[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SANTA BARBARA COMES TO WASHINGTON: THE CAPITAL CONFERENCE

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                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, on September 16, I was proud to welcome 35 
community leaders from my home town of Santa Barbara, California to 
Washington for a Capital Conference. It was an honor to host a 
distinguished group of educators, business leaders, community 
activists, and elected officials for a series of discussions with 
leading Federal policy makers.
  The Capital Conference focused on some of the most important issues 
facing Santa Barbara and our nation, including technology, education, 
business, and the media. We talked with William Kennard, the Chairman 
of the Federal Communications Commission about the e-rate, cable rates, 
and telecommunications issues. We had very fruitful dialogues with 
Minority Leader Richard Gephardt and Secretary Richard Riley about 
education. Monterey Congressman Sam Farr and noted political 
commentator Eleanor Clift spoke at lunch. At the White House, we 
discussed a range of issues with several senior aides, including Press 
Secretary Mike McCurry.
  Throughout the day, my neighbors from Santa Barbara had the 
opportunity to learn first-hand about efforts underway in Washington to 
deal with critical policy issues. But even more important was the 
chance for my colleagues in government to hear directly from the 
grassroots about how Federal initiatives are working or not working.
  The day concluded with a reception at the Library of Congress and a 
lecture by Santa Barbara's own noted poet and philosopher Noah benShea. 
I was pleased to co-host the evening's events with the Santa Barbara 
News-Press, the Santa Barbara County Board of Education, and the McCune 
Foundation. Noah's talk, entitled ``Creating a Caring Society,'' was 
enlightening and enjoyable, and I would like to commend some selected 
passages to my colleagues.

              Excerpts from ``Creating a Caring Society''

                           (By Noah benShea)

       I am generally of the opinion that most of us don't lack 
     for insight but the character to act on what we know. 
     Character is insight's chariot.
       Greatness is not always what you reach but what you reach 
     for. In the Bible it is written that ``justice, justice, 
     shall you pursue.'' It is the pursuit of justice that is 
     noble. It is the reaching out to others that is caring . . . 
     Justice and caring are targets that we are no less for not 
     reaching but much less for not chasing.
       To be indifferent to the fate of others is to live outside 
     the passions of love and hate. A society that is indifferent 
     is uncaring. A society that is indifferent is, by definition, 
     neither passionate nor compassionate.
       Now is a time for forward looking people to stop and look 
     backward. Look at those who looked beyond themselves. Listen 
     to those who heard higher voices . . . People with power are 
     required to care about those without power. And how people 
     with power treat those without power is the defining profile 
     of a society.
       Caring is not a political issue except as our politics 
     fails to make caring an issue. Caring is not a matter of left 
     and right but looking out for those who are on both our left 
     and right. Caring is not a matter of left and right but who 
     is left out and not who is right.

     

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