Since 1775, Americans have served in the Marine Corps. From making amphibious landings on foreign soils, to guarding embassies around the world, the Corps engenders a life-long loyalty among those men and women who serve in it. Click the links below to explore the beliefs of these veterans of the United States Marines.
Poet, playwright and radio legend Norman Corwin died October 18 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 101 years old. During the 1930s and 1940s, Corwin produced some of the most celebrated dramas on radio. His work also spanned the stage, television, movies, books and teaching. In 2005, we were honored to feature Corwin’s This I Believe essay on our NPR series. He talked about the importance of simple acts of kindness and common courtesy, which he saw as the basis for building a stronger democracy and a better world.
This I Believe has lost a valued friend and a benefactor of this organization. Owsley Brown II was a former chief executive of Brown-Forman, the liquor company his family founded in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1870. Brown and his wife, Christy, have been leaders in their support of the arts, historic preservation and interfaith understanding. The staff of This I Believe offers its condolences to the Brown family.
Charles Percy served as United States Senator from Illinois from 1967 to 1985. As a moderate Republican, he was active in business issues, international affairs, housing policy and judicial reform. Percy opposed the Vietnam War and he was the first senator to call for a special prosecutor to investigate Watergate. When Percy was a 33-year-old corporate executive in Chicago, he wrote his essay for Edward R. Murrow’s This I Believe.
In the decade since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many people have struggled to make sense of the events of that day. From shock and anger, to grief and resolution, the emotions engendered by 9/11 have inspired a number of essayists to re-evaluate their own lives and America’s place in the world. Click the links below to explore the beliefs these personal reflections have revealed.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, clothes make the person. Some of us prefer to lead with a fashion statement, while others go for a well-worn and comfortable look. From the hats on our heads to the shoes on our feet, clothes keep us covered, express our personalities, and even become an inspiration for belief.
Diversity is a fact of life, and each day can bring a new experience with someone who may be racially, culturally or politically different from ourselves. So do we accept these encounters as a learning opportunity, or do we react with fear or prejudice? Explore how these essayists have embraced diversity in their lives with this selection of beliefs from our book and audiobook, This I Believe: Life Lessons.
To mark the 41st anniversary of Earth Day, we look back at some of the essays that have been inspired by the environment. Click the links below to explore themes ranging from caring for the planet to reveling in wilderness.
Many of the celebrities who appeared on our NPR series were invited to write essays for This I Believe. Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher sent us a statement on his own, submitting it through our website like thousands of his fellow Americans. In tribute to Secretary Christopher, we present his essay from 2006, which explored his belief that diplomacy – and life – work best when people trust and depend on one another.
If you look beyond the hype that surrounds the annual Super Bowl, you find a game that’s been played in America for more than a century. As with many sports, football provides an opportunity for players and fans to find a deeper meaning – and even belief – in athletic activity.
Will Thomas had planned to give up on America and move to Haiti after putting up with decades of bigotry and injustice toward African Americans. Then he decided to give the country one more chance, moving his family to an all-white town in Vermont. Click here to read his essay.
