--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mere fact of an American being…" description: "\"The mere fact of an American being present could help save the lives of innocent people. That's why I believe in the importance of bearing witness, to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bianca-jagger-12370_bearing-witness_the-mere-fact-of-an-american-being-prese_1570298.jpg" --- # The mere fact of an American being present could help save… ![“The mere fact of an American being present could help save the lives of innocent people. That's why I believe in the importance of bearing witness, to become a voice for the voiceless.” quote by Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bianca-jagger-12370_bearing-witness_the-mere-fact-of-an-american-being-prese_1570298.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bianca-jagger-12370_bearing-witness_the-mere-fact-of-an-american-being-prese_1570298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bianca-jagger-12370_bearing-witness_the-mere-fact-of-an-american-being-prese_1570298.jpg) > “The mere fact of an American being present could help save the lives of innocent people. That's why I believe in the importance of bearing witness, to become a voice for the voiceless.” [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being present as a witness can protect vulnerable lives, highlighting the power of bearing witness. **In simple terms:** Witnessing can help protect innocent people. Key Takeaway Commit to bearing witness. Themes solidarity humanrights witnessing activism Mood compassionate urgent Type inspirational activist When to use this quote - conflict zones - community support - legal testimony - media coverage Key Concepts ethical responsibility social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can you safely support those in danger? - What does bearing witness mean to you? A Different Perspective Witnessing may be risky and emotionally taxing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bearing witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bearing-witness/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Innocent people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [That's one thing I don't think people consider nowadays. They want to believe in the importance of marriage, boil it down to just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/that-s-one-thing-i-don-t-think-people-consider-nowadays-they-want-to/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) > [I truly believe the importance of shining the light on the dark corners of our world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-van-zeller/i-truly-believe-the-importance-of-shining-the-light-on-the-dark/) [Mariana van Zeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-van-zeller/) > [“So many things that are so dramatic or exciting when you read about them actually happen so simply and quietly. We humans like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/so-many-things-that-are-so-dramatic-or-exciting-when-you-read-about/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Those who believe in the importance of serving others should lead the way by fighting against the temptation we all have, and maybe especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/those-who-believe-in-the-importance-of-serving-others-should-lead-the/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [Believe in the importance of your art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodora-goss/believe-in-the-importance-of-your-art/) [Theodora Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodora-goss/) > [The killing of innocent people is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/the-killing-of-innocent-people-is-always-wrong/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [We know what boredom is: it is a dull Impatience or a fierce velleity, A champing wish, stalled by our lassitude, To make or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/we-know-what-boredom-is-it-is-a-dull-impatience-or-a-fierce-velleity/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [“What is courage?" I ask. "Bearing witness. That is a form of courage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-stern/what-is-courage-i-ask-bearing-witness-that-is-a-form-of-courage/) [Jessica Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-stern/) > [ “...\[Nature\] ever bearing witness against man that he has deliberately chosen ugliness instead of beauty...” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/nature-ever-bearing-witness-against-man-that-he-has-deliberately/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [“There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries, and foremost among them is bearing witness to the rare birth of genius. It invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/there-are-many-perks-to-living-for-twenty-one-centuries-and-foremost/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“The discipline of witness takes seriously the biblical mandate of bearing witness to Jesus by building nonmanipulative relationships with eternity in view.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-d-boa/the-discipline-of-witness-takes-seriously-the-biblical-mandate-of/) [Kenneth D. Boa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-d-boa/) > [Was it the act of giving birth that made you a mother? Did you lose that label when you relinquished your child? If people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/was-it-the-act-of-giving-birth-that-made-you-a-mother-did-you-lose/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Let me close by bearing witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/let-me-close-by-bearing-witness-and-my-nine-decades-on-this-earth/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Photography is a weapon against what's wrong out there. It's bearing witness to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-stirton/photography-is-a-weapon-against-what-s-wrong-out-there-it-s-bearing/) Brent Stirton > [“As his ears rang and his heart broke for her, he stayed strong against the gale force she let loose. After all, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/as-his-ears-rang-and-his-heart-broke-for-her-he-stayed-strong-against/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More by Bianca Jagger > [George W. Bush and his administration embarked on a full-scale assault on civil liberties, human rights and the rule of law, walking away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/george-w-bush-and-his-administration-embarked-on-a-full-scale-assault/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [The Sandinista revolution was without any question a popular insurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/the-sandinista-revolution-was-without-any-question-a-popular/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [There is a question for which we will never know the answer: had the U.S. not launched the Contra war to overthrow the Sandinista…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/there-is-a-question-for-which-we-will-never-know-the-answer-had-the-u/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [The killing of innocent people is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/the-killing-of-innocent-people-is-always-wrong/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [Today, we talk a lot about terrorism, but we rarely talk about state terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/today-we-talk-a-lot-about-terrorism-but-we-rarely-talk-about-state/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [The death penalty is being