[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 130 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10088-H10091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE 75TH BIRTHDAY OF DESMOND MPILO TUTU
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 34) recognizing the 75th birthday of
Desmond Mpilo Tutu, South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, and
Nobel Peace Prize recipient, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 34
Whereas Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu has been recognized
as one of the 20th century's leaders for freedom, justice,
and human rights for all;
Whereas Archbishop Tutu, as a religious leader and
Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches
from 1976 until 1978, worked against apartheid in South
Africa with the agreement of nearly all South African
churches;
Whereas Archbishop Tutu consistently advocated
reconciliation between all parties involved in apartheid and,
though he was most firm in denouncing South Africa's white-
ruled government, Archbishop Tutu was also harsh in his
criticism of the violent tactics of some anti-apartheid
groups and denounced terrorism;
Whereas Archbishop Tutu spoke strongly in support of non-
violent change and economic sanctions against South Africa
and as a result had his passport revoked by the South African
Government;
Whereas Archbishop Tutu led a historical march to a whites-
only beach, where he and supporters were chased off with
whips;
Whereas, on October 16, 1984, Archbishop Tutu was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his outstanding
leadership, courage, heroism, and use of nonviolence in the
struggle against apartheid, and the Nobel Committee cited his
``role as a unifying leader figure in the campaign to resolve
the problem of apartheid in South Africa'';
Whereas a month after winning the Nobel Peace Prize,
Archbishop Tutu was elected as the first black Anglican
bishop of Johannesburg;
Whereas, on September 7, 1986, Archbishop Tutu became the
first black person to lead the Anglican Church in South
Africa;
Whereas, in 1994, after the end of apartheid and the
election of President Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu was
appointed as Chairman of South Africa's Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, to investigate apartheid-era
crimes, where his policy of forgiveness and reconciliation
has become an international example of conflict resolution,
and a trusted method of post-conflict reconstruction;
Whereas, on October 7, 1931, Archbishop Tutu was born in
Klerksdorp, Transvaal, to a school teacher and an uneducated
mother and was educated at Johannesburg Bantu High School;
Whereas Archbishop Tutu trained as a high school teacher at
Pretoria Bantu Normal College and graduated from the
University of South Africa in 1954, and after teaching for
three years was ordained as a priest in 1960;
Whereas Archbishop Tutu studied theology in England in
1962, received a Masters of Theology from University of
London in 1966, was appointed as the first black South
African to hold the position of Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral
in Johannesburg in 1975, and became the first black General
Secretary of the South African Council of Churches in 1978;
Whereas Archbishop Tutu is an international lecturer and
philosopher and has received honorary doctorates from ten
leading universities in the United States, Britain, and
Germany;
Whereas Archbishop Tutu has been awarded a number of
prestigious awards, including the Order for Meritorious Award
(Gold), the Archbishop of Canterbury's Award for Outstanding
Service to the Anglican Communion, the Prix d'Athene, and the
Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award of Annual Black
American Heroes and Heroines Day;
Whereas out of deep concern for the challenges facing all
of the people of the world, in July 2007 Archbishop Tutu
helped assemble The Elders, an historic group of world
leaders seeking to contribute their wisdom, independent
leadership, and integrity in tackling some of the world's
toughest problems;
Whereas October 7, 2007, will mark the 76th birthday of
Archbishop Demand Mpilo Tutu; and
Whereas Archbishop Tutu has fought for a democratic and
just society without racial divisions, a common system of
education, a world which promotes the rights and
opportunities of the marginalized, disadvantaged, and
disenfranchised, and continues to pursue an active
international ministry of peace: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) honors the accomplishments of Archbishop Desmond Mpilo
Tutu;
(2) recognizes and congratulates his consistent efforts to
promote dialogue to peacefully resolve conflicts between
people in Africa and around the world; and
(3) extols the contributions of Archbishop Tutu to South
Africa, the United States, and the international community.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Ros-Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa.
General Leave
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, again I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from American Samoa?
There was no objection.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.
First of all, I would like again to thank our distinguished chairman
of the committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), and our
senior ranking member of the committee, the gentlelady from Florida
(Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for their support in bringing this legislation to
the floor.
I would particularly like to thank my distinguished colleague, the
chief sponsor of this legislation, the gentlelady from Texas (Ms.
