[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 159 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S12016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL WORDS CAN HEAL DAY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 183 introduced 
earlier today by Senator Reid of Nevada and Senator Brownback.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 183) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate regarding the establishment of a National Words Can 
     Heal Day.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I support 
this resolution in support of the Words Can Heal Campaign to promote 
more responsible and civil speech to reduce conflict and build 
understanding between all peoples.
  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 to improve our 
democracy, build mutual respect, honor, and dignity in our country.
  The ability to express views freely and resolve differences through 
dialogue and education is fundamental to American democracy. For that 
process to work well, our words must reflect mutual respect, truth and 
fairness. Friends, families, and communities need to speak to each 
other in ways that help build people up, not tear them down. The Words 
Can Heal Campaign will draw attention to the language we use and 
provide practical help to parents, school kids, supervisors, employees, 
teachers, government officials, entertainers, athletes--people from all 
walks of life--to speak more kindly and less destructively with and 
about each other. Through this campaign, the Jerusalem Fund will seek 
to make November 23, and every day thereafter, a day when unfair 
gossip, prejudicial comments, and verbal humiliation will be replaced 
by words that are encouraging, helpful, and healing.
  Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, many Americans have felt 
that what happens in their neighborhood is beyond their control. This 
resolution can offer a comprehensive plan to rebuild our communities 
and relationship through the words we speak and the way we communicate. 
This holiday season, as we take an in-depth look at our lives and those 
around us, the Words Can Heal message resonates even more forcefully.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 183) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The text of the resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's 
Record under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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