[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 8 (Wednesday, February 6, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A ``SPECIAL'' AMERICAN FLAG

  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to express my deep and 
profound opposition to a decision by the International Olympic 
Committee to ban the carrying of a special American flag during the 
opening ceremonies of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
  This flag is very special. It was found in the rubble of the World 
Trade Center after the attacks on September 11. It is a powerful, 
moving, visual reminder of America's strength, endurance, and freedom.
  In fact, I believe this flag carries with it a profound parallel with 
the original Star-Spangled Banner--the historic flag that flew over 
Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, and in the battle of 1814 it survived 
25 hours of bombardment and inspired the creation of our national 
anthem.
  Now, to those who say that the carrying of this particular flag by 
American athletes marching into the stadium would be a ``political 
statement,'' I say this is a ridiculous argument on its face. The 
American flag from the World Trade Center is the American flag, just as 
surely as the flag that flanks our Presiding Officer, as the flag that 
has flown in many classrooms, in front of many homes, and at the top of 
this great Capitol dome. It is not a symbol of politics. It is the 
representation of our Nation, and it does what so many of us believe 
needs to be done right now: It demonstrates clearly our resilience and 
our persistence in the face of terrorism. We should have the right to 
carry this flag in whatever national or international setting we 
choose.
  To those who say that the carrying of this flag would set some kind 
of improper precedent, I say this is an equally absurd argument. First 
of all, the attacks on our country on September 11 were themselves 
unprecedented, and there is every reason for us to mark the tragic 
events of that day by having our athletes hold the flag from the World 
Trade Center aloft during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.
  Second, should the unthinkable occur and any similar tragedy strike 
this or any other nation in the years ahead, I cannot imagine any 
serious objection being raised if any nation wanted to carry its own 
flag, like this flag, in a future Olympic event. The world was shocked 
by the attacks of September 11.
  Freedom-loving people everywhere are united with us in our 
determination to fight back against terrorism. While the terrorists may 
have destroyed buildings and ended lives, they did not destroy the 
values we share, and those values define our Nation and find expression 
in the stars and stripes of our flag.
  I believe the carrying of this flag that terrorists could not destroy 
is fully in keeping not only with the spirit of America but with the 
spirit of the Olympics.
  According to the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic 
movement is meant ``to contribute to building a peaceful and better 
world,'' and the Olympic spirit is built on ``mutual understanding with 
a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play.''
  I believe the carrying of this World Trade Center American flag does 
help contribute to building a peaceful and better world, especially 
because those who attempted to destroy our way of life and who did 
destroy buildings tried to accomplish the exact opposite goal. They 
were not trying to contribute to a better and peaceful world but just 
the opposite.
  This flag, in a sense, for the entire world portrays that ``spirit of 
friendship, solidarity, and fair play'' that underscores the Olympic 
spirit.
  Mr. President, today I am writing to the International Olympic 
Committee to urge them to reverse their decision regarding the carrying 
of this American flag during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. I 
ask my colleagues for their support and their signatures on this 
letter.
  We are the host Nation for the Olympics. Our athletes and the 
American people they represent want this flag carried by them on 
Friday, and I do not believe the International Olympic Committee should 
stand in the way of this fitting and patriotic act, nor should they 
have any role in telling us which particular American flag we can carry 
in the Olympics staged in our country just a few months after the 
terrible and tragic attacks of September 11.
  I hope the Olympic Committee will change this very ill-thought-out, 
ill-advised, and insulting decision before Friday. But until then, I 
hope my colleagues will join me in expressing not only our concern but 
our outrage at what seems to be a demeaning decision meant to undermine 
what this flag represents and in some clear way to undermine the heroic 
efforts of the firefighters who found it and hoisted it. I hope this 
decision will be changed.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Delaware.

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