[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H2948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         DESPITE OUR DISAGREEMENTS, WE ARE ALL STILL AMERICANS

  (Mr. BOCCIERI asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BOCCIERI. Mr. Speaker, many economic indicators show that our 
country is in her greatest time of need since the Great Depression, 
with too many citizens unemployed, losing their homes and their jobs, 
and they're looking to us here in Washington for leadership.
  I become increasingly alarmed when I hear the voice of divisive 
mainstream media hosts attempting to inspire others to join them in 
wishing failure upon our government, our elected President, and our 
country in crisis. To wish failure on our elected leaders is to wish 
failure upon our financial markets, our businesses, our workers, and 
our children.
  Ironically, during the debate leading to the Iraq war conflict, many 
of the same ``opinion leaders'' suggested that anyone who held a 
contrary opinion to the President about going to war was somehow 
uninspired, unpatriotic, and even un-American.
  I put my life on the line for this country along with my brothers and 
sisters in the military so such ill wishers could say whatever they 
wanted to. The minority's wishing that President Obama fail is wishing 
that our Nation fails and inflames and ignites and divides our great 
Nation.
  This is the time for a debate of ideas and solutions. In this great 
time of need, I reject extremism that divides our country, and we 
should all embrace a voice that unites us around a common thread: that 
despite all of our disagreements, we are all still Americans.

                          ____________________