance.

[Jeff]

I'm about the same age as the Governor, and when I was young, all men knew exactly what "pansy" meant, and it DID NOT mean "like a flower". It meant "FAGGOT"...and it was never said kindly when it came out of a man's mouth. All you men know this. It is highly unlikely that the Governor was ignorant of this usage...especially when one considers how easily it slipped off his tongue, though I'm sure he will claim ignorance in his spin.

Isn't it interesting that any other derogatory and degrading term we can think of for ethnic and gender groups would be quickly condemned today, but everyone seems quick to rush to the Governor's defense when it comes to a tried and true anti-gay term that has been used for at least the last 5 decades as a tool to keep both gay and straight men in their place.

Are there more important issues at stake? Of course...but that doesn't mean we tell fibs about or diminish the impact of this man's insensitivity to a very large voting bloc. We need to have the discussion, and then move on if we are going to be grown-ups.

[Renaldo]

Actually I wish that the North Carolina governor would have been quick enough on his feet to have issued a double entendre which would have subtly referenced Obama.....something to the effect of, "But this lady right here makes Rocky Balboa look like a pussy."

[Chris]

Wow. I wasn't aware "Pansy" = Gay Man. I never made that association. I've heard the word used as far back as high school sports, and used it myself. I had always thought, up until I read this story, that "pansy" meant someone who quits easily, which I didn't take as having any sexual connotation.

Learn something every day. Still, hyper sensitive for people to freak out when I doubt the governor was thinking about gay men when he made the reference.

[goldenstate]

Pansy is pretty tame compared to some other words. Some may find it offensive, but most won't. He used it in reference to a fictional character.

[NinaK]

Gov Easley is a dork! It's all in the perception and if you feel it is offensive, then it IS offensive.

Why does Hilliary desperately try to portray herself as being tough and a fighter? In her writings she tells the story of coming home in tears from school because another little girl had punched her. Her mother told her, "there is no use for cowards in this house, the next time she hits you, I want you to hit her back!" Hilliary goes on to say that's exactly what she did and from then on she was able to play with the little BOYS. Now tell me, what does punching a little GIRL have to do with her being to play with little BOYS??? Another lie perpetrated by Hilliary?? That woman just does not make sense most of the time!! Hilliary has lost her womanhood, perhaps as a result of being rejected by Bill so often and with so many women. Bill, in essence said to Hilliary, I prefer other women to you; you are a poor excuse of a wife". So, Hilliary decided to play the tough macho role and probably thinks she is a latent male. Those pantsuits she wears say a lot about Hillary, she REJECTS and DENOUNCES being a woman!! She prefers to ACT tough and to fight because that's what she thinks men do. What she does NOT realize is that most men prefer to "negotiate" and to "reason"; they are confident in their real strength and don't have to act tough and fight to prove they are powerful!! Hilliary is so damned insecuret and cowardly, she cannot stand on her womanhood, she has to borrow Bills genitalia to prove she is manly!!

[NinaK]

Anyone else notice how "white" Rev Wright is? Literally, his skin is as light as Hilliary's. Are you aware it was a Hilliary supporter who set up Rev Wright's speaking schedule? Are Hilliary and Rev Wright, or Bill and Rev Wright somehow related? It would be interesting to see their family lineage. Why is a Clinton supporter making arrangements for Rev Wright's schedule? Are Hilliary, Bill, and Rev Wright in cahoots to destroy Senator Obama? Sure makes one wonder, doesn't it?? It sure looks to me like Rev Wright has a lot of white ancestors, based on his skin color. Is he angry, maybe because a white plantation owner raped his grandmother or mother? Is that where his anger is really coming from? Food for thought. Was that plantation owner one of Billl's ancestors?? Ummm.

