[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 110 (Friday, July 8, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WE NEED WORDS OF HEALING INSTEAD OF WORDS OF HATE

  (Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, sometimes--not all the time, but 
sometimes--out of chaos we can find our purpose. It is going to be my 
prayer this night and for the next few nights that this body can see 
clearly that our purpose is to lead our Nation away from the edge of 
the mare's nest of fear and a response to fear that creates even more 
fear.
  We do so by understanding that words matter. Words matter. They can 
do damage.
  I grew up in public housing in Texas right outside of Dallas, Texas, 
and in the projects they would say: Sticks and stones may break my 
words, but words can never hurt me. It wasn't true when I was a boy, 
and it is not true today.
  Words can hurt; words can horrify; words can hinder; but words can 
also heal. One of the things we need more today than we have in the 
immediate past, are words of healing instead of words of hate.

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