Patriotism is best exemplified through auto-critique. When you're willing to stand up within the group and say 'It is wrong for Black people to be anti-Semitic ' or 'It is wrong for America to discriminate against persons of African descent and made them slaves and based its wealth upon free labor ' it's crucial to say that.
The unions say 'last hired - first fired ' we say hire and fire based on merit. We want the best and brightest in the classroom.
The strength and power and goodness of America has always been based on the strength and power and goodness of our communities our families our faiths. That is the bedrock of what makes America America. In our best days we can feel the vibrancy of America's communities large and small.
Beauty and femininity are ageless and can't be contrived and glamour although the manufacturers won't like this cannot be manufactured. Not real glamour it's based on femininity.
My attitude to peace is rather based on the Burmese definition of peace - it really means removing all the negative factors that destroy peace in this world. So peace does not mean just putting an end to violence or to war but to all other factors that threaten peace such as discrimination such as inequality poverty.
Having a clear faith based on the creed of the church is often labeled today as fundamentalism. Whereas relativism which is letting oneself be tossed and swept along by every wind of teaching look like the only attitude acceptable to today's standards.
The downfall of the industry seems to actually be good for art. I think the industry will find their way once the focus shifts from its greed-based origins downsizes and begins to support creative visions that speak to our times and shifting ideals.
An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all.
The intellectual force of the West is still dominant but other cultures are getting stronger. I expect that we will develop a new way of thinking in architecture and urban planning and that less will be based on our models.
Japanese architecture is traditionally based on wooden structures that need renovating on a regular basis.