[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    THE PASSING OF AN AMERICAN HERO

                                 ______


                             HON. RON WYDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, June 7, 1995
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. Speaker, let us take a moment today to remember one of 
the great advocates for justice who died at the age of 89 on April 22--
my friend and Gray Panthers colleague, Margaret Eliza Kuhn. I had the 
pleasure of knowing Maggie for 20 years. She was the inspiration for 
the Oregon Gray Panthers, pioneer advocacy organization that has worked 
to bring seniors and young people together in Oregon since 1975. Maggie 
is truly an American hero.
  Maggie Kuhn founded the Gray Panthers in response to her forced 
retirement. Her goal was simple: unite the generations to serve as 
advocates for fundamental social change that would reduce injustice, 
discrimination, and oppression in our society.
  Maggie was given a sewing machine to celebrate her retirement, a 
seemingly appropriate gift, but she never even found time to open it. 
She was too busy. Instead, she served as a tireless champion for those 
without a voice in our society.
  Maggie Kuhn led the fight to root out discrimination against older 
Americans. Kuhn thought it was absurd to waste the valuable talents of 
older Americans, and helped to shatter the myth that growing older is 
synonymous with powerlessness, decrepitude, and weakness.
  Kuhn saw a natural connection between young and old. She said that 
the mind needs exercise to stay healthy. Kuhn encouraged seniors to 
return to school. She encouraged older Americans to teach children, 
based on their vast life experiences.
  Maggie Kuhn and the Gray Panthers have always had an aggressive 
agenda of social action. Maggie refused to let government and society 
stunt the productivity of seniors by forcing them to retire at age 65. 
She argued that forced retirement damages self-esteem and leads to 
feelings of uselessness. She felt it was unconscionable that this 
physical and psychological damage could be forcibly imposed as a person 
ages. Maggie fought mandatory retirement until she won.
  Maggie Kuhn would be outraged today by the recent attacks on the role 
of seniors in our society. When talking about Medicare much of the 
media says seniors, not out of control health costs, are the problem. 
When talking about Social Security, seniors, not the use of the Social 
Security surplus to fund other programs, are again described as the 
problem. When it comes to the economy, again seniors are described as 
the problem and held out as takers, not producers.
  The fact is millions of seniors are producers, not takers, and Maggie 
led the way for older people to use their skills to make our 
communities better places every day. Seniors are part of the solution, 
not problems as so often portrayed in today's media.
  Older Americans are making valuable contributions every day in many 
ways around the country. Stop in at your local blood bank, school lunch 
program, or your favorite charity. You'll see that seniors are the glue 
that holds these programs together. They are the National Senior 
Service Corps, the Peace Corps, the Retired and Senior Volunteer 
Program [RSVP], and AmeriCorps. Just look around--seniors are helping--
because Maggie Kuhn helped open the doors for older Americans.
  Maggie's credo was age and youth in action, and I'm pleased that this 
House is beginning to understand the need for policies that bring the 
generations together. Recently, the House voted for my amendment to 
promote kinship care, which gives seniors and other adult relatives the 
opportunity to support and raise children, as an alternative to forcing 
children from broken homes into foster care run by strangers. Enacting 
a national plan to promote kinship care would be an ideal way to honor 
Maggie Kuhn, who led the fight to bring younger and older people 
together.
  Maggie hated waste and foolish bureaucracy. Democrats and Republicans 
alike can work together to reduce fraud and waste in vital government 
services and protect consumers. In support of this objective, Congress 
should pass the bipartisan legislation introduced by the chairs of the 
House Older Americans Caucus that would attack fraudulent and unethical 
practices in the sale of private long-term care insurance.
  In the days ahead, Congress will debate many important issues of 
social justice. Let us remember Maggie Kuhn's life and support 
government policies that empower and liberate our citizens.
  Maggie Kuhn led a life of unselfish service to others. She felt that 
the greatest sin was to waste time and to waste human potential. She 
lived her life to the fullest. Millions of Americans, young and old, 
have been touched by her work.
  Maggie Kuhn was once asked how she would like to be remembered. She 
recited her favorite epitaph: ``Here lies so-and-so, under the only 
stone she left unturned.''
  Maggie Kuhn, a true American hero, will be much missed.
  

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