[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E646-E647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRESSWOMAN LEE'S ARTICLE ON PEACE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 2, 2003

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I commend to my colleagues' attention the 
following article on Representative Barbara Lee that appeared in the 
San Francisco Chronicle Magazine on Sunday, March 23, 2003. 
Congresswoman Lee has been an eloquent advocate for peace and justice. 
Her tireless efforts to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict with 
Iraq are vital to upholding our nation's moral leadership in the world. 
She is a credit to this institution and the values of democracy, 
freedom and human rights throughout the world. I'm honored to serve in 
Congress with her.

       [From the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Mar. 23, 2003]

Giving Peace a Chance; Local Rep. Barbara Lee on Her National Following

                            (By Sam Whiting)

       It isn't lonely as it used to be way out there on the far 
     left.

[[Page E647]]

       A year and a half after casting the lone vote opposing 
     President Bush's global campaign against terrorism, 
     Congresswoman Barbara Lee has become the name attached to the 
     anti-war movement.
       When Lee came to the stage at last month's peace rally in 
     San Francisco, she heard the chant ``Barbara Lee for 
     president.'' She has heard it before, and seen it on signs, 
     from Oregon to Massachusetts.
       That's a long ways from Mills College, where she graduated 
     30 years ago. Now a fourth-term Democrat representing Oakland 
     and Berkeley, Lee, 55, gets all the inspiration she needs 
     walking into her district office in the Ronald V. Dellums 
     Federal Building in Oakland.


               ON THE BARBARA LEE FOR PRESIDENT MOVEMENT

       It's a humbling moment when you hear that. I recognize I 
     have represented this area for five years in Congress, and I 
     was in the state Senate and Assembly since 1990. But when you 
     hear the shouts ``Barbara Lee for president,'' you have to 
     say, ``Where's that coming from?'' It's not coming from me. 
     It's not coming from my staff. That's for sure.


                  ON THE ``I TOLD YOU SO'' TEMPTATION

       On Sept. 14, 2001, right after the horrific attack, when I 
     voted no, I knew then that it was wrong for us to give the 
     administration a blank check. That was giving the president 
     too much power to use force without coming back to Congress 
     at all. I believe, and the Constitution requires, that the 
     Congress declare war, that we engage in debate with regard to 
     war and peace. So I would cast the same vote today. No second 
     thoughts.


            ON NO LONGER BEING THE ONE LONELY ANTI-WAR VOTE

       I offered the Lee Amendment as an alternate with regard to 
     disarmament and finding diplomatic solutions to our problems 
     with inspections. We received 72 votes [Oct. 10, 2002]. When 
     you look at the last vote on the use of force, we had 133 no 
     votes on that resolution.


            ON NORTH KOREAN MISSILES POINTED AT THE BAY AREA

       During the debate on Iraq, some members of the Progressive 
     Caucus really made the case for the missile scenario in North 
     Korea and said, ``That's where we need to begin talking about 
     containment.'' I don't think the general public knew, because 
     it's been ``Iraq, Iraq, Iraq'' from the administration.


                            ON THE SOLUTION

       We need to re-engage. During the Clinton administration, 
     there was engagement going on. For the first 18 or 19 months 
     of the Bush administration, there was no engagement at all. 
     Next what do we hear? The president goes to Congress and 
     cites the ``Axis of Evil.'' We must re-engage with North 
     Korea, and we must do that immediately. It's a very dangerous 
     situation--certainly more dangerous than Iraq.


                         ON THE PEACE MOVEMENT

       This doctrine of pre-emption and first strike--Iraq is 
     first on their list, and this is a policy that this 
     administration is dead -set on implementing. We see Iraq now, 
     Iran, North Korea. Who knows what country is next? I just 
     hope it doesn't take hold, and that's why I'm so happy and 
     delighted to see the peace marches throughout the world.


                           ON NAKED SPELLOUTS

       I've seen the pictures. People are finding creative ways to 
     protest. These women chose to express their views in this 
     way. That's a manifestation of their determination to make 
     their statement.


                ON BECOMING AN ACTIVIST AT AN EARLY AGE

       I was born on July 16, 1946, in El Paso, Texas. When my 
     mother went to have me, they wouldn't admit her to the 
     hospital because she was black, and she almost died. I heard 
     my mother tell me this and I was really upset. They left her 
     to die on a gurney.


                  on growing up a civil rights activist

       I was raised in Texas and the schools were segregated. I 
     wasn't allowed to go to public school. I went to Catholic 
     schools. They were the only ones that would let black folks 
     in. I can remember my dad in his uniform--he was an officer 
     in the military--and we'd go to restaurants and they'd say, 
     ``I'm sorry we can't serve,'' and they used the N word. So I 
     was always fighting for what was right.


               on an army brat becoming a peace activist

       My father is a retired lieutenant colonel. When I cast the 
     one vote against the war, he said, ``That was the right 
     vote.'' He was in the Korean War and he's very clear on 
     issues of war and peace. My mother too. They're my source of 
     strength.


                               on mentors

       Ron Dellums is a phone call away. We work on issues 
     together. He's probably made more of an impact on me than 
     anybody, in terms of policy. He worked very hard to get this 
     federal building here, and every time I walk in, I think of 
     Ron.

                          ____________________