Jackson-Lee) for introducing this important resolution to honor
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa for his lifetime of human
rights work.
Madam Speaker, Archbishop Tutu is unquestionably one of the most
important and accomplished advocates of human rights and peace on the
face of this planet. In the past few years, Bishop Tutu has worked
tirelessly to promote religious freedom and self-sovereignty around the
world, using his reputation and his work in South Africa as a launching
pad to do good. For instance, he has worked to highlight the horrendous
human rights situation in Burma and repeatedly called on the Burmese
Government to free the champion of democracy there, Aung San Suu Kyi.
But of all his work for humankind, he is perhaps best known for
chairing the South Africa Peace and Reconciliation Commission after the
scourge of apartheid ended in that nation.
Under the rule of the Afrikaner Nationalist Party, black South
Africans were subjected to unspeakable dehumanizing social policies and
draconian laws. These terrible measures separated families, denied a
decent education to millions of children, and forced hundreds of
thousands from their homes into segregated territories, or bantustans.
Given the nature of the oppression, South Africa could have been a
country washed in blood by black Africans seeking revenge once white
minority rule ended. But through his characteristic patience and
wisdom, Bishop Tutu helped guide South Africans, black, brown and
white, through a national process of reconciliation, a forum where the
horrors of apartheid were told by both victims and perpetrators. And
most importantly, there was no retribution, only truth and
reconciliation.
Bishop Tutu and his colleagues traveled throughout South Africa, from
village to village, and allowed apartheid's victims to speak as long as
they needed to tell their stories. For days at a time he sat and
listened to stories of the hellish nightmare innocent victims of
apartheid had to endure.
The process of simply telling proved an enormous healing experience
for individuals in the South African nation. And the stories have been
archived so that South Africans in the future can know their past and
can appreciate their present.
This effort, and his spiritual leadership throughout the trying times
of his nation made Bishop Tutu an international hero. He is a human
rights
[[Page H10089]]
champion and has been the winner of numerous awards, including the
prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.
Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Bishop Tutu's 76th birthday next
month, we should be mindful of the lessons he has brought in his
service to mankind, particularly in this troubling time when human
rights violations are still so widespread around the world.
As he said famously in his Nobel Peace acceptance speech,
``Oppression dehumanizes the oppressor as much as, if not more, the
oppressed.''
That axiom, to me, Madam Speaker, is a profound admonition to tyrants
around the world.
And I cannot help, Madam Speaker, but to say that if you say
something about Bishop Tutu, you have to add his colleague, Nelson
Mandela. Now here was a man that was in prison for 29 years, almost 30
years. And you would think that there is nothing on his mind than to
seek vengeance and retribution against what the apartheid government
did to him for all those years, but instead, as far as I'm concerned,
the most Christ-like person that has ever come out of that prison, Mr.
Mandela, and for the leadership that he displayed in bringing all
different factions, nationalities and ethnicities in South Africa
together to build a good nation.
I remember years ago, Madam Speaker, the World Cup. I don't know if
my colleagues are familiar with the sport of rugby, but the World Cup
rugby tournament is on in France right now. Years ago, the all-black
rugby national team representing New Zealand had a very difficult time
playing against the Spring Boks from South Africa, especially if they
had an Amari Polynesian or a Samoan Polynesian as a member of that all-
blacks team. The Spring Boks of South Africa refused to play the all-
blacks of New Zealand simply because there are two people of color that
are members of the team representing New Zealand. They got the two
countries pretty heated at times. There was no question about the
bigotry and the racism that existed at that time as far as apartheid is
concerned.
{time} 1115
Madam Speaker, today we honor Bishop Desmond Tutu and all that he
represents, and I call on my colleagues to vote to support this
important legislation.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today also in support of House Resolution 34,
which honors the Most Reverend Desmond Tutu, the Archbishop Emeritus of
Cape Town, South Africa; and an outspoken advocate for peace, equality,
and human rights around the globe.
While Archbishop Tutu is regarded by some as a controversial figure,
he is universally recognized as a hero in the struggle against the
apartheid regime in South Africa. There he served as a beacon of hope,
committed to peace and unity in an era marked by violence and
oppression. He passionately advocated for nonviolent opposition to the
racist apartheid regime while campaigning internationally for the
imposition of economic sanctions against South Africa.
