Previous Special Features

 

Beliefs Born on the Battlefield

There is perhaps no time that belief is more emphatically tested, and acted upon, than in war. For this Veterans Day, five essayists who served in battle from World War I through the Iraq War tell how the violence of combat shaped their beliefs.

 

1. Constructing the House of Life
2. Toward a Far, Far Better World
3. The Dignity of Man
4. We Will See the Job Through
5. The Strength of a Man's Soul

 

Voting and the Political Process

For Election Day, four essayists explore beliefs in the democratic process. From looking for common ground in a divisive political climate, to learning the power of the vote to change lives, the elections give voice to our hopes and aspirations.

 

1. The Value of the Middle
2. Finding Our Common Ground
3. An Act of Faith in America
4. My Opinions Matter

 

Beliefs from the Campaign Trail

As we enter the final days of the 2008 Presidential election, This I Believe takes a look back at Presidential contenders from the first half of the 20th Century. Four candidates recorded essays for the original This I Believe series, and you can click the links below to hear and read what they believed.

 

1. A Public Man
2. The Roots of Our Progress
3. The People Know
4. Standing Fast in Liberty

 

Tolerance

The French writer Voltaire called tolerance a “consequence of humanity” and the first law of nature. Yet some of us practice it more successfully than others. Click the links below to read how these essayists seek to exercise tolerance in their lives.

 

1. Learning True Tolerance
2. Only One Tribe
3. An Invitation to Dialogue
4. Words of the Living God
5. One Person A Day

 

Behind Bars

This I Believe has reached into many classrooms—including some located within county jails and state prisons. Incarceration provides ample time to consider one’s beliefs, and a number of prisoners have shared their essays with us. Click the links below for a sampling.

 

1. The Fear That I Don't Matter
2. The Importance of Possibility, Chances and Faith
3. The Chaos of a Life Lived on the Edge

 

The Coffee Shop

Whether upscale with $5-a-cup specialty brews, or down-home with a mug of Maxwell House, the coffee shop is a place where people take a break from daily life and find a bit of community. So draw a cup of your favorite blend, and enjoy these beliefs inspired by the coffee shop.

 

1. A Place of Conversation and Community
2. A Chance to Escape the Mundane
3. I Hear America Sipping
4. Two Strangers in a Tiny Coffee Shop

 

After the Storm

Once the hurricane, the tornado or flood passes, the hard work of restoring “normal” life begins.  Amidst the rubble of home and community, there are lessons to be found.  Click the links below to explore the beliefs these essayists discovered in the wake of the storm.

 

1. The Strange Blessing That Brought Me Home
2. A Different Kind of Hero
3. Living Life to the Fullest
4. Lessons Learned in Tragedy
5. The Power of Presence

 

Lessons From Our Parents

What do parents hope to teach their children? Not the “sit up straight” or “eat your vegetables” messages, but the deeper lessons for a life well-lived. Click the links below to read the messages these parents are passing from one generation to the next.

 

1. A Legacy of Integrity
2. To Be the Best Humans We Can Be
3. Being Yourself
4. A Clean, Well-Lighted Kitchen
5. Lessons from a Full and Useful Life

 

Writers of the 1950s

The original This I Believe series included a number of literary icons of the 20th century. Their mastery of words helped them craft intriguing essays about their personal beliefs. Click the links below to hear what James Michener, Pearl Buck, Aldous Huxley and other writers had to say.

 

1. All Men Are My Brothers
2. My Faith in Humanity
3. The Work of a Muckraker
4. Learning to Get Out of the Way
5. Goodness Doesn't Just Happen

 

Thunderstorms

The hot, thick air of summer provides the perfect breeding ground for thunderstorms.  And in the driving rain and brilliant lightning, some people find the flash of inspiration.  Click the links below to read what these essayists believe about summer storms.

 

1. Behold the Power of Storms
2. The Storms That Define Our Lives
3. Heaven's Light
4. A Part of the Magic

 

Patriotism

As we mark another Independence Day, it’s an appropriate time to reflect on the nature of patriotism, and the beliefs it can inspire among Americans from all walks of life. Click the links below to see what these essayists had to say.