[Ken]

Obama is taking all this grief because the pastor of his church is a nut case and Hannity. Limbaugh, O'Reilly and a couple of the other talk show bufoons want to keep the pot boiling. Lets put a little sanity into this affair. In the first place the pastor was the one who said the anti American disgusting things NOT O'bama. Now I want to ask you this, If you are guilty by association, in other words you are vilified just because you know the guy how bad would it be if you actually went to a foreign country and marched up and down in their capital carrying a sign that said America is a bad country that kills inocent women and children? I would say thats pretty anti American wouldn't you? Well my friends there were two people who did just that. Their names if you are interested are Bill and Hillary Clinton. It happened at the same time that Jane Fonda was chatting with the enemy in Viet Nam.Do a Google folks and look it up. I am writing this because I want Obama to win. I am not black but I admire the guy. He is a black guy who started out with nothing and fought the Clinton attack machine plus Bill and Hillary. He kept his cool and beat 'em all. He collected more contributions, all legit, no chinese dish washers giving $2500 a pop. Plus he did all that with dignity and a touch of class. My money is on the guy who can put together a winning team like he did.

[Ken]

I am not too sure of the American army but I spent a long time in the English airforce and if you ever called anybody a pansyyou had to be quick on your feet because a knuckle sandwich was coming your way. It was/is very insulting.

[karen]

Most of you people who are crying about the Obama pastor problem and say ing it doesn,t matter have very little interest or no understanding about politics or you do understand and your spinning for him. For those who have little interest or no understanding you need to awake if you really feel this country needs change if you do feel that then understand as president Bush said today he has a problem with congress and that my friends will create the real change in this country, your local representative that is, the house and senate! So do yourself a favor and stop crying about Obama pastor problem and do something about your own and pay attention to your local polititions and vote accordlingly.You don,t have to have an Obama to better your country. Remember an old saying ask not what your country can do for you but what YOU can do for it. If you want real change elect a women because not a one has been elected and even Obama knows this would be real change, but his ego is as big as his pastor,s so don,t expect him to rise against the old politics anytime soon? Think about it!

[Chris]

Hillary Supporters:

It looks like we are going for a TKO. How about a one, two punch and he's out!

That being said, maybe after we get to know Senator Barack Obama a litle better, maybe we'll see him in about 8 years and just maybe, he might be one of our greatest leaders....we'll have to see and learn more.

Hillary's dirt is already out there and has been for many years, We are over that ! We need a strong, experienced leader like Hillary Clinton to get the job done!

Who cares about the word "pansy"??? This just means this lady is strong!

She just wants to go the distance, she knows what she has to do and she WILL do it!

Hillary 2008

Chris in Indiana (where my vote will count!!!)

[curtis andrew]

using pansy as an adjective is referring to the qualities of that flower, compared to some other flowers, they bruise or wilt more easily.

[Angel]

maybe he meant "pandsy"
as in "pandering" ?

[Barackcan]

I am gay and I find this offensive. Sorry but I was called names like this when I was in school. When I heard people utter words like pansy, fag etc it made me feel less then everybody else. I don't believe the other people on this blog that say they are gay and this is not offensive. This wouldn't bother a lesbian, but if you said Hillary is no dyke the gov would not be able to get out of the mansion. I am sick of the bull s- - - - politics. The sad thing about this election is that so many people are paying attention. I thought our government was more sophisticated then this. Politics are basically smart people trying to fool the stupid people of this country. Can anyone just win the election just being themselves?

Wet-back, porch monkey, cracker, dyke, sand monkey and so the name calling goes. Feel free to add more.
Lets all stop being so sensitive.

Kike

[Darrel]

Since Hillary's minions keep labeling people let's try a couple of actual labels that fit.

Bill Clinton is a serial sexual abuser, he is a flasher, he is a groper. Bill Clinton is a rapist. Blill Clinton should have done prison time, and he should be registered in the sex crimes register. Hillary is an enabler of a sexual pervert/criminal. Their crimes against women go way way beyond a BJ with Monica.

Put a sexual molester monster and his enabling "wife" in the White House - elect Hillary.

Now THOSE labels fit and are factual.

