[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE DIVINE PERFORMING ARTS GROUP FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO BRING A 
            MESSAGE OF HOPE AND COURAGE TO AUGUSTA, GEORGIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PAUL C. BROUN

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 2009

  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Madam Speaker, As a medical doctor, I can tell 
you without any doubt that music and the arts have routinely proven to 
have a positive psychological affect on those with low spirits. All 
through history we have seen the use of music and dance lift hearts and 
minds. During the American Revolution and Civil War, music was a way of 
forgetting the horrors of war. During enslavement, African Americans 
sang spirituals to give each other hope. And during the Great 
Depression, there were always music and dance shows to lift the spirits 
of the ``Forgotten Man.''
  Now, in the great city of Augusta, Georgia, the Divine Performing 
Arts will be displaying their ``amazing'', ``magnificent'', and 
``spectacular'' abilities on stage. This group of world-class 
performers will be presenting the beauty of traditional Chinese art as 
their way of fighting ``against the negative impacts of the current 
economic situation and its consequences in the Augusta area.''
  As many cities across the world have already witnessed, these 
performers bring a message of kindness, compassion, and courage, while 
rousing viewers to help the downtrodden in their community. Certainly, 
these themes are inspirational and benefit all of the communities that 
they have visited.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in both welcoming 
and applauding the Divine Performing Arts group to ``The Garden City''. 
They have shown past success in breaking down cultural barriers, and I 
hope my constituents in Augusta take the time to appreciate this 
special performance.

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