 

1. America Gives My Life Meaning
2. Custodians of the Constitution
3. A Universal Ideal
4. Beautiful Country

 

Essays from China

Just like in the United States, teachers in China have asked their students to write This I Believe essays. The hopes and passions of these students are evident, even as they write in a second language. Click the links below to learn what these Chinese students believe.

 

1. Caring for Others
2. The Happiness of Memories
3. A Small Change is Enough
4. Time is the Best Medicine
5. The Passion of Art

 

The Clothesline

Some people do it to reduce their carbon-footprint. Others prefer to save on their electricity bills. Whatever the inspiration, the old-fashioned practice of hanging one’s laundry on a clothesline to dry is making a comeback. Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s the fresh-air scent but working the clothesline is also inspiring beliefs among these essayists.

 

1. The “Fresh Air” Laundry Fragrance
2. Uniting Body and Soul on the Clothesline
3. In Praise of Simple, Everyday Tasks
4. Singing the Praises of Hanging the Laundry

 

Student Essays

As the school year winds down, young people across America are writing statements of belief as a final classroom exercise. And thousands of those students are submitting their essay to our series. Click the links below to hear a sampling of what young people believe.

 

1. Inner Strength from Desperate Times
2. A Duty to Family, Heritage and Country
3. We’re All Different in Our Own Ways
4. Returning to What’s Natural
5. Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day

 

 

Addiction and Recovery

The long road of recovery can include deep and thoughtful introspection by those battling addiction. Through their essays, several contributors share their inspiring beliefs and experiences.  Click the links below to read their statements.

 

1. I Will Take My Voice Back
2. Living in Manageable Moments
3. Twice I Sought Death
4. There Is No Blame, There Is Only Love
5. The Long Road to Second Chances

 

Earth Day

To mark the 39th 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.

 

1. A Reverence for All Life
2. Married to This Land
3. A Sacred Connection to the Sun
4. A Feeling of Wildness
5. Living Life with 'Grace and Elegant Treeness'

 

World War II and the Holocaust

Several essayists have written of their experiences during World War II and of the atrocities committed by the Nazis.  Click the links below to learn how these events shaped their beliefs.

 

1. The Tense Middle
2. The Power of Self-Preservation
3. When Man Denies the Brotherhood of Man
4. Man Can Become Better

 

Women in Activism

The original This I Believe and our revival of the series have featured a number of high-profile women working for progress in justice, equal rights and other issues.  Click the links below to learn of the beliefs that guided these prominent women.

 

1. When Children Are Wanted
2. A Balance Between Nature and Nurture
3. Creating a World That Is Safe and Free
4. A Force for Human Dignity
5. The Power and Mystery of Naming Things
6. A Devotion to the Common Good

 

Classical Music Stars of the 1950s

For the original version of This I Believe, host Edward R. Murrow invited a number of classical music artists to share their beliefs.  Their essays reach beyond their profession to explore their thoughts about the world of the 1950s.  Click the links below to hear what these musicians had to say.

 

1. The Mountain Disappears
2. That Little, Inner Voice
3. The Reason for Life
4. The High Price of Money
5. Uniting into a Proud National Family

 

A Look into the Cosmos

Gazing at a sky full of stars can lead one to ponder the nature of life and the origins of the universe.  By making a study of the heavens, these essayists also found inspiration for their beliefs.  Click the links below to learn what they discovered.

 

1. Science Nourishes the Mind and the Soul
2. We Are All Stardust
3. Why Are We Here?
4. The Power of Mysteries

 

Snow

The poet James Russell Lowell said snow covers the land with “a silence deep and white.”  In that silence comes time for reflection about all manner of things in life, including belief.  Click the links below to learn what these essayists learned during the silence of a snowfall.

