[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 42 (Monday, April 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              SALUTE TO THE SULTAN JIHAD AHMAD SCHOLARSHIP

                                 ______


                        HON. THOMAS M. FOGLIETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 18, 1994

  Mr. FOGLIETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this occasion to inform my 
colleagues of the Sultan Jihad Ahmad Scholarship Fund Dinner Dance to 
be held this Wednesday, April 20. Two years ago, Sultan Jihad was 
tragically killed, a victim of senseless violent crime. Sultan Ahmad, 
his father and executive director of the Mayor's office of community 
services in Philadelphia, has put together this annual event as a 
tribute to his son and as a message that we must focus our attention 
and energies on our youth so that they grow up with real opportunities.
  Sultan Ahmad was a guest at a White House crime briefing back in 
February, and took the opportunity to remind Vice President Gore and 
others present at the meeting that crime is something that must be 
stopped through the presentation of opportunities to our youth rather 
than the implementation of penalties after a life of crime has begun. 
Sultan explained at the White House that we are only fooling ourselves 
with tough rhetoric about crime, and that the only way to truly change 
the violent nature of our society is to fundamentally alter the 
atmosphere in which our children grow up. To quote Sultan:

       We won't have to mourn the loss of kids to drugs if we go 
     beyond the slogans and instead, commit genuine resources to 
     ending the demand for drugs on the street. We won't suffer 
     the agony of losing our kids to violence if we spend real 
     dollars to make our schools a place where kids want to learn 
     and are safe to attend.

  We must take Sultan's words to heart. Everyday our children are 
further corrupted by the evil side of society, while being presented 
with very few positive opportunities for growth and learning. Sultan 
Ahmad is following his own words by honoring the memory of his lost son 
with a memorial scholarship. As the House of Representatives considers 
anticrime legislation this week, we, as Members of Congress, must also 
learn from Sultan's example by opening doors for our children and 
providing them with opportunities and resources instead of hollow 
rhetoric. I salute Sultan Ahmad and join him in honoring the memory of 
his son.

                          ____________________