So much of our political discourse and dysfunction has been stoked through cultural and racial flashpoints, whether it's public education, police/community relations, employment or voting -- all current political battles fuel cultural wars that impact these tendencies. We are failing our nation's youth along socio-economic lines, but also failing to reinforce the promises of a democratic society.

Robert Smith

Categorized in : US News

I'd rather spend my time looking at the sky than listening to Whitney Houston.

Robert Smith

houston listening sky

Refusing to grow up is like refusing to accept your limitations. That's why I don't think we'll ever grow up.

Robert Smith

growing-up accepting thinking

It's really easy to slide into a depression fueled by the pointlessness of existence.

Robert Smith

existence slides easy

It's a perfect day for letting go.

Robert Smith

perfect-days crazy letting-go

I lose myself in music because I can't be bothered explaining what I feel to anyone else around me.

Robert Smith

because-i-can explaining feels

If you feel alienated from people around you, it's because no one tries to understand you.

Robert Smith

feels trying people

I married somebody who likes the way I look. If I changed my hair every year, and I reinvented myself in time-honoured pop fashion, I think understandably the person I'm married to would grow slightly sick of me.

Robert Smith

fashion hair thinking

I've discovered special makeup by a company called M.A.C. You could wear it on the surface of the sun and it wouldn't move.

Robert Smith

makeup special moving

You can't drink on an eight hour flight, pass out, and then go onstage... well you can, but then you're Spandau Ballet.

Robert Smith

flight eight ballet

I wore makeup when I was at school, and I wore makeup when glam started. I started wearing it again when punk started. I've always been drawn to wearing it. It's partly ritualistic, partly theatrical and partly just because I think I look better with it on.

Robert Smith

makeup school thinking

B is for Breasts Of which ladies have two; Once prized for the function, Now for the view.

Robert Smith

women views two

I had no desire to be famous; I just wanted to make the greatest music ever made. I didn't want anyone to know who I was.

Robert Smith

made want desire

I am very self-conscious a lot of the time.

Robert Smith

self-conscious conscious self

I've always spent more time with a smile on my face than not, but the thing is, I don't write about it.

Robert Smith

smile faces writing

I don't think of death in a romantic way anymore.

Robert Smith

way thinking

In some cases, I quite like irritating people who need to be irritated.

Robert Smith

irritated people needs

A lot of journalists give me a hard time about how I look, but I've never met a journalist I'd rather look like.

Robert Smith

hard-times giving looks

Whenever I'm home, I haven't got any makeup on. But even in the studio, before I do vocals, I put makeup on.

Robert Smith

makeup havens home

Every animal would rather die themselves than lose their offspring. But it's just genes, isn't it? All of our existence is spent worrying about the next generation, but we don't actually seem to get anywhere.

Robert Smith

generations worry animal

In all relationships, there are always aching holes and that's where the impossible wishes come into it.

Robert Smith

holes wish impossible