My parents were early converts to Christianity in my part of Nigeria. They were not just converts my father was an evangelist a religious teacher. He and my mother traveled for thirty-five years to different parts of Igboland spreading the gospel.

I am indebted to my father for living but to my teacher for living well.

My mother listened to all the news from the camp during the strike. She said little especially when my father or the men who worked for him were about I remember her instinctive and unhesitating sympathy for the miners.

I think that everybody in the world whatever colour or creed has a jerk like JR in his or her family somewhere. Whether it is a father uncle cousin or brother everybody can identify with JR and that certainly had something to do with the success of 'Dallas.'

Sometimes because of my success I am afraid that I was not a good father. With the first two I was too strong and with the other three I was too weak.

As my father used to tell me the only true sign of success in life is being able to do for a living that which makes you happy.

My father was an immigrant who literally walked across Europe to get out of Russia. He fought in World War I. He was wounded in action. My father was a great success even though he never had money. He was a very determined man a great role model.

My husband Rhashan reminds me of my father because he's got great strength of character.

My father was the son of immigrants and he grew up bilingual but English is what my father taught me and what he spoke to me. America's strength is not our diversity it is our ability to unite around common principles even when we come from different backgrounds.

May He who is the Brahman of the Hindus the Ahura-Mazda of the Zoroastrians the Buddha of the Buddhists the Jehovah of the Jews the Father in Heaven of the Christians give strength to you to carry out your noble idea.