[Darrel]

Clinton Misogyny - Sex
Juanita Broaddrick (AR)- rape
Eileen Wellstone (Oxford) - rape
Elizabeth Ward Gracen - rape - quid pro quo, post incident intimidation
Regina Hopper Blakely - "forced himself on her, biting, bruising her"
Kathleen Willey (WH) - sexual assault, intimidations, threats
Sandra Allen James (DC) - sexual assault
22 Year Old 1972 (Yale) - sexual assault
Kathy Bradshaw (AK) - sexual assault
Cristy Zercher - unwelcomed sexual advance, intimidations
Paula Jones (AR) - unwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault
Carolyn Moffet -unwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault
1974 student at University of Arkansas - unwelcomed physical contact
1978-1980 - seven complaints per Arkansas state troopers
Monica Lewinsky - quid pro quo, post incident character assault
Gennifer Flowers - quid pro quo, post incident character assault
Dolly Kyle Browning - post incident character assault
Sally Perdue - post incident threats
Betty Dalton - rebuffed his advances, married to one of his supporters
Denise Reeder - apologetic note scanned

Clinton Misogyny - Other
Linda Tripp - coerce, intimidate, deny - Bob Bennett calls her a liar, release her job application, transfer her.
Julia Hiatt-Steele - Willey's friend and neighbor - used the machine to change her story.
Hillary Rodham Clinton - used as a cover humiliated
Chelsea Clinton - ignored
Betty Currie - used as cover and enabler
Donna Shalala - used as cover, used as whipping post in Cabinet meeting
Madeline Albright - used as cover
Secret Service - female agent complaints
Kathy Ferguson – unwelcome advances

Clinton as a Ladies' Man?
Marsha Scott - claimed an affair
Connie Hamzy - claimed sex
Bobbie Ann Williams - claimed paid sex, paternity

Following are names of ladies rumored to have had sexual relations with Bill Clinton. We of course do not have information to support these rumors and do not intend the reader to think that we believe any of them to be true. Some could be true, some could be false and some could be intentionally spread rumors so absurd as to make the ones listed above and all other rumors look absurd as well. As always, please draw your own conclusions:

Clinton as a Ladies' Man - Rumors
Marilyn Jo Jenkins - rumored
Susan Coleman - rumored (suicide 7.5 months pregnant)
Robyn Dickey -rumored, staffer
Lenora Steinkamp - rumored - mystery jogger on video tape entering the "infamous hallway" with Clinton
Kimba Wood - rumored, judge
Kelley Craighead - rumored, staffer to Bill and Hillary
Sharline Wilson - rumored, claimed drug association
Dee Dee Myers - rumored, staffer
Suzie Whitacre - rumored
Catherine Cornelius - rumored, "distant cousin".
Cheryl Mills - rumored, WH attorney
Current Secret Paramour (per Tripp/King interview) - rumored

Clinton as a Ladies' Man - Rumors with quid pro quo?
Beth Gladden Coulson - rumored - young judicial appointment
Eleanor Mondale - rumored - celebrity daughter, dated Ron Perelman (see Jordan)
Shelia Lawrence - rumored - Widow of Ambassador
Deborah Mathis - rumored - reporter/WH advancements
Debra Schiff - rumored - ex flight attendant, now staffer
Susan McDougal - rumored - business connections
Benazir Bhutto - rumored - current opposition leader in, and former prime minister of Pakistan

Clinton as a wanna be Ladies' Man or intended disinformation? - Rumors High Profile
Barbara Streisand - rumored - celebrity
Markie Post - rumored - actress
Sharon Stone - rumored - actress
Lencola Sullivan - rumored - beauty queen
Martha Stewart - rumored - celebrity
Diana Wiley Pietsch - rumored - sex therapist - Oxford.
Princess Di - rumored - royalty, deceased

[Ken Taylor]

God help America,
Are there important issues concerning the U.S. ?
You would never know it reading and listening to all this crap.

Who gives a rat's ass what Rev. Wright Said, or Gov. Easly.

