[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 156 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H8047-H8048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL WORDS CAN HEAL DAY
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 235) expressing the sense of the House
of Representatives regarding the establishment of a National Words Can
Heal Day, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 235
Whereas the Jerusalem Fund has launched a Words Can Heal
Campaign on September 4, 2001, to reduce verbal violence and
gossip and to promote the value and practice of ethical
speech in order improve our democracy, build mutual respect,
honor, and dignity in our country;
Whereas words used unfairly, whether expressed through
excessive anger, unfair criticism, public and private
humiliation, bigoted comments, cruel jokes, or rumors and
malicious gossip, can traumatize and damage many lives;
Whereas an unwillingness or inability of many parents to
control what they say when angry causes the infliction of
potentially damaging verbal abuse on many children;
Whereas bigoted words are often used to dehumanize entire
religious, racial, and ethnic groups, and can inflame
hostility;
Whereas the spreading of negative and often unfair, untrue,
or exaggerated comments or rumors about others often inflicts
irrevocable damage on the victim of such rumors;
Whereas the Words Can Heal Campaign will raise awareness
regarding the damage that can be caused by destructive
language; and
Whereas the House of Representatives supports the goals of
the Words Can Heal Campaign: Now, therefore be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that--
(1) the House of Representatives supports the goals of the
Words Can Heal Campaign; and
(2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on
the people of the United States to support the goals of such
campaign with appropriate programs and activities.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
General Leave
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks on H. Res. 235.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, the Words Can Heal Campaign, sponsored by the
Jerusalem Fund, is a visionary national media and educational campaign
designed to reduce verbal violence and gossip. The goal of the campaign
is to promote the value and the practice of ethical speech in order to
improve our democracy and to build mutual respect, honor and dignity to
our country.
The Words Can Heal Campaign launched a media campaign on September 4,
2001, right here in our Nation's Capital. The campaign includes posters
in D.C. Metro stations and bus shelters. It includes advertisements in
newspapers, such as Roll Call, and publications such as the National
Journal, Congressional Quarterly, and television ads on all major
networks.
The campaign also includes educational modules for use in schools, in
companies, community centers, government offices, houses of worship,
every building throughout the Nation. We can all practice and
participate in this initiative to improve our society and make a
difference in the lives of millions of Americans, one word at a time.
In the aftermath of the tragedy of September 11, the Words Can Heal
Campaign is now more important than ever. We must all be committed to
unite and strengthen America through the power of words.
Each and every one of us have been touched by the events of September
11, and we as Americans have pulled together as a country to show our
true colors. Americans reached out to each other with kind words and
helping hands. We embraced each other with words of comfort. And
through these difficult days, we as a country have come together in
fellowship with expressions of kindness and caring.
As we work our way back to normalcy, let us continue the outpouring
of concern that we have shown each other. We should have a new Golden
Rule: Say unto others as you would want said unto you.
Mother Teresa once said, ``Kind words can be short and easy to speak,
but their echoes are truly endless.'' Her words capture the essence of
the Words Can Heal Campaign. Words are powerful. Words can build love,
or they can destroy it. Words can be encouraging, or damaging.
We must choose what we say carefully because we cannot take back our
words. Once something is said, it can never be erased. We have all said
something which later we have wished that we could take back. The Words
Can Heal Pledge is one way to avoid that terrible feeling when you
regret what you have said.
It says, ``I pledge to think more about the words that I use. I will
try to replace words that hurt with words that encourage, engage and
enrich. I will try to see how gossip hurts people, including myself,
and work to eliminate it from my life. I will not become discouraged
when I am unable to choose words perfectly, because making the world a
better place is hard work. And I am helping to do that, one word at a
time.''
The Words Can Heal Pledge helps us to remember what someone says to
you can change your entire day.
Words are contagious. A friendly ``hello'' can spread from one
colleague to another, from one brother to sister, one friend to
another, from a stranger to a stranger. We must work to avoid harsh
words and gossip which makes everyone feel badly.