And even in the face of the most egregious human rights abuses
reinforced by draconian laws, including the Population Registration Act
of 1950, the Group Areas Act of 1950, the Lands Act of 1954 and 1955,
and the Bantu Homelands Citizenship Act of 1970, he inspired
disenfranchised South Africans to believe that one day justice would
prevail and freedom would come.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I thank my colleague and dear friend from Florida
for her statement in support of this resolution.
At this time, Madam Speaker, it is with pleasure that I yield 5
minutes to my good friend, the chief sponsor of this proposed bill, the
gentlewoman from Texas, senior member of the Judiciary Committee and
also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, let me, first of all, thank
my distinguished colleague, the manager of the bill and a distinguished
member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman Faleomavaega, for the
very kind words that he has offered; and to the ranking member of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for her
supporting words; and chiefly two very important persons who have
assisted in this legislation, Chairman Lantos for his support and the
very excellent committee staff that have supported us, along with our
dear subcommittee Chair, Donald Payne, who is renowned for his
commitment to Africa, and certainly we appreciate his friendship and
support of this legislation.
Might I acknowledge the cosponsors who were eager to join to
recognize this distinguished but bountiful with words and compassion in
his small package of a man but yet his gigantic heart, mind, and
spirit, Bishop Mpilo Tutu, who, as you can see, is a man that commands
thousands for his vision.
We are proud to be able to, nearing the 76th birthday, acknowledge
his 75th birthday and his 75th year. So might I also express
appreciation for my staff, Yahannus Tsahani and Nina Besser, for their
help in this legislation.
Let me say to you, Madam Speaker, that Archbishop Tutu was not lost
with words or passion. He said, ``I am not interested in picking up
crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers
himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.'' He is a man of
immense courage and vision. He has long served as the moral voice of
the oppressed populations. No one who has ever met, spoken to, or
worked with Archbishop Tutu is the same afterwards.
He is, of course, linked with Father Mandela, arm in arm as Father
Mandela maintained his life and his integrity for 29 years. It was
Bishop Tutu who had a voice, steering the religious and faith community
away from its closed attitude to open to the Beatitudes, that, in fact,
``Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.'' Bishop Tutu
believed in that.
As a tireless advocate for ending discrimination, Desmond Tutu's
career is truly extraordinary. In 1975 he became the first black
African Dean of Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg, South Africa. From
1976 to 1978, he served as the Secretary-General of the South African
Council of Churches, once again being the first black African to do so.
He went on to head South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission
from 1996 to 1998, investigating prior apartheid-related crimes.
It would be interesting if we were at that point in Iraq, but we must
set the picture of what it means to bring together a commission that
addresses the pain and hurt, brutality and devastation of black
Africans, South Africans, at the hands of apartheid. It was not easy.
It would have been better to sit in accusatory fashion, point fingers,
and never resolve. But it was the calm demeanor, the spirit, the
religious faith of Bishop Tutu that allowed this process to go forward
and to allow it to go forward as others have now looked back and said,
well done, well done.
Archbishop Tutu is perhaps best known for his courageous opposition
to the internationally condemned apartheid regime that persisted in his
homeland until democratic elections were finally held in 1994. It was
for his nonviolent struggle in opposition to apartheid that he was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 in recognition of his courage,
heroism, and peaceful methods. The Nobel committee called him a
``unifying leader-figure in the campaign to resolve the problem of
apartheid in South Africa.'' The committee went on to state, ``the
means by which this campaign is conducted is of vital importance for
the whole of the continent of Africa and for the cause of peace in the
world.'' In a press release discussing the award, the Nobel committee
wrote, ``This year's award should be seen as a renewed recognition of
the courage and heroism shown by black South Africans in their use of
peaceful methods in the struggle against apartheid.''
How wonderful it would be if the conflicts around the world and in
the Middle East would follow this straight and narrow path of a
peaceful opposition.
``This recognition is also directed to all who throughout the world
use such methods to stand in the vanguard of
[[Page H10090]]
the campaign for racial equality as a human right.''
In recognition of his vast intellectual ability, Desmond Tutu has
received numerous honorary doctorates from several universities,
including Harvard, Kent, Columbia, Aberdeen, and Howard. Let me also
indicate as well that he has won the Order of Meritorious Gold Award;
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize; and a number of
others.
