[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 136 (Thursday, October 26, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11187-S11188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THAT THE BIRMINGHAM PLEDGE HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT 
                CONTRIBUTION IN FOSTERING RACIAL HARMONY

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.J. 
Res. 102, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the joint resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (H.J. Res. 102) recognizing that the 
     Birmingham Pledge has made a significant contribution in 
     fostering racial harmony and reconciliation in the United 
     States and around the world, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.


                           Amendment No. 4347

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask 
for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Kansas (Mr. Brownback), for Mr. Sessions, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 4347.

  The amendment reads as follows:

       Whereas Birmingham, Alabama, was the scene of racial strife 
     in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s;
       Whereas since the 1960s, the people of Birmingham have made 
     substantial progress toward racial equality, which has 
     improved the quality of life for all its citizens and led to 
     economic prosperity;
       Whereas out of the crucible of Birmingham's role in the 
     civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, a present-day 
     grassroots movement has arisen to continue the effort to 
     eliminate racial and ethnic divisions in the United States 
     and around the world;
       Whereas that grassroots movement has found expression in 
     the Birmingham Pledge, which was authored by Birmingham 
     attorney James E. Rotch, is sponsored by the Community 
     Affairs Committee of Operation New Birmingham, and is 
     promoted by a broad cross section of the community of 
     Birmingham;
       Whereas the Birmingham Pledge reads as follows:
         ``I believe that every person has worth as an individual.
         ``I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and 
     respect, regardless of race or color.
         ``I believe that every thought and every act of racial 
     prejudice is harmful; if it is in my thought or act, then it 
     is harmful to me as well as to others.
         ``Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to 
     eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
         ``I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every 
     opportunity.
         ``I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I 
     will strive to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will 
     be a better place because of my effort.'';
       Whereas commitment and adherence to the Birmingham Pledge 
     increases racial harmony by helping individuals communicate 
     in a positive way concerning the diversity of the people of 
     the United States and by encouraging people to make a 
     commitment to racial harmony;

[[Page S11188]]

       Whereas individuals who sign the Birmingham Pledge give 
     evidence of their commitment to its message;
       Whereas more than 70,000 people have signed the Birmingham 
     Pledge, including the President, Members of Congress, 
     Governors, State legislators, mayors, county commissioners, 
     city council members, and other persons around the world;
       Whereas the Birmingham Pledge has achieved national and 
     international recognition;
       Whereas efforts to obtain signatories to the Birmingham 
     Pledge are being organized and conducted in communities 
     around the world;
       Whereas every Birmingham Pledge signed and returned to 
     Birmingham is recorded at the Birmingham Civil Rights 
     Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, as a permanent testament to 
     racial reconciliation, peace, and harmony; and
       Whereas the Birmingham Pledge, the motto for which is 
     ``Sign It, Live It'', is a powerful tool for facilitating 
     dialogue on the Nation's diversity and the need for people to 
     take personal steps to achieve racial harmony and tolerance 
     in communities: Now, therefore, be it

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I rise today to offer an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute to H.J. Res. 102, recognizing the 
``Birmingham Pledge'' and its author, Birmingham attorney James E. 
Rotch, for the contributions it and he have made to healing wounds of 
racial prejudice that still, unfortunately, divide segments of our 
society. The Birmingham Pledge is a powerful declaration that has had a 
profound impact on those who have heard or seen it. It uses words of 
conviction and purpose that promote racial harmony by helping people 
communicate about racial issues in a positive way and by encouraging 
people to make a commitment to racial harmony. By affixing our 
signatures to the message conveyed by these words, we are, in effect, 
saying to the world that we stand for freedom and equality for all, 
regardless of race or color. Further, we are saying that we will not 
tolerate discrimination leveled at anyone simply because of their race 
or color. The words of the Pledge are as follows:

       I believe that every person has worth as an individual. I 
     believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, 
     regardless of race or color. I believe that every thought and 
     every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is in my 
     thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to 
     others. Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily 
     to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions. I 
     will discourage racial prejudice by others at every 
     opportunity. I will treat all people with dignity and 
     respect; and I will strive to honor this pledge, knowing that 
     the world will be a better place because of my effort.

  These words do not reflect any new science or ground-breaking theory, 
instead they reflect the time-honored principles, not always followed, 
that have made this country the greatest example of individual liberty 
and freedom the world has ever known.
  The words of the Birmingham Pledge are reflective of those used by 
Thomas Jefferson in penning the Declaration of Independence so may 
years ago. Jefferson wrote that ``all Men are created equal, [and] that 
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.'' 
That language is clear. Thousands of citizens in Birmingham and Alabama 
and throughout this country and the world have recommitted themselves 
to these principles, and by offering this Pledge to the rest of the 
country, we ask everyone else to be rededicated to them, too. By 
signing this pledge, people make an outward showing of that commitment. 
Again, that is why I, on behalf of my constituents, offer this Joint 
Resolution. In addition to calling us to our uniquely American 
heritage, the words of the Birmingham Pledge also recognize 
Birmingham's unfortunate history as a site of significant civil rights 
confrontation. The Pledge conveys, as does the city's political and 
economic reality, that Birmingham has moved forward from that difficult 
time in its history to a more complete embrace of the principles 
embodied in this Pledge. Indeed, the city has experienced an 
astonishing measure of social, political, and economic progress in 
recent years.
  More than 70,000 people around the world have seen the merit of the 
Birmingham Pledge and signed it because they thought it was the right 
thing to do. Those signing it include the President, Members of 
Congress, Governors, state legislators, mayors, county commissioners, 
city council members, clergymen, students, and the list goes on. The 
point is, a broad cross-section of our society has embraced the high 
principles conveyed in the Birmingham Pledge because they see it as a 
powerful tool to facilitate dialogue on racial issues and additionally 
as a way for people to take personal steps to achieve racial harmony 
and tolerance in the communities in which they live. This Resolution 
simply recognizes the good work that the Birmingham Pledge has already 
accomplished, and the potential it has for further progress in this 
important area of our national and international life. In order to 
increase awareness of the Birmingham Pledge and to further its message, 
this resolution calls for the establishment of a National Birmingham 
Pledge Week. Setting aside such a period of time to further the message 
of the Birmingham Pledge and to celebrate the marked progress we have 
made in the area of racial harmony would be a fitting way to recognize 
the influence the Pledge is having on race relations in communities all 
across America and around the world.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
amendment to the joint resolution be agreed to, and the joint 
resolution, as amended, be read the third time and passed, the 
amendment to the preamble and the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, 
the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any 
statements relating to the joint resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 4347) was agreed to.
  The joint resolution (H.J. Res. 102), as amended, was read the third 
time and passed.
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.

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