I brought together experts from health care business academic institutions and the community to develop a comprehensive blueprint for eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care in the City of Boston.

The essence of America - that which really unites us - is not ethnicity or nationality or religion - it is an idea - and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things.

Every government must consider the security of the country. That is just part of the responsibilities of any government. But true security can only come out of unity within a country where there are so many ethnic nationalities.

I want to state upfront unequivocally and without doubt: I do not believe that any racial ethnic or gender group has an advantage in sound judging. I do believe that every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge regardless of their background or life experiences.

As long as our civilisation keeps trundling along generally forwards then there is the possibility of a future where ethnicity is merely an interesting badge not a uniform you can't take off.

I mean I talk about being Jewish a lot. It's funny because I do think of myself as Jewish ethnically but I'm not religious at all. I have no religion.

Every American deserves to live in freedom to have his or her privacy respected and a chance to go as far as their ability and effort will take them - regardless of race gender ethnicity or economic circumstances.

Maybe we've been brainwashed by 130 years of Yankee history but Southern identity now has more to do with food accents manners music than the Confederate past. It's something that's open to both races a variety of ethnic groups and people who move here.

Most of my life I was occupied with American television and American food. My ethnicity was my choice. It still is.

St. Louis has a lot of weird food customs that you don't see other places - and a lot of great ethnic neighborhoods. There's a German neighborhood. A great old school Italian neighborhood with toasted ravioli which seems to be a St. Louis tradition. And they love provolone cheese in St. Louis.