Jorge M. Perez Quotes

I have made more friends for American culture than the State Department. Certainly I have made fewer enemies, but that isn't very difficult.

As film-makers, it is very important for us to find common ground between cultures, and maybe that's less the case for politicians who benefit more from finding the conflicts and differences between us.

Entertainment and art are not isolated.

At a time when there is so much tension in the world - between cultures, and nations, and so forth - there is nothing that levels the playing field more than the arts.

People have to start talking to know more about other cultures and to understand each other.

I hope to use dialogue and culture as a means of bringing people of various cultures together, and using that as a way to resolve conflict.

I never found it frustrating not speaking.

It's not a special taste. An American composer should have something to say to a cab driver.

I have always viewed my role as a sort of ambassador or bridge between groups to help provide a dialog.

Now it is evident that a little insight into the customs of every people is necessary to insure a kindly communication; this, joined with patience and kindness, will seldom fail with the natives of the interior.

I am the bridge between the East and the West. I don't want to abandon one for the other.

I feel that the great challenge of our time is the communication of ideas.

Measuring success in cultural diplomacy - the use of education, creative expression in any form, or people-to-people exchange to increase understanding across regions, cultures, or peoples - is challenging. How does one quantify changes in attitude, abandoning stereotypes, or feeling empathy as a result of a performance, a film, a book?

We have to realize only in communication, in real knowledge, in real reaching out, can there be an understanding that there's humanity everywhere, and that's what I'm trying to do.

Civilization grew in the beginning from the minute that we had communication - particularly communication by sea that enabled people to get inspiration and ideas from each other and to exchange basic raw materials.

I have worked hard to build relationships between Jewish people and black people.

If people in this country think of Africa as a place with kids and flies swarming around their heads, then they won't understand that these people are you and you are them.

If one could only teach the English how to talk, and the Irish how to listen, society here would be quite civilized.

Diplomacy is a little bit like Jazz. It’s improvisation on a theme.

Language allows one to crack the code of culture

I hope also that we will continue to be able to look upon art and artists as one of the factors which can be used to draw nations together. Art should have no nationality and between artists we should be able to develop complete reciprocity. We need emotional outlets in this country and the more artistic people we develop the better it will be for us as a nation.

I began doing writing projects and art and design projects to explore a new way of seeing Canada. Roots is one more way of continuing this exploration. I want to present a wide-open Canadian sense of color, adventure, communication and openness that defines our country.

At Ford Motor Company, we believe the arts speak a common language that weaves a common thread among all people.

I now talk to different cultures, and I hope that I can bridge those gaps and differences between us. It's an adventure, a dream... I feel like I'm on an anthropological mission.

I wish the people of India and Pakistan peace and harmony. Artistes and craftsmen in both the countries must interact with each other as talent has no borders. We both have common music, culture and craftsmanship.