[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E885-E886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE VIRGINIA TECH TRAGEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2007

  Mr. INSLEE. Madam Speaker, in the aftermath of the terrible tragedy 
at Virginia Tech, as people try to make sense of this senseless act, we 
must remember to find strength in community. Last week, I spoke to 
Korean-American leaders in my district who expressed their deepest 
sympathies to all those affected by this tragedy--the same sense of 
sorrow shared by all Americans. I expressed my hope that the Korean-
American community would not be targeted in any way, in the aftermath 
of this situation.
  I am proud that so far this fear hasn't materialized, but I rise 
today to remind Americans not to place blame on this or any other 
group. Korean Americans should feel no communal sense of guilt or 
responsibility for this act. Their own pride in their achievements and 
contributions to American society should remain undiminished.
  Rather, we all should keep the victims, their families and the 
Virginia Tech community in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult 
time. We can do this by supporting efforts like that of Washington 
State Senator Paull Shin, who has been working with local Korean 
Americans to start a fund for the victims' families. We also should 
work together to make sure that college campuses across our Nation 
retain their openness and continue to be bastions of hope and 
opportunity.

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