applied in the United States as a fatal lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/the-death-penalty-is-being-applied-in-the-united-states-as-a-fatal/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [I am not just a celebrity, I'm a human-rights advocate for the last 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/i-am-not-just-a-celebrity-i-m-a-human-rights-advocate-for-the-last-20/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [The Sandinista government became consumed with fighting a war of survival. They were up against the biggest superpower in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/the-sandinista-government-became-consumed-with-fighting-a-war-of/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [When I began my humanitarian work, I understood that in order to gain credibility I needed patience, commitment and unwavering perseverance. I needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/when-i-began-my-humanitarian-work-i-understood-that-in-order-to-gain/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [I have friends of mine who have died of AIDS and many of those friends...did not tell me until the very end...because they felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/i-have-friends-of-mine-who-have-died-of-aids-and-many-of-those/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [There is so much each one of us can do to make a difference. We are at a dangerous juncture in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/there-is-so-much-each-one-of-us-can-do-to-make-a-difference-we-are-at/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [A man who gets divorced is not forever going to be talked about for it. There are very different standards that we have for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/a-man-who-gets-divorced-is-not-forever-going-to-be-talked-about-for/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [Gandhi became my role model. I have always been interested in Eastern philosophy. Since early in my life I've been fascinated by India, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/gandhi-became-my-role-model-i-have-always-been-interested-in-eastern/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [I've enjoyed doing Wolf Blitzer's program, and I even enjoyed having a heated debate with Bill O'Reilly. I will do it any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/i-ve-enjoyed-doing-wolf-blitzer-s-program-and-i-even-enjoyed-having-a/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [Look at what President Kennedy managed to achieve during the Cuban missile crisis. If Bush had been president in 1962, do you think he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/look-at-what-president-kennedy-managed-to-achieve-during-the-cuban/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) [Explore all 55 Bianca Jagger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) ## More Bearing witness quotes > [“As his ears rang and his heart broke for her, he stayed strong against the gale force she let loose. After all, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/as-his-ears-rang-and-his-heart-broke-for-her-he-stayed-strong-against/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Photography is a weapon against what's wrong out there. It's bearing witness to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-stirton/photography-is-a-weapon-against-what-s-wrong-out-there-it-s-bearing/) Brent Stirton > [Let me close by bearing witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/let-me-close-by-bearing-witness-and-my-nine-decades-on-this-earth/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Was it the act of giving birth that made you a mother? Did you lose that label when you relinquished your child? If people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/was-it-the-act-of-giving-birth-that-made-you-a-mother-did-you-lose/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The discipline of witness takes seriously the biblical mandate of bearing witness to Jesus by building nonmanipulative relationships with eternity in view.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-d-boa/the-discipline-of-witness-takes-seriously-the-biblical-mandate-of/) [Kenneth D. Boa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-d-boa/) > [“There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries, and foremost among them is bearing witness to the rare birth of genius. It invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/there-are-many-perks-to-living-for-twenty-one-centuries-and-foremost/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [ “...\[Nature\] ever bearing witness against man that he has deliberately chosen ugliness instead of beauty...” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/nature-ever-bearing-witness-against-man-that-he-has-deliberately/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [“What is courage?" I ask. "Bearing witness. That is a form of courage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-stern/what-is-courage-i-ask-bearing-witness-that-is-a-form-of-courage/) [Jessica Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-stern/) > [We know what boredom is: it is a dull Impatience or a fierce velleity, A champing wish, stalled by our lassitude, To make or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/we-know-what-boredom-is-it-is-a-dull-impatience-or-a-fierce-velleity/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [Individuals bearing witness do not change history; only movements that understand their social world can do that. Movements encourage solidarity; the moral individual is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/individuals-bearing-witness-do-not-change-history-only-movements-that/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [“Modern 3D cinema technology works by ensuring your left eye sees one image while your right sees another. But they could, presumably, issue one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/modern-3d-cinema-technology-works-by-ensuring-your-left-eye-sees-one/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [An Eskimo custom offers an angry person release by walking the emotion out of his or her system in a straight line across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-eskimo-custom-offers-an-angry-person-release-by-walking-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The concept of a literature of witness - of bearing witness - has embedded in it the need for action. One must not simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-alberto-urrea/the-concept-of-a-literature-of-witness-of-bearing-witness-has/) [Luis Alberto Urrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-alberto-urrea/) > [“I had read once, in one of those pre-plague books in the library, that love was bearing witness. That it was the act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-carey/i-had-read-once-in-one-of-those-pre-plague-books-in-the-library-that/) [Anna Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-carey/) > [“I sing, not to hear the echo repeat, a shade fainter, my song! I think of light and not of glory! Singing is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-rostand/i-sing-not-to-hear-the-echo-repeat-a-shade-fainter-my-song-i-think-of/) [Edmond Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-rostand/) [Browse all 74 Bearing witness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bearing-witness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The mere fact of an American being present could help save the lives of innocent people. 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