 

1. The Hardest Work You Will Ever Do
2. Never Give Up on Macaroni and Snowflakes
3. An Appreciation of Life
4. Winter Brings Joy, Hope and Strength
5. The Practice of Slowing Down

 

Voices for Civil Rights

A number of prominent African-Americans were featured on Edward R. Murrow's original This I Believe radio series. Their words helped build momentum for the civil rights movement in the years leading up to the Montgomery bus boycott, lunch-counter sit-ins and the march on Washington. Click the links below to hear their inspiring words.

 

1. To Measure Any Man
2. The Birthright of Human Dignity
3. Looking at Life Through Another's Eyes
4. God Is the Father of All Men
5. Free Minds and Hearts at Work
6. A The Courage to Change the Things I Can

 

2007 in Review
With the arrival of the New Year, we are looking back and taking stock of the old year.  2007 included some wonderful essays about life, love, war, home, the environment and more. We hope you enjoy revisiting some of the beliefs that were featured in the past year.

 

1. A Marriage That's Good Enough
2. Combating the Tyranny of the Positive Attitude
3. A Potential for Brutality
4. Creating Our Own Happiness
5. Teaching a Bad Dog New Tricks
6. A Way to Honor Life

 

Reflections on Giving

We can give with our money, we can give of our time, we can give with a smile and an open heart.  In this season of giving, our essayists offer their beliefs on the importance of connecting and sharing with each other.  Happy holidays from This I Believe.

 

1. In Giving I Connect with Others
2. All the Joy the World Contains
3. Peace Begins with One Person
4. The Designated Celebrator

 

Cashiers, Clerks and Servers

Tis the season for dashing through the shopping mall to find the perfect gift, and every item you buy brings an interaction with a store employee.  Even during the busy holiday season, the cashiers, clerks and servers hope you’ll give some thought to who they are and what they believe.  Click the links below for a sampling. 

 

1. A Transaction Between Fellow Citizens
2. Now That’s Service
3. What I Can Change, by Katherine Patenaude
4. A New Work Ethic
5. Please Return Your Shopping Cart

 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season, with gatherings of families and friends, and the sharing of food and drink.  During the festivities of the coming weeks, we hope you take time to reflect on the beliefs that guide your life, just like these essayists have done. 

 

1. Family Blessings, by Meghan Guinnee
2. Joy Beyond Measure, by Linda Balestracci
3. Hope Dished Out in Plenty, by David Cowen
4. You Can Go Home Again, by Victoria Higle
5. Baking by Senses and Memories, by Emily Smith

 

Iraq War Veterans

There is perhaps no time that belief is more emphatically tested and acted upon than in war.  To commemorate Veterans Day, we feature three men who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Click the links below to hear about their experiences and their beliefs.

 

1. Untold Stories of Kindness, by Ernesto Haibi
2. We Will See the Job Through, by Michael Whitehead
3. The Strength of a Man's Soul, by Jeff Carnes

 

A Walk in the Woods

As fall colors sweep the landscape, it’s a perfect time for a stroll among the trees.  Whether for pleasure, exercise or solitude, a walk in the woods can also inspire belief.  Click the links below to learn what our essayists discovered among the fall foliage.

 

1. Forty Acres of Freedom, by Corey Stiles
2. Living Life with 'Grace and Elegant Treeness,' by Ruth Kamps
3. To Disappear into the Woods, by Peter Darling
4. Walking with Trees, by Pamela R. Lowe
5. Fully Immersing Ourselves in Nature

 

Baseball

October brings Major League Baseball playoffs and the World Series.  As America’s pastime, baseball inspires devoted fans and bitter rivalries as well as life-guiding beliefs.  Click the links below to read how the game influenced two baseball legends and three ardent fans.

 

1. God, Family, Country and Baseball, by Ralph “Babe” Pinelli
2. All People Are My Teammates, by Bobby Doerr
3. We Came for Baseball
4. Baseball Is Not Just a Sport
5. The Freedom of Baseball, by Hillary Kambour

 

World War II Veterans

The PBS documentary “The War” is sharing the stories of Americans during World War II.  But how did the War and the experiences of combat shape the beliefs of those men who served?  Find out in these essays broadcast in Edward R. Murrow’s This I Believe series from the early 1950s.

