[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 4, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H1414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HANDS ARE NOT FOR HURTING

  (Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, hands are not for hurting. It is a 
simple phrase and a simple concept, but one that too many never learn.
  I rise today to spread the word about the Hands Are Not For Hurting 
Project started by Ann Kelley, a woman in Salem, Oregon, who is 
dedicating her life to violence prevention. Ann got the idea that if 
all children took a pledge that they would not use their hands for 
hurting and signed that pledge on a purple paper cut-out of their hand, 
then that simple idea may penetrate. She reasoned that because violence 
is a learned response, it could be unlearned, and we could teach more 
peaceful and constructive methods of showing anger or resolving 
disputes.
  Hands Are Not for Hurting is now being used by schools, churches, 
civic groups and government agencies in more than 20 States. Thousands 
of young people and adults across this country have taken the pledge to 
refrain from violence.
  Today marks one of the saddest anniversaries in America's recent 
history. To commemorate the life and goals of Martin Luther King, Jr., 
I would like to urge all of my colleagues to spread the word. Hands are 
instruments that can paint a masterpiece, sculpt a classic, or wipe a 
tear from a child's face, but hands are not for hurting.

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