Bush II on American identity

washingtonpost.com

Bush II-and-dogs painting image from

Excerpt:

Our identity as a nation – unlike many other nations – is not determined by geography or ethnicity, by soil or blood. Being an American involves the embrace of high ideals and civic responsibility. We become the heirs of Thomas Jefferson by accepting the ideal of human dignity found in the Declaration of Independence. We become the heirs of James Madison by understanding the genius and values of the U.S. Constitution. We become the heirs of Martin Luther King, Jr., by recognizing one another [JB - sic] not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

This means that people of every race, religion, and ethnicity can be fully and equally American. It means that bigotry or white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed.

And it means that the very identity of our nation depends on the passing of civic ideals to the next generation. ... 

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Meanwhile, The exact words from Martin Luther King, if one can trust the Internet: 

 "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."