[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 100 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               STOP HATE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 22, 2002

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, 
``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught 
in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of 
destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.'' Dr. 
King was referring to the struggles of African Americans to achieve 
basic civil rights and equality of opportunity in the civil rights 
movement of the 1960's and this same sentiment is applicable today. I 
come to the floor of the House of Representatives today in support of 
H. Res. 393. Concerning the rise in anti-Semitism in Europe because I 
believe it is time for us to speak out against this rise to expose and 
combat it.
  The rise of anti-Semetic sentiment in Europe over the last 18 months 
is abominable, and detestable. The attacks on Jewish people and Jewish 
institutions are upsetting and should be the source of great concern by 
us all.
  Anti-Semitism is just a fancy name for stupidity and ignorance. It is 
imperative that a goal of the governments in Europe be to eradicate 
sentiments and expressions of hate against any culture anywhere in 
their nations.
  I stand in support of this bill, H. Res. 393, to express my belief 
that if we don't stop the spread of anti-Semitism in Europe we as 
Americans are as accountable as the arsonists who burned down the Or 
Aviv synagogue in Marseilles, France on March 31, 2002.
  Individuals who harbored feelings of hate toward Americans and our 
way of life attacked the United States of America. That attack, 
September 11th, has permanently scarred us as a country. I believe that 
there is a direct correlation between anti-Semitism and terrorism.
  It is therefore our duty, as Americans not to stand silent while our 
brethren across the pond allow for the spread of this form of 
terrorism.
  To quote the great Dr. King again ``Nothing in the world is more 
dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.'' It is 
therefore our responsibility to pressure the European of governments to 
root out anti-Semitism. I agree with my colleague, Congressman Joseph 
Crowley; who authored the resolution ``the governments of Europe should 
make a concentrated effort to cultivate an atmosphere of cooperation 
and reconciliation among the Jewish and non-Jewish residents of 
Europe''.
  If we do not stop the spread of anti-Semitism in the streets of 
Germany, in the stadiums of Italy, in the Cafe in France, then what 
stops this hate from arriving here in the institutions of the United 
States of America?

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