[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 35 (Thursday, March 18, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H1281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO SPAIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, a week ago we all mourned the loss, along 
with our brothers and sisters and friends in Spain, of so many innocent 
civilians.
  Having had the opportunity to live in Spain for 2 years, I would like 
to take a few moments, if I may, to express my personal condolences in 
the hopes that our Congress, in its entirety, will do so before long.

       Como estadounidense y miembro del Congreso de los Estados 
     Unidos de America, quiero expresar mis mas profundas 
     condolencias al pueblo de Espana por la tragica perdida de 
     tantos inocentes en manos del terrorismo. Personalmente, tuve 
     la oportunidad de vivir en Espana durante dos anos, y desde 
     entonces llevo una parte de ese pais y de su gente en mi 
     corazon. Hoy mi alma llora las muertes provocadas por la 
     crueldad del terror. Hoy, todos somos espanoles.
       Nuestras naciones han sido a lo largo de la historia, 
     aliados y amigos, unidos por los mismos valores y por una 
     herencia comun. Compartimos libertad, compasion, tolerancia y 
     democracia. Tambien es voluntad comun mantenernos juntos y 
     firmes contra aquellos que amenazan esos valores y matan 
     inocentes en nombre del fanatismo politico y religioso.
       Cuando nuestro pais sufrio los atentados del once de 
     septiembre, el pueblo espanol y el resto del mundo ofrecio a 
     esta nacion y a su gente, apoyo, comprension y solidaridad. 
     Ese ofrecimiento sin condiciones supuso mas de lo que nunca 
     podremos agradecer.
       Ahora, somos nosotros y el resto del mundo los que debemos 
     alargar nuestras manos hacia Espana y su gente. Permidnos que 
     os abracemos como vosotros lo hicisteis. Permitidnos guardar 
     el luto de vuestras victimas. Queremos agradeceros vuestra 
     lealtad y mantener el compromiso de llevar a la justicia a 
     los responsables de esta atrocidad.
       Los terroristas nunca venceran. Su brutalidad y sus 
     objetivos son contrarios a la civilizacion, a la decencia y a 
     las aspiraciones de los seres humanos.
       Nunca venceran, pero hasta que podamos con ellos de una vez 
     por todas, tendran que pagar un precio muy alto. No hay mayor 
     evidencia de sus errores que este acto atroz de crueldad 
     contra gente inocente que iba a su trabajo o a su centro de 
     estudios. Por ello, debemos mantenernos unidos frente al 
     terror, unidos con nuestros amigos y aliados, unidos con 
     Espana.
       Cuando vivi alli y aprendi su bonita lengua con mis grandes 
     amigos, me impresiono el hecho de que la frase ``I'm sorry'' 
     signifique realmente ``lo siento''. Permitanme decir a mis 
     amigos espanoles que ``sentimos'' su perdida. Sabemos lo que 
     es ese dolor, esa tristeza y la indignacion e impotencia por 
     unas muertes tan injustas. Hemos sentido en carne propia el 
     drama del terror y lo volvemos a sentir con vosotros.
       No hay palabras que puedan consolar tanto dolor, pero 
     debeis saber que en este momento no estais solos. Juntos, 
     triunfaremos. Llevaremos a los responsables ante la justicia 
     y mas importante: les ensenaremos con el ejemplo de nuestros 
     dos grandes paises, que existe un camino mejor. Un camino que 
     demuestre nuestra fuerza comun y nuestro amor por la 
     libertad.
       Fuerza, amigos espanoles . . . fuerza, coraje, y animo. 
     Estamos con vosotros, hoy y siempre.
  (English translation of the above statement is as follows:)

       As an American citizen and member of the Congress of the 
     United States of America, I want to express my profound 
     condolences to all of the people of Spain for the tragic loss 
     of so many innocents at the hands of terrorists. Having lived 
     in Spain for 2 years, part of my heart and soul will always 
     remain in Spain and part of Spain will always be within me. 
     Today, my heart and soul are saddened by the losses and 
     outraged by the inhumanity of the attackers. Today, we are 
     all Spanish and we have all lost good people and friends.
       Our nations have long been allies and friends, united by 
     shared values and a common heritage. Liberty, compassion, 
     tolerance, and democratic institutions are dear to all of us. 
     So too is our willingness to stand together against those who 
     would threaten those values and who kill innocents in the 
     name of political and religious zealotry. Because of our 
     shared values, we are now also united in suffering and loss.
       When our Nation suffered on September 11th, the people of 
     Spain and the rest of the world reached out to offer our own 
     Nation and our people comfort, support and solidarity. That 
     outpouring of kindness and support meant more than we could 
     possibly express at the time.
       Now, it is we and the rest of the world who reach out our 
     hands to Spain and to all of the people of Spain. Let us 
     embrace you now as you embraced us. Let us comfort you now as 
     you comforted us. Let us grieve with you for your losses. And 
     let us also pledge our loyalty to you and our commitment to 
     bring those responsible for this atrocity to justice.
       In the end, the terrorist will never win because their 
     methods of brutality and their goals are contrary to 
     civilization, contrary to decency, and contrary to the 
     highest aspirations and realizations of human beings. They 
     will never win, but until they are defeated once and for all, 
     they will exact a heavy, heavy toll. Now, tragically, as so 
     often before, they have taken that toll from innocents on 
     their way to work and school. There could be no greater 
     evidence of the fallacy of their aims and beliefs than this 
     heinous act of cruelty. That is why we stand united against 
     them, united with our friends an allies, united with the 
     people of Spain.
       When I lived in Spain and was taught this beautiful 
     language by my dear friends, I was struck by the fact that 
     the translation of the English phrase ``I am sorry'' is lo 
     siento, literally, I feel it. Lo siento, I feel it. Let me 
     say to my friends in Spain that we feel your losses. We know 
     something of the feeling, we know the pain, we know the 
     sadness, we know the rage at such pointless, unjust 
     slaughter. We have felt these things ourselves and now we 
     feel it once again with you and for you.
       No words can take that pain away, but please know in this 
     dark time that you are not alone. Together, we will prevail. 
     We will bring those responsible to justice and, more 
     importantly still, we will show through the examples of our 
     two great lands and peoples that there is a better path, a 
     better way. Let us never lose sight of that higher vision and 
     let the ways we respond to these tragedies show our true 
     strength and or love for freedom and for one another.
       Courage my friends. Courage, strength, and compassion. We 
     are with you and always will be.

                          ____________________