--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is America, where a white Catholic…" description: "\"This is America, where a white Catholic male Republican judge was murdered on his way to greet a Democratic Jewish woman member of Congress, who was hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/232/mark-shields-1572_african-american_this-is-america-where-a-white-catholic-m_2536179.png" --- # This is America, where a white Catholic male Republican… ![“This is America, where a white Catholic male Republican judge was murdered on his way to greet a Democratic Jewish woman member of Congress, who was his friend. Her life was saved initially by a 20-year old Mexican-American gay college student, and eventually by a Korean-American combat surgeon…” quote by Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/232/mark-shields-1572_african-american_this-is-america-where-a-white-catholic-m_2536179.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/232/mark-shields-1572_african-american_this-is-america-where-a-white-catholic-m_2536179.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/232/mark-shields-1572_african-american_this-is-america-where-a-white-catholic-m_2536179.png) > “This is America, where a white Catholic male Republican judge was murdered on his way to greet a Democratic Jewish woman member of Congress, who was his friend. Her life was saved initially by a 20-year old Mexican-American gay college student, and eventually by a Korean-American combat surgeon, all eulogized by our African American President.” [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A complex crime involving diverse identities highlights societal divisions and the unexpected solidarity across ethnic and political lines. **In simple terms:** A crime shows varied social groups and unexpected help. Key Takeaway Recognize shared humanity beyond labels. Themes politics justice diversity solidarity Mood analytical concerned Type political commentary When to use this quote - courtroom - political rallies - community outreach - media analysis Key Concepts intersectionality media narrative social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - What does this event reveal about American identity? - How can diverse allies foster unity? A Different Perspective Simplifying the story may overlook systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American president](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-president/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-student/) [College students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-students/) [Combat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combat/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Korean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Mexican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mexican/) [Mexican american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mexican-american/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Surgeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgeons/) ## Related quotes > [“These new people are, like us, a modern invention. But unlike us, their new name has no real meaning divorced from the machinery of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/these-new-people-are-like-us-a-modern-invention-but-unlike-us-their/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [From about the age of 5, I was aware that I didn't fit. I was the black, atheist kid in the all-white, Catholic school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thandie-newton/from-about-the-age-of-5-i-was-aware-that-i-didn-t-fit-i-was-the-black/) [Thandie Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thandie-newton/) > [Also, of course, for most of this time most Americans thought of America as a white country with, at best, only a very segregated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/also-of-course-for-most-of-this-time-most-americans-thought-of/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [In the NBA, as in nowhere else in America, white people are utterly beholden to black people, and they're not about to let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shields/in-the-nba-as-in-nowhere-else-in-america-white-people-are-utterly/) [David Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shields/) > [America is not all white people. It's not all black people. It's not all Mexican people. We together, and we all relate on certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/america-is-not-all-white-people-it-s-not-all-black-people-it-s-not/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [It's a great day in America when white people, black people and Latinos can all come together and pick on another minority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/it-s-a-great-day-in-america-when-white-people-black-people-and/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [America is White and Black and Latino and Asian. America is mixed. America is immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/america-is-white-and-black-and-latino-and-asian-america-is-mixed/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [“racism is about the power of a group and in America it’s white folks who have that power. How? Well, white folks don’t get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/racism-is-about-the-power-of-a-group-and-in-america-it-s-white-folks/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [America was made for white men. Literally, at the time of the writing of the new country's Constitution, only white men could own land,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/america-was-made-for-white-men-literally-at-the-time-of-the-writing/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [We must have an America in which White men and women can live and work, in their homes and in the streets of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lincoln-rockwell/we-must-have-an-america-in-which-white-men-and-women-can-live-and/) [George Lincoln Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lincoln-rockwell/) > [The whites have always had the say in America. White people made Jesus white, angels white, the Last Supper white. If I threaten you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/the-whites-have-always-had-the-say-in-america-white-people-made-jesus/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [“Japan would live and die by the race card—defining (and demonizing) America as “white” and thus Japan as a kindred but clearly superior “yellow”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-davis-hanson/japan-would-live-and-die-by-the-race-card-defining-and-demonizing/) [Victor Davis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-davis-hanson/) > [The force that has come closest across American history to actually ending America was white supremacy. That was the Civil War.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-buttigieg/the-force-that-has-come-closest-across-american-history-to-actually/) [Pete Buttigieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-buttigieg/) > [“America is a white supremacist bully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-aliwat/america-is-a-white-supremacist-bully/) [A.D. Aliwat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-aliwat/) > [In the realm of culture in America, white European culture has held the floor for centuries; just as with any one-sided conversation, a balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mura/in-the-realm-of-culture-in-america-white-european-culture-has-held/) [David Mura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mura/) ## More by Mark Shields > [I'm not sure Betsy DeVos has ever spent a day in a public school. And I don't - I'm pretty sure Donald Trump hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-m-not-sure-betsy-devos-has-ever-spent-a-day-in-a-public-school-and/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump is sounding the same theme he has sounded since May or June of 2015.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-is-sounding-the-same-theme-he-has-sounded-since-may-or/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [It's interesting how identity politics and Ann Coulter-style tactics have now blossomed. But they were always there in CPAC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/it-s-interesting-how-identity-politics-and-ann-coulter-style-tactics/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [When you run for president of the United States, everybody does the same thing in the campaign-they talk about veterans, how much they admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/when-you-run-for-president-of-the-united-states-everybody-does-the/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Americans don't like powerful figures who punch down, that is, who pick on someone less powerful and less able to speak for themselves than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/americans-don-t-like-powerful-figures-who-punch-down-that-is-who-pick/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Everyone has to take Donald Trump seriously, and I think that's what we're seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/everyone-has-to-take-donald-trump-seriously-and-i-think-that-s-what/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump defies gravity. And so I guess he has to be Donald Trump. It's gotten him so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-defies-gravity-and-so-i-guess-he-has-to-be-donald-trump/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [ My church \[Catholisism\] is hurting from arrogance and from its indifference to the suffering of children that were abused and the inclination of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/my-church-catholisism-is-hurting-from-arrogance-and-from-its/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [America is Republican until 5:00 or 6:00 at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/america-is-republican-until-5-00-or-6-00-at-night/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [John Kerry's biography was central to his campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/john-kerry-s-biography-was-central-to-his-campaign/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I think Guantanamo, has been synonymous with the staining of American values and American legal tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-think-guantanamo-has-been-synonymous-with-the-staining-of-american/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Stronger together is, I think, a preposition and a comparative adjective, but it's not really an action verb or what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/stronger-together-is-i-think-a-preposition-and-a-comparative/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [If you only make fights that you're going to win, there would be no women's vote in America, there would be no civil rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/if-you-only-make-fights-that-you-re-going-to-win-there-would-be-no/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) [Explore all 227 Mark Shields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) [Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is America, where a white Catholic male Republican judge was murdered on his way to greet a Democratic Jewish woman member of Congress, who was his friend. 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