[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 23, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H7129-H7130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    LET US BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, America has proven time and time again that 
when we as a people are challenged and we dedicate ourselves to meeting 
that challenge, nothing can stop our Nation and nothing can stop our 
people. On September 11, our country was challenged yet again, 
challenged to defend our democracy, challenged to fight for our freedom 
and our way of life. When we as America accept a challenge, we are 
usually up to that challenge. That is the history of our forefathers; 
that is the history of our Nation.
  As Americans, we are best when challenged. We proved that during 
World War I, our grandfathers; our fathers proved that during World War 
II. Now, in our own time, passengers aboard United Flight 93 proved 
that when they sacrificed their own lives to save more lives on the 
ground. Hundreds of firefighters, police officers, and paramedics, 
before our own eyes, rushed to save thousands of fleeing persons from 
the World Trade Towers. They were up to the challenge. They proved that 
when it was their time, they were ready, ready to face danger, ready to 
sacrifice, ready to put others first. At the Pentagon, we saw that same 
courage, that same willingness to sacrifice.
  In Afghanistan, and the throughout the world, our servicemen and 
women are accepting the challenge of protecting the country. When they 
do serve our Nation, they put themselves at risk; and they are willing 
to take that risk.
  That is a tradition we should be proud of; it is also a tradition 
that we in this House should live up to. It is that time now. We in 
Washington, we across America, are now confronted with a new mode of 
terrorism in the form of anthrax. It is yet only the latest in a series 
of a different mode of attack upon our country and upon our democracy 
and upon our freedom and upon this very institution.
  We should take as an example past generations, their sacrifice, their 
willingness to risk, their willingness, if necessary, to face danger. 
In the past, they have fought to protect our land. Let us take as an 
example their sacrifice, that of the passengers of United Flight 93, 
that of the firefighters in New York, that of our brave troops around 
the world. Let us not back down from the challenge. Let us meet it head 
on. Let us not give in to the terrorists. Let us not give them the 
pleasure of seeing this House flinch at shadows.

[[Page H7130]]

  With the words of FDR as an example, that ``the only thing we have to 
fear is fear itself,'' a nameless, unreasonable, unjustified terror, 
let us not give in to that fear. President Roosevelt said those words 
in 1933, but they are still true today. Let us not be paralyzed in 
needed efforts to advance against our enemy. Let us not retreat from 
the floor of this House.
  Let us also be willing to sacrifice as we have seen others sacrifice. 
Let us keep this floor open for business. Yes, it may entail some risk. 
Yes, it may entail some danger. But let us think of our troops in 
Afghanistan, what they face; let us think about those firefighters; let 
us think about that crew and the passengers on United Flight 93; let us 
think of our fathers during World War II and our grandfathers during 
World War I. Let us take up that same tradition.
  Fear is the currency of terrorism. Let us not contribute to that fear 
by shuttering the doors of this House. Let us, instead, convert 
temporary retreat into long-term advance. Let us not tremble and be 
afraid. Let us be strong and courageous.

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