[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 87 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 264--RELATIVE TO NATIONAL SPEAK NO EVIL DAY

  Mr. MACK (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Craig, and Mr. Jeffords) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 264

       Whereas words used unfairly, whether expressed through 
     excessive anger, unfair criticism, public and private 
     humiliation, bigoted comments, cruel jokes, or rumors and 
     malicious gossip, traumatize and destroy many lives;
       Whereas an unwillingness or inability of many parents to 
     control what the parents say when angry causes the infliction 
     of often irrevocably damaging verbal abuse on the children;
       Whereas bigoted words are often used to dehumanize entire 
     religious, racial, and ethnic groups, and inflame hostility 
     in a manner that may lead to physical attacks;
       Whereas the spreading of negative, often unfair, untrue, or 
     exaggerated, comments or rumors about others often inflicts 
     irrevocable damage on the victim of the gossip, the damage 
     epitomized in the expression ``character assassination''; and
       Whereas the inability of a person to refrain for 24 hours 
     from speaking unkind and cruel words demonstrates a lack of 
     control as striking as the inability of an alcoholic to 
     refrain for 24 hours from drinking liquor: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate designated May 14, 1997, and May 
     14, 1998, as ``National Speak No Evil Day''. The Senate 
     requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States to observe the days with 
     appropriate ceremonies, activities, and educational 
     endeavors.

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