It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human
history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts
to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he
sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a
million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build
a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and
resistance....
America is a stronger nation for the ACLU's uncompromising effort.
-- President John F. Kennedy
The simple rights, the civil liberties from generations of struggle must not
be just fine words for patriotic holidays, words we subvert on weekdays, but
living, honored rules of conduct amongst us....