 

1. Guarding the Gift of Freedom, by Lucius D. Clay
2. All Men Are My Brothers, by James A. Michener
3. Mankind Is Only a Youngster, by Lloyd Jordan
4. To Live with Uncertainty, by W. David Curtiss
5. Avoiding the Extremes of Life, by David J. Levy

 

Teachers

Thousands of teachers across America have asked their students to write This I Believe essays.  In the process, many of those teachers have written their own statements of belief.  In spite of the challenges, these educators say teaching is more than a job:  it is a calling, a gift and the source of unwavering belief.   Click the links below to read what they believe.

 

1. The Careful Cultivation of Belief
2. The Gestures of Grace, by Alison Melotti-Cormack
3. The Best Way to Learn is to Teach, by Betsy Woods
4. The One Who Risks Teaching
5. A Lesson Learned from Students, by Quannah Parker-McGowan

 

New Orleans

The parties, the food, the music and the gumbo of cultures:  New Orleans is unique among American cities.  But when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf coast, the monster storm couldn’t break the spirit of New Orleanians. Click the links below to see how the city, even when faced with disaster, inspires strong beliefs in those who live there. 

 

1. My Home Is New Orleans, by Mike Miller
2. My Heart's Home, by Sara Roahen
3. A City of Faith, Hope and Family, by Charlotte Ogle
4. Where God Hangs Out, by Stephanie Irving Blakes
5. When's the Garbage Man Gonna Come? by Sidney DiVincent

 

Gardening

It’s the peak of the summer growing season and gardens are yielding their bounty.  But more than flowers and vegetables emerge from the soil.  Beliefs can grow there, too.  Click the links below to read how gardening has inspired these essayists.

 

1. Tending Gardens And Cultivating Humanity, by C. L. Fornari
2. The Simple Joys of Life, by Kris Hansen
3. Comfort Food
4. The Fruit Is Sweet, by Lynsey Steinberg
5. The Church of the Garden

 

Hollywood Legends of the 1950s

For the original version of This I Believe, host Edward R. Murrow invited a number of stars of stage and screen to share their beliefs.  With the polished voices of classically trained actors, they stepped before the microphone to tell their stories.  Click the links below to hear what these Hollywood legends had to say.

 

1. A Morning Prayer in a Little Church, by Helen Hayes
2. Does Anybody Believe an Actor, by Lionel Barrymore
3. Faith Is Stronger Than Fear, by Barbara Stanwyck
4. The Fun of Chasing a Goal, by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
5. To Sound the Notes of Human Passion, by Agnes Moorehead
6. The Virtues I Learned as a Boy, by Darryl F. Zanuck

 

Fishing

For many people, fishing is a sport.  For others, it’s an excuse to spend some quiet time in nature.  And for some people, fishing is a metaphor for life and the source of belief.  Click the links below to read some fishing stories from This I Believe essayists.

 

1. The Power of Fishing, by Johnnie Barmore
2. Moby Dick Is Out There Somewhere, by Bob Eidem
3. No Place I'd Rather Be, by Chris Macaluso
4. The Creel, by George R. Shepard
5. How Do You Believe in a Mystery, by Loudon Wainwright III

 

Independence Day

When the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.  Many essayists for This I Believe share that dedication to the principals on which our country was created.  Click the links below to see how a former President, a renowned comic book artist, and others explore their beliefs in freedom, democracy and liberty.

 

1. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, by Andrew Sullivan
2. A Public Man, by Harry S. Truman
3. I Help Make Government Work
4. The True Measure of America's Freedom, by Sudhir Venkatesh
5. That Old Piece of Cloth, by Frank Miller

 

 

Fatherhood

Fatherhood is the source of many beliefs: from the fathers who influenced us, to the fathers we hope to become. Click the links below to read how fathers and fatherhood have inspired some of our essayists.

 

1. In My Father's Tears
2. Embarrassing My Kids
3. Giving Love with No Limits
4. Keep the Tempo Steady
5. Lessons from a Full and Useful Life, by Dick Powell