[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 45 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H2134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DIGNITY AND RESPECT

  (Mr. PITTS. asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, with the war to disarm Saddam Hussein having 
begun, our thoughts and prayers are with our troops and all the people 
of that region, hoping that this brutal tyrant will be disarmed and 
removed with minimal impact on innocent civilians.
  We are seeing the rise of protesters, some of them even protesting 
against capitalism according to their placards, and although we respect 
the right of protesters to peacefully protest, and we fight and die to 
preserve these freedoms, the freedom of speech and religion, press, 
assembly, as well as to protest, we must remember that our freedoms 
were not won with poster paint. They were won by the blood of patriots, 
those willing to sacrifice and risk their lives to give us and preserve 
our freedoms.
  Let us treat each other with dignity and respect even though we 
disagree, but let us also be grateful to our veterans and those putting 
their lives in harm's way for their service to our country as they 
fight to protect and provide freedom for us and others around the 
world.

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