Have a look at the State of the Union, it's in great shape isn't it, wow look at all the new jobs being created, people are buying houses left right and centre, America has found new repect in the world, gas is so cheap compared to 10 years ago, and best of all health care is available to everyone and cheap too.

It must be something in the water?

All is well with America, things couldn't be better.

I love the color of the pink sky.

War is good, it boosts the economy.

We don't need any changes!

[Chris in Tennessee - Rebuplican!]

There is nothing wrong with using 'pansy' if any of the 'trendy' folks out there get offended then they are admitting they are a 'pansy' and have personal self esteem issues. People want to be victomized so bad they jump on anything and take it out of context.

[Nimrod Loteng]

Hope they don't push to Obama's camp again.

[DM.CA.]

Clinton is not about the american people ,Her goal is to be part of the elite few who will rule the world (literlly).
That is the long term goal. Brown, ( England) gave a speech stating The United States needed to get behind Globalliztion, In other words a World Goverment,Europe has already converted to the Euro,but these pesky americans are so slow coming around!
All the super rich know what is taking place right under the noses of the american people,But they figure we are to stupid to notice, and they are right!.
For years pieces of America have been sold to different countries,our borders are wide open,Nafta ,Cafta.
All of this is designed to smooth the way for the changeover.
Bush ,the president of Mexico, the Canadian Gov,have long been working behind the scenes.remember the Three Amigos?
Hillary is is part of this grand scheme,Hillary is not a Dem. she is not a Rep.she is part and parcel of this group.
Once she is president ,Hillary will be able to move a head with the finalization of the plan. to put us under that world gov.
Hillary is banking on the poor ,uneducated and the racsist element to push her passed the obstcle in her way.(Obama).
Those secret facilities , scattered round the country, you will soon know why they were built. so by the time America wakes up it will be too late.
A vote for Hillary is a vote for the down fall of our Soverenity and Democracy.

[Pat]

I was at the event in Raleigh. I heard the whole speech and not just a sound bite. Governor Easley was referring to her dedication and work ethic in dealing with problems. The character Rocky Balboa is recognized as someone who didn't give up even though all the odds were against him and his dedication and hard work resulted in success. It thereby follows that Governor Easley's usage of pansy was as a weak person who gives up. I've lived in the South all my life and have never heard the word pansy used for a person who is gay here.
In her comments, Hillary indicated that her style is to get input from those that are knowledgeable and effected in other to develop a plan and then to implemnt the plan. This are the qualities of a good manager and leader. Easley also emphasied that she GETS IT, to me that meant understands what our problems are, and that with her experience she would be able to start turning this country around on day 1.

I was able to shake her hand and talk to her briefly. She was respectful to everyone, looked them in the eye, and gave individuals thoughtful answers, not canned responses.

I would have never made the assumptions that I have seen listed. I guess you just had to be there. Or maybe you need to understand the audiance as Rev. Wright has said.

[tommyjonq]

she also makes bill look like a pansy. she also makes lindsey graham look like a pansy. she also makes democrats look like racist, beer-guzzling, gun-polishing neanderthals. she also makes america look like a mud-wrestling sink hole. but for some reason she can't make chelsea look like bill.

[WhereHaveYouGone,JoeDiMaggio]

I have said it before and this article proves you are not listening. You have watched your independent newspaper become a branch outlet, received your layoff notices and seen your ESOP plumet in value, yet you confess ignorance as to why NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU SAY. Please wake up, we need you! People stopped reading what you write because you insult them with your red-herring approach to the news we need. You tell us about irrelevent junk, yet we yearn for usable information. We have the most important decision to make this year. It might mean the end to our war, I hope. It might mean the end to our calloused treatment of our brothers and sisters who are Americans also. It might mean that we can avoid the looming world-wide financial depression on the doorstep.
Why do you act paternalistic by keeping important information away from us? Are you our keeper? Are you not my intelligent brother telling me what I need to know to thrive?
Morph to usefulness or become an historic relic.

[Rocky Balboa]

Shouldn't that be 'heckles'?