Steinberger, Jack, National Medal of Science, 1988
Democracy
"America has much in its past to be proud of, quite apart from making it
possible for me to escape Nazi Germany and to make some useful
contributions to elementary particle physics. One of the most remarkable contributions to civilization was that of our leaders in the independence movement of the 1770's, such as Franklin and Jefferson, towards human enlightenment and the formulation of democratic government. Another remarkable contribution, in many ways still true to this day, has been the readiness of Americans to accept the newly arrived stranger as equal fellow citizen. I can only hope that also in the coming millennium the US will be able to show constructive leadership towards a humane, open, democratic society."
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