PERSPECTIVES

"We all feel like orphans this evening."
Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, addressing mourners in St. Peter's Square in Rome, after the death of Pope John Paul II last Saturday

"This is not the homo land, this is the Holy Land."
Rabbi Yehuda Levin, on a 10-day gay-pride festival scheduled to be held in Jerusalem this summer. A coalition of Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious leaders has made a rare show of unity to try to stop the event.

"The image of Jane Fonda, Barbarella, Henry Fonda's daughter... sitting on an enemy aircraft gun was a betrayal... the largest lapse of judgment that I can even imagine."
Jane Fonda, on her controversial Vietnam-era activities

"Thank you all for coming, but I'm going to have to get my hair washed."
Conservative commentator Pat Buchanan, addressing students at Western Michigan University, after being pelted with salad dressing by a demonstrator. The incident came just two days after conservative pundit William Kristol was hit by a pie-wielding student at Indiana's Earlham College.

"I hope that people learn how to truly appreciate and have compassion for people and love one another--and not fight. Terri would not have wanted that."
Friend Sue Pickwell, speaking after Terri Schiavo's death, about the rift between Michael Schiavo and Terri's parents

"Hell, no."
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, when asked whether he would resign his post after a report criticized his reaction to questions of a conflict of interest involving his son. The investigation found no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part.

"I exercised very poor judgment in the course of reviewing the files."
Former Clinton national-security adviser Sandy Berger, after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor for taking classified documents from the National Archives relating to the September 11 attacks

"He became the most prominent lawyer since Thurgood Marshall. He was the tallest tree in our forest, and we will miss him very much."
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, on attorney Johnnie Cochran, who died last week

"I've already yielded more than a cheerleader at a drive-in."
Texas state Sen. Kel Seliger, when asked during a legislative session if he would answer another question about a proposed measure. Seliger later blamed the remark on "incipient Tourette's syndrome."

"I'd like them to ask themselves the question, 'What am I lying to myself about?' Is it that you are 50 pounds overweight? Is it that your children aren't making wise decisions? Or is it maybe that your husband or boyfriend is cheating on you?"
Britney Spears, on tabloid journalists who have speculated that the pop star may be pregnant