[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 97 (Wednesday, July 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1286-E1287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN SUPPORT OF H. RES. 393, A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE RISE OF ANTI-
                           SEMITISM IN EUROPE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 17, 2002

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as one of the 
original cosponsors of House Resolution 393, a resolution condemning 
the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe which has occurred over the past 18 
months. The recent rise of anti-Semitism in Europe is an unacceptable 
development which must be stopped, and European governments must take 
whatever action is needed to achieve this end. I applaud my friend from 
New York, Mr. Crowley, for his fight against the abhorrent developments 
leading up to this resolution
  Anti-Semitism is a dangerous creature with a long and ignominious 
history in Europe. It is a particularly virulent form of racism which 
goes beyond place and time, oversteps borders and languages. It finds a 
home within the ignorant, dissatisfied and disenfranchised in all parts 
of the globe.
  In every era, anti-Semitism finds a new way to manifest itself and a 
new justification for its presence. Starting in the 12th century, blood 
libels were levied against the Jews of Europe, citing the fictionist 
Jewish need for Christian blood as evidence for the accusations. When 
the bubonic plague struck in the 14th century, Jews were wrongfully 
blamed for the outbreak of the epidemic and the decimation of the 
European population. Jews across Europe were murdered by angry mobs as 
punishment for these alleged crimes.
  Later, European anti-Semitism took on a scientific justification. In 
1899, Houston Stewart Chamberlain published ``The Foundations of the 
Nineteenth Century.'' He argued that all of the accomplishments of 
Western civilization resulted from the influence of the superior, 
Germanic race, while inferior races, like the Jews, impeded progress. 
His book became the Nazi bible and his arguments were adopted by Adolph 
Hitler as grounds for the elimination of European Jewry. Today anti-
Semitism disguises itself as a political platform, often as opposition 
to Israeli policies.
  This rise in anti-Semitism, while despicable in its own right, is 
indicative of a much greater problem. It is part of an obnoxious rise 
in racism, intolerance, and widespread xenophobia. Though anti-Semitism 
today lacks the religious mythology attached to it in the Middle Ages 
or the scientific theories that fueled it in the first half of the 20th 
century, it is equally dangerous and terrorizes the Jewish community 
just as it did 60 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, last week, I returned from Berlin where the annual 
session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe, an organization of which I serve as Vice 
President, was convened. For some of my European colleagues, combating 
increased anti-Semitism is an issue they are concerned about. For those 
who were not concerned, it was time to make it clear to them that they 
need to be.
  Since the days of President Woodrow Wilson and the League of Nations, 
we have worked to build a global community. Now, xenophobia threatens 
to undo over 80 years

[[Page E1287]]

of progress, to destroy our work and our accomplishments. The spread of 
discrimination in all of its incarnations, be it anti-Semitism or any 
other form of bigotry, must be stopped.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today with all of my colleagues, black, white, 
Hispanic, Asian, Jewish and otherwise, in support of this resolution, 
and urge European governments to fight the spread of anti-Semitism 
within their borders. Frankly, if we do not, then history is bound to 
repeat itself.

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