We can all play a role in this undertaking to improve our society and
make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans. Our ability to
voice views freely and resolve differences through dialogue and
persuasion is fundamental to our American system of democracy, and for
that process to work, our words must reflect mutual respect, truth and
fairness.
As our dialogue in Congress needs to be civil and ethical, so do
communications throughout society.
Please join me in support of the Jerusalem Fund's Words Can Heal
Campaign, along with the Executive Director of the Words Can Heal
Campaign, Rabbi Irwin Katsof, whom I had the opportunity to meet along
with my husband and children in our trip to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv this
August, and Rabbi Chaim Feld; also President and CEO of the IAC Group,
Ana Maria Fernandez Haar; Senior Fellow of Foreign and Defense Policy
Studies, Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick; New York Mayor
[[Page H8048]]
Rudolph Giuliani; and Chairman and CEO of Radio Unica, Joaquin Blaya.
Both Joaquin Blaya and Ana Maria Fernandez Haar joined Rabbi Katsof and
my family on our trip to Israel this summer.
We congratulate and thank all of the cosponsors of House Resolution
235, because now, more than ever, words are vital to the American
community.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, this resolution is somewhat unusual, but I want to
congratulate the gentlewoman from Florida for having the insight and
the feeling and the sensitivity and the recognition that sometimes
behavior can be taught and that we can move in the direction that we
choose to go.
This resolution, which expresses the sense of Congress regarding a
National Words Can Heal Day, seeks to reduce verbal violence and
gossip. Imagine, if we could reduce gossip, then obviously that would
help to reduce verbal violence. The goal of this effort is to promote
the value and practice of ethical speech in order to improve our
democracy, build respect, honor and dignity in our country.
{time} 1515
The essence of this campaign, which was launched on Tuesday,
September 4, right here in Washington, D.C., is reflected in this
simple pledge: ``I pledge to think more about the words I use. I will
try to see how gossip hurts people, including myself, and work to
eliminate it from my life. I will try to replace words that hurt with
words that encourage, engage, and enrich. I will not become discouraged
when I am unable to choose words perfectly, because making the world a
better place is hard work. I am pledging to do that one word at a
time.''
We can all play a role in this effort to improve our society and make
a difference in our homes, our schools, our communities, and in the
workplace by taking this pledge.
As I read through it, I could not help but recall the teachings of my
mother, who always told us that you can catch far more bees with honey
than with vinegar. Or she might say, see no evil, hear no evil, speak
no evil. Or she might admonish us to speak about others as we would
have them speak of us. Then she would force us to read the book of
Proverbs, with all of the wisdom that it contains. So it seems to me
that the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) has taken those
kinds of teachings and expressions, placed them into a resolution that
all Members of this body can adopt; and I would urge my colleagues to
take this pledge and, in doing so, support this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
I want to thank the executive directors of the Words Can Heal
Campaign, Rabbi Irwin Katsof and Rabbi Chaim Feld, whom I had the
pleasure of knowing during my trip to Israel. When they first came to
me and showed me their Words Can Heal Campaign pledge, I said that I
wanted to get involved in a meaningful way and I thought of this
resolution as a way to do it, because words can make a difference, and
that is the pledge that we make one word at a time.
In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks against the
United States, we have borne witness to the ability of words to help in
the healing process, as friends and allies offered their condolences
and their support to our efforts. We have also felt the brunt of the
verbal attacks by enemies of the United States who rejoice in the
violence perpetrated against us.
Words matter. The ability to voice views freely and resolve
differences through dialogue and persuasion is fundamental to our
American style of government and our democracy, as it is to world
peace. To reiterate, for that process to work well, our words must
reflect mutual respect, truth, understanding, and fairness.
The Words Can Heal effort is a strong first step toward a future
generation of Americans and global leaders who will value the power of
words and practice ethical speech. It starts with one day. This one day
can then become a week, a month, a year, until it is ingrained in our
character, in our nature, in our human nature. The potential is
limitless. The possibilities are awe-inspiring.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. The
hope for a better future begins today, one word at a time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 235, as
amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Resolution
expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of the
goals of the Words Can Heal Campaign''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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