[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4443-H4444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                CONTEMPLATING THE OKLAHOMA CITY TRAGEDY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Durbin] is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  [[Page H4444]] Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, it is a very common thing 
after a congressional break for Members to come back to the Congress 
and reflect on, what they have heard at home. I have to say that, 
although there were many opportunities for me to meet and discuss local 
issues with my constituents, our attention was focused on a city 
several hundred miles away, as was the attention, not only of the 
entire Nation, but the world. Of course, I am speaking of the tragedy 
which occurred in Oklahoma City.
  In the rubble of that Federal building in Oklahoma City we find both 
tragedy and hope. And, as we look at the events of the last several 
days, I think we can see literally the very best and the very worst in 
our Nation. In terms of the best, the courage of these rescue workers, 
to think that they would literally risk their lives on a day-to-day 
basis to plow through this rubble in the hopes of finding someone alive 
or, at the very least, to bring out the remains of those who have 
passed away, men and women who frankly could never be paid enough for 
the sacrifice and courage which they are showing. The strength of 
families praying for the missing; we have seen it so often on 
television and accounts in the media, the mourning of those families 
who lost a loved one as a result of this tragedy.
  As my colleagues know, on the floor of this House of Representatives 
Federal employees are often vilified as just faceless bureaucrats, 
numbers on a page, people to be moved around here and there in the 
budget debate, and yet we find out they are real human beings, going to 
work every day, doing something for their country, and in this instance 
literally giving their lives because of what they have shown in terms 
of sacrifice and commitment to this country.
  And what a story of Oklahoma City. I have only visited there once, 
had a nice impression of the town, but little did I know the inner 
strength of that American community that would rally and come together, 
black and white, rich and poor, to help those who were touched by this 
tragedy. And across the country so many people were inspired by this 
tragedy to do a little bit more, to become a community, to become a 
Nation. In my own district a local individual, Don Eastep, Jr., of 
Virden, IL, went down to Oklahoma City, volunteered, went into the 
rubble, risked his life in order to try and help in that situation. I 
think we all watched in awe at the prayer service that was held in 
Oklahoma City. Gov. Frank Keating, a fellow who went to Georgetown 
University a year ahead of me, did an exemplary job as the leader of 
that State. He welcomed President Clinton, who made very eloquent 
remarks at that prayer service, and then, of course, the Reverend Billy 
Graham, who called on the United States to begin the healing process.
  These were the very, very best of America coming forward at a time of 
great trial and tragedy. But unfortunately we have also seen the worst. 
It is still hard for me to believe that this heinous crime was the work 
of an American citizen, and of course that is the allegation. What kind 
of demented mind filled with hatred would bring a person to the point 
where they would destroy innocent lives, as apparently occurred here at 
the hands of another American citizen?
  And we have heard since this event on television and radio the 
venomous rhetoric of those who would find some rationale or support 
this idea that the only way to express oneself politically is through 
violence. We have heard talk show hosts, the lunatic fringe among them, 
and most of them are not; most them are in the middle, speaking to the 
American people, as they should, under the Constitution, but there are 
a handful, and we all know it, who just go entirely too far. We have 
heard them and their divisive language testing the limits of free 
speech in this country.
  President Clinton was right when he said they have the right to 
speak. We must fight to protect that. But those of us who disagree also 
have an obligation to speak out, too. As my colleagues know, I think, 
if one needs a gun or a bomb to express their political point of view 
in America, they really have no place in this Nation. They have really 
crossed the line.
  I hope in the weeks ahead, as we contemplate this tragedy and what it 
means for America and its future, that both Democrats and Republicans 
can come together and draw a very clear line, and say we will not 
accept violence on the right or on the left as political expression. We 
will make it very clear that we want to protect our Bill of Rights, but 
we will not allow those who will turn to violence to be in any way 
honored. I think, Mr. Speaker, if we do that on a bipartisan basis, the 
American people will have new confidence that we, too, understand in 
Congress the need to come together as a Nation. It is time for both 
parties to draw that clear line and do everything in our power to make 
certain that another Oklahoma City tragedy never occurs.


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