[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF 
                                 PEACE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 2016

  Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer a resolution 
recognizing September 21st as the International Day of Peace.
  This year marks the 35th anniversary of the United Nations declaring 
the need for the global community to celebrate an International Day of 
Peace. Around the world, today is an inclusive effort towards 
encouraging, promoting, and recommitting to peaceful action and 
ceasefire.
  At a time when war, violence, and conflict dominate the news 
headlines, peace may seem a distant and lofty goal. However, during 
times like these I am reminded of a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr.--``Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which 
rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a 
method is love.'' Mr. Speaker, I have witnessed seemingly 
insurmountable obstacles of hate be toppled by the spirit of love. It 
is for this reason that I continue to have faith in the possibility of 
positive and good change.
  Every year, I fight tirelessly to protect the U.S. Institute of Peace 
(USIP), an organization which serves as the key link between U.S. 
national security agencies and their global counterparts to prevent and 
resolve conflicts. I believe in my heart of hearts that USIP's mission 
and work are critical to our national security and foreign policy 
priorities.
  A few years ago, after leading a congressional delegation to India to 
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Dr. and Mrs. King's pilgrimage, I 
introduced a bill--the Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act. 
This bill teaches the doctrine of nonviolence, the effectiveness of 
applying the principle of Satyagraha, or non-violent resistance, to a 
new generation of emerging global leaders and scholars. USIP was on the 
same page and developed educational modules on nonviolent civil 
mobilization.
  In my core, I also believe that peace work begins at home. It is for 
this reason that I was so encouraged when the U.S. Institute of Peace 
launched the inaugural USIPeace Teachers program, which selected 
educators from across the country to incorporate peacebuilding into 
their curricula. My constituent, Timothy McMahon, a teacher at Atlanta 
International School, was an inaugural participant in this great 
program, and sought to instill the skill of effective, mindful dialogue 
in his classroom.
  You see, Mr. Speaker, peacefulness begins at the local level, within 
each community, and in every person. Nearly a year ago, His Holiness, 
Pope Francis addressed the U.S. Congress, and he reminded us of the 
Golden Rule--``To treat others as we treat ourselves.'' On days like 
today, I encourage each of my colleagues not only to cosponsor this 
resolution, but also to consider how even the smallest act can make 
this world a little better, a little more peaceful, a little more 
loving for generations yet unborn.

                          ____________________