He has also been a survivor of cancer. He is someone who has never
stopped teaching, working, and understanding.
And for those of us who are products of America's civil rights
movement, I thought would be appropriate to bring to light and to
attention the reflection of two giants: Rosa Parks and Archbishop Tutu,
to bring together the trials and tribulations, the struggles of African
Americans in the United States with someone who fully understood what
struggle was all about.
I am delighted to join with my colleagues asking for your full
support in honoring Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu, a man who stood
between the schism of two oceans, bringing America and Africa together
through the idea of unity, peace, generosity, justice, and opportunity
for all.
Congratulations, Bishop Tutu. I ask my colleagues to support this
legislation.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 34, which honors
the life and accomplishments of Desmond Mpilo Tutu, South African
Archbishop of Cape Town and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. I have
been pleased to work with the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this
important legislation, and I would like to thank Chairman Lantos for
his support for this legislation.
Madam Speaker, Archbishop Tutu once stated, ``I am not interested in
picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who
considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.'' He is a
man of immense courage and vision, and he has long served as the moral
voice of oppressed populations. No one who has ever met, spoken to, or
worked with Archbishop Tutu is the same afterwards.
As a tireless advocate of ending discrimination, Desmond Tutu's
career is truly extraordinary. In 1975, he became the first black
African Dean of Mary's Cathedral, in Johannesburg, South Africa. From
1976-1978, he served as the Secretary-General of the South African
Council of Churches; once again, being the first black African to do
so. He went on to head South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation
Commission from 1996-1998, investigating prior apartheid related
crimes.
Archbishop Tutu is perhaps best known for his courageous opposition
to the internationally-condemned apartheid regime that persisted in his
homeland until democratic elections were finally held in 1994. It was
for his non-violent struggle in opposition to apartheid that he was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, in recognition of his courage,
heroism, and peaceful methods. The Nobel committee called him a
``unifying leader-figure in the campaign to resolve the problem of
apartheid in South Africa.'' The committee went on to state, ``the
means by which this campaign is conducted is of vital importance for
the whole of the continent of Africa and for the cause of peace in the
world.'' In a press release discussing the award, the Nobel committee
wrote, ``This year's award should be seen as a renewed recognition of
the courage and heroism shown by black South Africans in their use of
peaceful methods in the struggle against apartheid. This recognition is
also directed to all who, throughout the world, use such methods to
stand in the vanguard of the campaign for racial equality as a human
right.''
In recognition of his vast intellectual ability, Desmond Tutu has
received numerous honorary doctorates from several universities
including Harvard, Kent, Colombia, Aberdeen, and Howard. In addition to
the Nobel Peace Prize, Archbishop Tutu has received numerous other
prestigious awards, including the Order of Meritorious Gold Award,
Martin Luther King, Jr. Non-Violent Peace Prize, the Archbishop of
Canterbury's Award for Outstanding Service to the Anglican Communion,
Prix d'Athene, Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, Maguebela
Prize for Liberty, as well as the International Gandhi Peace Prize.
Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu will celebrate his 76th birthday on
October 7, 2007. This legislation recognizes this important date,
honors his accomplishments, and extols the contributions that he has
made to South Africa, the United States, and to the international
community.
I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the life and
accomplishments of this truly extraordinary man. I conclude with
another quote from Archbishop Tutu: ``If you are neutral in situations
of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant
has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral,
the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.'' Archbishop Tutu has
spent his life in defense of the mouse, and his work has proven that,
with proper pressure and leverage, the elephant can be forced to move.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
In recognition of his efforts to peacefully protest an immoral and
unjust system while leading some 20 million South Africans toward
freedom, Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. In
presenting the award, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
recognized that the repression of the apartheid regime was so brutal
that ``a violent rebellion would be an understandable reaction.''
However, he stated, that on a broad front a campaign that is being
fought with the weapons of spirit and reason, a campaign for truth,
freedom, and justice, the contribution that Desmond Tutu has made and
is still making represents a hope for the future. He is an exponent of
the only form of conflict solving which is worthy of civilized nations.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to yield 5 minutes to
my good friend and senior member of our Foreign Affairs Committee, the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, let me thank Mr. Lantos and Ms. Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen and the floor manager, Mr. Faleomavaega, for bringing this
resolution forward, but certainly to the sponsor, Congresswoman Sheila
Jackson-Lee, for her outstanding work that she does on the Africa
Subcommittee.
