--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is part of my responsibility as a…" description: "\"It is part of my responsibility as a bridge builder to speak the truth about what's great about America, what we've done right, and what our less glori..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/feisal-abdul-rauf-12036_adventure_it-is-part-of-my-responsibility-as-a-bri_2166496.png" --- # It is part of my responsibility as a bridge builder to… ![“It is part of my responsibility as a bridge builder to speak the truth about what's great about America, what we've done right, and what our less glorious moments. And many people feel that the Iraq adventure, for example, has been one of our less glorious moments.” quote by Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/feisal-abdul-rauf-12036_adventure_it-is-part-of-my-responsibility-as-a-bri_2166496.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/feisal-abdul-rauf-12036_adventure_it-is-part-of-my-responsibility-as-a-bri_2166496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/feisal-abdul-rauf-12036_adventure_it-is-part-of-my-responsibility-as-a-bri_2166496.png) > “It is part of my responsibility as a bridge builder to speak the truth about what's great about America, what we've done right, and what our less glorious moments. And many people feel that the Iraq adventure, for example, has been one of our less glorious moments.” [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A bridge builder must acknowledge both America's achievements and its failures, including controversial actions like the Iraq war. **In simple terms:** Honest appraisal of a nation's strengths and flaws. Key Takeaway Balance pride with accountability. Themes patriotism accountability history truth Mood reflective serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - public discourse - policy analysis - education - media commentary Key Concepts national identity ethical leadership historical reflection Questions to Reflect On - How can we celebrate successes while learning from mistakes? - What role does truth-telling play in national unity? A Different Perspective Acknowledging flaws can fuel division if not framed constructively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [I feel an enormous responsibility to bridge the gap between England and America, and be a sort of very quiet ambassador for my country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-feel-an-enormous-responsibility-to-bridge-the-gap-between-england/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [I challenge British Muslims to accept that as strongly as they feel about Iraq or counter-terrorism measures, poverty and inequality have the biggest impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-challenge-british-muslims-to-accept-that-as-strongly-as-they-feel/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Honesty of thought and speech and written word is a jewel, and they who curb prejudice and seek honorably to know and speak the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/honesty-of-thought-and-speech-and-written-word-is-a-jewel-and-they/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [“Sometimes distortions can speak the truth. They confirm for me what is real by troubling me with something false.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-overstreet/sometimes-distortions-can-speak-the-truth-they-confirm-for-me-what-is/) [Jeffrey Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-overstreet/) > [I would rather speak the truth to ten men than blandishments and lying to a million. Try it, ye who think there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-would-rather-speak-the-truth-to-ten-men-than-blandishments-and/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Speak the truth, even if you voice shakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/speak-the-truth-even-if-you-voice-shakes/) Unknow > [I am tired of talk that comes to nothing It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/i-am-tired-of-talk-that-comes-to-nothing-it-makes-my-heart-sick-when/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/it-is-better-to-be-divided-by-truth-than-to-be-united-in-error-it-is/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [They're only words. You can't be afraid of words that speak the truth, even if it's an unpleasant truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/they-re-only-words-you-can-t-be-afraid-of-words-that-speak-the-truth/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Speak the truth even if its against your self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/speak-the-truth-even-if-its-against-your-self/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is so difficult - at least, I find it difficult - to understand people who speak the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/it-is-so-difficult-at-least-i-find-it-difficult-to-understand-people/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/sinners-often-speak-the-truth-and-saints-have-led-people-astray/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [I have found that in fiction one is freer to speak the truth, if only because in fiction the truth is not expected or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sington/i-have-found-that-in-fiction-one-is-freer-to-speak-the-truth-if-only/) [Philip Sington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sington/) > [Im starting to feel as though I should give up now to not risk what we have. keep silent what I want to speak.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaliyah-owens/im-starting-to-feel-as-though-i-should-give-up-now-to-not-risk-what/) [Aaliyah Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaliyah-owens/) > [I just speak the truth. I keep it real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-vera/i-just-speak-the-truth-i-keep-it-real/) [Marlon Vera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-vera/) ## More by Feisal Abdul Rauf > [“...Religious wars have never produced the downfall of any religion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/religious-wars-have-never-produced-the-downfall-of-any-religion/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [Staying chaste until marriage, a commandment of my faith, was one of the most difficult challenges of my young life. I had a powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/staying-chaste-until-marriage-a-commandment-of-my-faith-was-one-of/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [Sufis teach that we first must battle and destroy the evil within ourselves by shining upon it the good within, and then we learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/sufis-teach-that-we-first-must-battle-and-destroy-the-evil-within/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [In spite of the polls, the fact is that American Muslims are very happy and they thrive in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/in-spite-of-the-polls-the-fact-is-that-american-muslims-are-very/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [I have never made a threat. I've never made a threat, never expressed a threat, never - I've never - I would never threaten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/i-have-never-made-a-threat-i-ve-never-made-a-threat-never-expressed-a/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [Any organization or any individual that targets civilians and kills them for political agenda is a terrorist organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/any-organization-or-any-individual-that-targets-civilians-and-kills/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [We are Americans. We - we - we are - we are doctors. We are investment bankers. We are taxi drivers. We are store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/we-are-americans-we-we-we-are-we-are-doctors-we-are-investment/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [One of the misperceptions that exists in the Muslim world, which needs to be fixed, is the perception that Muslims in America are -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/one-of-the-misperceptions-that-exists-in-the-muslim-world-which-needs/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [There are individuals who are working very hard to promote fear and antagonism towards Islam and Muslims in this country. It's fueled, in part,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/there-are-individuals-who-are-working-very-hard-to-promote-fear-and/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [We've got to be fair. You can't say a place that has strip joints is sacred ground. We've got to be just. We've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/we-ve-got-to-be-fair-you-can-t-say-a-place-that-has-strip-joints-is/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [Yusuf Qaradawi is probably the most well-known legal authority in the whole Muslim world today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/yusuf-qaradawi-is-probably-the-most-well-known-legal-authority-in-the/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [The world wants to like America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/the-world-wants-to-like-america/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [I as a Muslim want you, as a Christian, to really be a perfect Christian. I want my Jewish friends to be perfect Jews,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/i-as-a-muslim-want-you-as-a-christian-to-really-be-a-perfect/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [I am a supporter of the state of Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/i-am-a-supporter-of-the-state-of-israel/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [Fanaticism and terrorism have no place in Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/fanaticism-and-terrorism-have-no-place-in-islam/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) [Explore all 56 Feisal Abdul Rauf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is part of my responsibility as a bridge builder to speak the truth about what's great about America, what we've done right, and what our less glorious moments. 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