In the war on terrorism, the immigrant is often the scapegoat.

America's story is largely an immigrant story. That hasn't changed since the Pilgrims ate their first turkey some four hundred years ago, and they were the original boat people.

Today, more people are crossing various borders in order to survive, thrive, change their lives. Even if you don't cross the border, with demographic shifts, the border sometimes crosses you.

I think in a larger sense, immigrant narrative is comprehensive and speaks to the core of human experience.

I am glad to see the wheels are moving at last toward comprehensive immigration reform after last year's election. I am glad that immigrants are speaking up.

Art is the lesser sister to medicine. It aims to heal.

That experience of losing home, longing for home, that yearning for meaning and rootedness and identity in a floating world, it's what often makes an immigrant story into an American story .

Precious things lost are transmutable. They refuse oblivion. They simply wait to be rendered into testimonies, into stories and songs.

It's unfortunate that the country of immigrants has turned its back on immigrants. The atmosphere after 9/11 is toxic.

In non-fiction you have to stay true to historical events, be they personal or national .

I am hopeful that the pendulum swings toward seeing immigrants in favorable terms once more.

The place to cure most of the ills of society is in the homes of the people.

Non-fiction can distort

A poor original is better than a good imitation.

The reason I like the criminal justice system is there aren't Republican or Democrat victims or police officers or prosecutors. It's about respect for the rule of law!

I feel as if sometimes women can't deal with what's going on and they have no one around who actually understands.

If you pursue a distancer, he or she will distance more. Consider it a fundamental law of physics.

We had something very special in the Faces. We were blessed to have the fun we had.

most people worry so much, they think you're not right if you don't worry.

God is about to eliminate the white man from this earth.

I honor God that much in the way I play. That's why I never believe in getting tired. I don't even know what that word means.