The more equality women have the fairer more civilized and tolerant society will be. Sexual equality is a lot more effective against terrorism than military strength.

In our post-9/11 world our Nation's military deserves at least the same access to institutions of higher education that any other major employer might enjoy.

Without education we are weaker economically. Without economic power we are weaker in terms of national security. No great military power has ever remained so without great economic power.

When I grew up I only had two dreams. One was to be a cowboy and another was to be in the military. I grew up extremely patriotic and riding horses.

My dad and grandpa were in the army and as a country singer you're constantly playing at military bases all across the country and meeting soldiers and their families and hearing their stories.

I'm a military kid both parents in the military - Mom did 12 years Dad did 21 served in two wars. So discipline is something that was huge.

And as a child I was filled with passionate admiration for acts of civic courage I had seen performed by an elderly military doctor who was a friend of my family.

Throughout the history of our young nation we have seen our military go bravely into battle armed with courage and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

The British were indeed very far superior to the Americans in every respect necessary to military operations except the revivified courage and resolution the result of sudden success after despair.

I saw courage both in the Vietnam War and in the struggle to stop it. I learned that patriotism includes protest not just military service.