[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 23 (Monday, March 7, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 343 TO CONDEMN A SPEECH BY A 
              SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATION OF ISLAM

                                 ______


                            HON. DICK SWETT

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 7, 1994

  Mr. SWETT. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, the 
distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos] for introducing 
House Resolution 343, which condemns a viciously anti-Semitic and 
racist speech recently given at Kean College in New Jersey by Khalid 
Abdul Muhammad, who at the time was national spokesman for the Nation 
of Islam. This resolution also condemns all manifestations of racism, 
anti-Semitism, and bigotry. This resolution deals with an issue of 
grave importance for the Congress and for all of the American people.
  It is essential, Mr. Speaker, that the House of Representatives 
condemn this anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, and blatantly bigoted speech 
given by Mr. Muhammad. If we do not vote to denounce these repugnant 
remarks, we will be party to fostering the religious, ethnic, and 
racial intolerance that is incited by this speech and others like it.
  Some have argued that we should not engage in the symbolic act of 
condemning this offensive speech because of its impact upon the first 
amendment to our Constitution. There is no question that symbols are 
important. On the one hand, we have a speech that symbolizes hatred, 
division, derision, violence, and disrespect for others. On the other 
hand, we have a resolution, which symbolically condemns such divisive 
and repulsive speech, and which we hope will bring our communities and 
our Nation together with greater respect and tolerance for the 
diversity that gives strength to our great Nation.
  It is essential for this Congress to take upon itself the 
responsibility of bringing clearly to the public's attention the 
intolerance, anti-Semitism, anti-Catholic, antiwhite, and racist 
bigotry that oozes from Abdul Muhammad's speech. If we recognize his 
right under the first amendment of our Constitution to make such a vile 
and odious speech, we must also admit that we have the right--and the 
obligation--to condemn that speech.
  We are not passing laws today to restrict the precious freedom of 
speech, and we are not taking action against the Nation of Islam or any 
of its members. We are not doing anything but making a statement that 
these symbols of hatred, division, and derision cannot be tolerated and 
must be condemned.
  Mr. Speaker, we must remember that words lead to action--they are not 
spoken in a vacuum. Mr. Muhammad gave that speech to move his audience 
to action, to move that auditorium of young college students to make 
decisions and to take action. We need only look at what is happening in 
our Nation to see the consequences of such action, the consequences of 
bigoted, racist, hate-inciting speech.
  Last year, in 1993, the Anti-Defamation League reported 1,867 
incidents of anti-Semitism in 44 States and the District of Columbia--
the second highest number reported in the 15 years that the ADL has 
kept records of such incidents. This represents an increase of 8 
percent over the previous year. These incidents include verbal and 
physical harassment, desecration of holy places, Holocaust revisionism 
on college campuses, and even firebombings of Jewish day schools. Mr. 
Speaker, calling Jews ``the bloodsuckers of the black people'' only 
serves to inspire hatred and to encourage still more incidents of this 
type.
  As long as these coals of hatred continue to burn, and as long as 
there are racists like Khalid Muhammad who are eager and willing to fan 
those coals of hatred into flames of violence and racist action, it is 
essential that we in the Congress speak out clearly and unequivocally 
in opposition. We are a nation of immigrants, many of whom came here to 
escape the religious, ethnic, or racial persecution of their homelands. 
We are a richly diverse country, and we must teach and live the message 
of tolerance if we are to enjoy domestic tranquility.
  During World War II, the Nazi German leadership turned the Jews, 
Gypsies, homosexuals, the disabled, and other minority groups into 
scapegoats for uncertain economic, political, and social conditions in 
Germany. No one in this Chamber needs to be reminded of where that 
policy led. Given the serious economic and social problems afflicting 
many or our Nation's inner cities today, Mr. Muhammad's and Mr. 
Farrakhan's agenda of hate and blame and scapegoating can only increase 
the likelihood of violence and racial tensions.
  In 1838 Abraham Lincoln spoke these words:

       All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with 
     all the treasure of the earth in the military chest, with a 
     Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink 
     from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of 
     a thousand years. * * * If destruction be our lot, we must 
     ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, 
     we must live through all time, or die by suicide.

  Mr. Speaker, if we do not stand up and condemn these kinds of 
statements, if we do not make a symbol of this speech and say, ``We 
cannot tolerate this kind of speech in this country,'' we surely will 
bring about the suicide of our Nation.
  I strongly support the resolution that was introduced and brought 
before the House of Representatives by my colleague, the distinguished 
gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos].

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