[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A HOLIDAY MESSAGE ABOUT UNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2001

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, in this holiday season we are grateful for 
the familiar traditions of each of our faiths that comfort us and 
connect us with others. We are also thankful for the unprecedented 
unity of the Congress, the country, and the larger global community in 
its shared determination to aid the victims of September 11, and to 
defeat the forces of terrorism.
  To maintain and strengthen that unity for the work that lies ahead, 
we need to find new ways to solve conflict and to overcome the 
suspicions that arise from differences in culture, race, religion, 
economic condition and political ideology. Establishment of shared 
traditions that promote intercultural contact will help.
  On December 15, 2000, the 106th Congress unanimously approved a 
measure that calls for annual worldwide commemoration of the successful 
``One Day in Peace January 1, 2000'' with shared meals, inter-cultural 
exchange, pledges of non-violence, and gifts to the hungry.
  One Day in Peace provides an unparalleled example of global 
cooperation that is both instructive and inspiring. On that first day 
of the new millennium several billion people and nearly every 
government in the world acted responsibly, cooperatively and with 
astonishing success to avert the combined threats of unruly crowds, 
terrorism and fears of Armageddon--as well as feared panic and hoarding 
related to expected computer failures. The ``OneDay'' movement, begun 
by children and eventually pledged by one hundred countries, 1000 
organizations in 135 countries, 25 U.S. governors and hundreds of 
mayors worldwide surely helped. The result could be called the world's 
first deliberate day of peace.
  We believe this collective achievement by much of humankind is worth 
remembering and repeating each year. The United Nations General 
Assembly agrees. It recently adopted a resolution (56/2) inviting all 
Member States, and all people in the world to celebrate ``One Day in 
Peace 1 January 2002, and every year thereafter.''
  At this season, as we enjoy the time-honored holiday traditions of 
our separate faiths, let us also celebrate a new tradition with a 
simple, world-wide all-faith holiday observance (comparable to our 
American Thanksgiving) that demonstrates our mutual resolve to create a 
future world of peace and sharing.
  The schoolchildren who brought the concept of the ``OneDay'' holiday 
to Capitol Hill (some of the youngest and most energetic lobbyists 
we've seen) urge all Americans to celebrate OneDay by pledging non-
violence to one another on January first. They also ask us to seek out 
someone of another culture and share a meal together, then match or 
multiply the cost of that meal with a gift to the hungry at home or 
abroad, in tangible demonstration of our desire for increased 
friendship and sharing.
  We think these young peacemakers have a good idea. Happy holidays, 
both old and new!

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