[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H6472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PATRIOTIC

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor because 
today is the birthday of my friend, my partner in the fight for justice 
and equality, Nelson Mandela.
  During the height of the civil rights movement and the early days of 
the labor movement, you had to make a decision: Which side are you on?
  So, Mr. Speaker, on this day, of all days, I cannot, I will not stay 
silent when our Nation, our democracy, and the American people are 
under attack. We fought too hard and too long to stand on the sidelines 
when so much is at stake.
  When you see something that is not right, that is not just, you have 
to find a way to get in the way. You have to get in good trouble--
necessary trouble.
  Now is the time to wake up. It is time to be brave, bold, and 
courageous. During the American Revolution, people suffered and died 
for the dream of democracy, for the sacred right to vote, and for the 
ability to choose their representatives. Hundreds and thousands of men 
and women lost their lives to preserve our union and to defend our 
values.
  What I saw on Monday was a shame, an embarrassment, and a disgrace to 
their legacy, their memory, and what they sacrificed. During times like 
these, I encourage every person to take some time and have what I call 
an executive session with themselves and their very souls. Because 
today, Mr. Speaker, each of us faces the question of what it means to 
be patriotic.
  Ask yourself, do you stand with the American people or do you stand 
with a dictator? Do you stand with democracy or do you stand with a 
czar? Do you stand with friends and allies or do you stand with someone 
who approves violent attacks on the media, human rights advocates, and 
struggling democracies?
  Mr. Speaker, the American House is on fire, it is burning, and if we 
are not mindful, if we are not watchful, this fire will consume us all.
  The United States Constitution began with the words: ``We, the 
People.'' You see, the Founding Fathers' very first priority, the very 
first article was to outline the role and the responsibilities of the 
United States Congress in our system of checks and balances.

                              {time}  1045

  The people who elected us are sounding the alarms. Never before has 
our constitutional mandate been more important. Never before have the 
pillars of our democracy been under attack.
  Mr. Speaker, each and every one of us swore an oath of office. 
Whether Democrat or Republican, we all have an equal mission, an 
obligation, and a mandate to uphold this promise.
  Mr. Speaker, the time has come, and the question is simple: Will you 
show up for duty?
  Congress must speak up, we must speak out, and, Mr. Speaker, we must 
act. If we fail to do so, history and the American voters will not be 
kind.
  The threat is occurring in realtime on our watch, and the ball is in 
our court. The clock is ticking, and there is no time to waste.

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