I rise to speak in support of H. Res. 34, a resolution recognizing
the 75th birthday of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Archbishop Tutu will
celebrate his 76th birthday on October 7 of this year, and the legacy
he has created during three-quarters of a century on this Earth is
truly inspiring.
It is no exaggeration to say that without his courage, commitment,
and leadership, the South Africa we know today may not exist. For over
four decades, Bishop Tutu was a vocal advocate and activist for
democracy and human rights in South Africa. He defended the rights of
not only black South Africans but for brown and white South Africans as
well. As I mentioned earlier, Senator Lugar gave the deciding vote to
override the veto of President Reagan of the Comprehensive Anti-
Apartheid Act, which therefore put sanctions on South Africa, which
helped to move towards a free, democratic South Africa, nonracial.
Archbishop Tutu's support for regime change through reconciliation
between the different ethnic groups in South Africa is well known and I
believe should serve as a model not only in Africa but in Eastern
Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
And I believe that his work as chairman of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission helped prevent open violence and bloodshed in
South Africa in the wake of apartheid following it. Truly Archbishop
Tutu practiced what he preached.
What amazes me about Bishop Tutu is his tireless effort on behalf of
those who are disadvantaged, disenfranchised, and disposed. Many men
would have taken a rest after seeing a vision they worked so hard to
achieve come to fruition. But not him. Not Bishop Tutu. He continues to
advocate for people around the world from West Papua to Zimbabwe.
He has led efforts to bring attention to the spread of HIV/AIDS and
the dangers of extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis, XDR. As a matter
of fact, Bishop Tutu wrote me a letter in February bringing out the
fact that 50 people of 53 in South Africa died from this disease, and I
had a hearing long before the person of the United States traveled
around the world with this XDR, drug-resistant, TB. So it was Bishop
Tutu that brought it to my attention. As a matter of fact, we raised it
with the Foreign Operations appropriations committee, and we were able
to increase the funding for this disease by $50 million in this year's
appropriations bill. The MDR- and the XDR-TB are things where it was
Bishop Tutu who brought it to our attention.
His latest endeavor will be to serve as chairman of the Council of
Elders, a
[[Page H10091]]
group formed by the former South African President Nelson Mandela this
past July. Bishop Tutu worked with Reverend Allan Boesak years ago and
Mr. Oliver Tambo, who was chairman of the ANC.
Archbishop Tutu's tireless work on behalf of the people of South
Africa and, indeed, the world is awe inspiring.
{time} 1130
He should serve as an example to all of us of what compassion and
commitment can achieve. I congratulate him on his life work and salute
him on the occasion of his birthday.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Following the dismantling of the apartheid regime and the conduct of
South Africa's first democratically contested multi-party elections in
1994, Archbishop Tutu was appointed to share South Africa's Truth and
Reconciliation Commission.
Tasked with investigating the gross human rights violations that had
occurred over the preceding 34 years, it was feared that the TRC would
reopen old wounds and once again plunge the country into crisis.
However, Archbishop Tutu used this platform to urge forgiveness and
reconciliation rather than revenge for past injustices. It, therefore,
comes as no surprise that South Africa's TRC now serves as a model for
post-conflict resolutions around the globe. And at nearly 76 years of
age, Archbishop Tutu has not slowed down a bit. Given his continued
advocacy for peace and human rights in Africa and beyond, it is
appropriate that this body honor him again today.
I would like to thank the sponsor, Ms. Jackson-Lee, for introducing
this important resolution and for agreeing to changes so that it
reflects a celebration of his upcoming 76th birthday, which will be
celebrated by all of us on October 7.
Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving us the opportunity to bring
House Resolution 34 to the floor today. And I urge my colleagues to
vote ``yes'' on its passage.
With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers on this
proposed bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 34, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
The title was amended so as to read:
``A resolution recognizing the life and accomplishments of Desmond
Mpilo Tutu, South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, and Nobel
Peace Prize recipient.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________