[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 119 (Thursday, September 13, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TESTING OUR NATIONAL WILL AND CHARACTER

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about how Tuesday's 
terrorist attack is testing our national will and our character. There 
are no words to fully describe the depth of that infamy and not enough 
tears to properly mourn the innocent lives that have been so cruelly 
taken. We join all Americans in a focus to help those victims, 
families, and communities who have been terrorized, and also to focus 
on those who are responsible and hold them accountable.
  We have come together to say loudly and clearly that we will respond 
to those who have attacked and murdered Americans. But I am also 
concerned that in our anger, an anger we all share, we would lash out 
at fellow Americans who come here from the Middle East, which is also 
wrong.
  I am disturbed by reports from my home State of Michigan that Arab 
Americans have been victims of threats and hate mail and their 
businesses and institutions have been vandalized. One businessman felt 
so threatened that he bought two American flags--one for his home and 
one for his business--as he felt he needed to prove his love for his 
country. We want people to fly American flags out of pride, not out of 
fear.
  The Koran, just as the Bible, is a book of love, peace, and 
tolerance. There are those who have outrageously perverted that 
message. It reminds me of the Ku Klux Klan that took the symbol of the 
cross and the words of Christianity and perverted them to lash out with 
hate and violence against other Americans. There are those in the world 
who are extremists who are doing the same thing with the religion of 
Islam.
  I know Arab Americans, as all Americans, grieve and have anger and 
outrage about what has happened, and they want justice for Americans.
  I stand here today urging all of us to come together as Americans and 
not allow the terrorists to have another victory by having us turn on 
each other. Arab Americans, as all Americans, have lost loved ones. 
They are part of the rescue crews, and they are the nurses and the 
doctors working around the clock to save lives. We, all of us, have 
been attacked and assaulted as Americans of all faiths, of all 
backgrounds. We stand as Americans to take on those who threaten us and 
to respond and hold them accountable. It is important in our grief and 
in our anger that we not allow the terrorists to turn us on each other.
  This is a time of testing our American values, our beliefs, and our 
will. It is an opportunity for all of us to stand together and make a 
statement about who we are and what we believe. I know that in the 
great State of Michigan, all that I represent, everyone I represent, 
stand together arm in arm to make sure the victims and the families 
have what they need and that justice is served in this outrageous 
attack on America.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

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