[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9923-9927]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OPERATION RESPECT, THE ``DON'T LAUGH AT 
                     ME'' PROGRAMS AND PETER YARROW

  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 161) recognizing the achievements of Operation 
Respect, the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' programs, and Peter Yarrow, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 161

       Whereas Operation Respect is a nonprofit organization 
     engaged in a national effort to transform participating 
     schools, after-school programs, and children's summer camps 
     into more compassionate and respectful environments through 
     its ``Don't Laugh At Me'' program materials that address the 
     issues of emotional and physical violence among children;
       Whereas Operation Respect has conducted 230 workshops, 
     reaching over 18,000 educators in 27 States and distributing 
     50,000 copies of its professionally developed curriculum;
       Whereas representatives of this organization have appeared 
     before over 240 educational organizations in 36 States on 
     behalf of Operation Respect, as well as before the Republican 
     conference and Democratic caucus of the United States House 
     of Representatives;
       Whereas the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' program increases mutual 
     respect and fellowship among hundreds of thousands of 
     elementary school children, creating an environment for 
     students that improves focus on academic achievement and 
     encourages an atmosphere of respect and responsibility;
       Whereas the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' camp programs have made 
     the environment at summer camps safer and more secure for 
     children by creating a greater sense of responsibility, 
     justice and fairness;
       Whereas the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' programs have made a 
     significant impact on

[[Page 9924]]

     schools and camps through a curriculum of character education 
     and social and emotional learning;
       Whereas the overwhelming majority of students participating 
     in a recent survey concluded that the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' 
     program was a valuable and beneficial experience and resulted 
     in a diminution of negative behaviors such as bullying, and 
     increased openness and trust;
       Whereas counselors and campers alike who participated in 
     the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' programs agreed that the programs 
     were effective, enjoyable, and positively influenced the 
     academic and character education of the children;
       Whereas the success of Operation Respect and the ``Don't 
     Laugh At Me'' programs has been recognized by the National 
     Conference of State Legislatures and various educational 
     associations, including the National Association of 
     Elementary School Principals, the National Association of 
     Secondary School Principals, the American Association of 
     School Administrators, the Council of Great City Colleges of 
     Education, the National Education Association, the Council of 
     Great City Schools, the American School Counselors 
     Association, the National School Boards Association, the 
     National Middle School Association, and the American 
     Federation of Teachers; and
       Whereas the National Conference of State Legislatures 
     passed a resolution on August 12, 2001, encouraging funding 
     and other support from States for professional development of 
     educators in this arena and recognizing the contributions of 
     Operation Respect in advancing State legislative initiatives 
     to expand social and emotional learning and character 
     education programs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That Operation Respect and the ``Don't Laugh At 
     Me'' program are commended for their major contributions to 
     the sound academic focus, character development, and improved 
     physical safety of children throughout the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Res. 161.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 161, which commends Operation 
Respect, the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' programs' efforts to provide 
character education.
  I would like to take this opportunity to commend the gentleman from 
California (Mr. George Miller) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Cunningham) for their efforts to draw attention to the importance of 
character education programs in our schools.
  In 2001, Congress recognized the importance of character education 
programs like Operation Respect when we passed the No Child Left Behind 
Act. This landmark legislation contains the partnerships in character 
education program that provide grants for character education programs 
that emphasize academic achievement and focuses on elements such as 
citizenship, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness.
  As some may know, Operation Respect is a nonprofit organization that 
assists schools, after-school programs, and summer camps in their 
efforts to create safe and respectful environments for students and 
teachers. Specifically, Operation Respect utilizes music and video, 
along with a conflict-resolution curriculum, to help address the 
problems of bullying and teasing among elementary and middle school 
youth.
  Operation Respect also recognizes the importance of professional 
development by offering workshops designed to provide educators with 
the tools that they need to effectively implement character education 
programs. In fact, over 18,000 teachers have participated in 230 
``Don't Laugh At Me'' workshops in 27 States throughout the United 
States.
  I would also like to commend Operation Respect for their efforts to 
leverage the private sector support for their programs. Through the 
cooperative efforts of community-based organizations, schools, and the 
private sector, students are better able to understand the importance 
of acting responsibly and treating one another with respect.
  Again, I am pleased to recognize the achievements of Operation 
Respect and the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' programs, and I urge that Members 
support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am very pleased that the House of Representatives 
today is considering my resolution to honor the outstanding program 
that is working with school districts, camps, teachers, and students 
across America to promote the healthy social and emotional development 
of children.
  I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham) for 
his cosponsorship of this legislation and for his own strong support of 
Operation Respect. The gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham) was 
responsible for arranging for Peter Yarrow to visit the Republican 
Conference last year to talk about this program and to sing some of the 
songs, an achievement that deserves recognition in the House as well.
  I also want to thank my cosponsors for their support of this 
resolution, particularly the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), who 
is a strong supporter of character education programs in the Labor-HHS 
appropriations bill in recent years.
  Lastly, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and his staff 
for their assistance in having this resolution placed before the House 
expeditiously.
  Most of us here are familiar with the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' program. 
Last year, its founder and tireless advocate, Peter Yarrow of the 
legendary trio Peter, Paul and Mary, spoke to both the Republican 
Conference and the Democratic Caucus about the necessity for, and the 
success of, this program. Many of us have seen him as he has appeared 
before dozens of school boards, teacher organizations, parents groups 
throughout this Nation promoting sound emotional development and 
tolerance among our children.
  We are all painfully aware of the images, language and experiences of 
children that assault their self-esteem, their attitudes toward others 
and their sense of compassion and tolerance. From bullying in the 
schoolyards to the lyrics of many popular songs, to the violence in 
film and news broadcasts, young children in our society, and adults 
too, are assaulted by messages and images of intolerance, brutality, 
victimization, and bias. Any reasonable person must be concerned about 
the impact of those values on these young children, now and throughout 
their lives. And we were concerned that they be taught alternative 
values that help us build closer personal relationships and stronger 
communities.
  Fortunately, there are efforts and institutions that are effectively 
promoting positive values and respect, tolerance and understanding and 
compassion. Our churches and synagogues play that role. Programs like 
Head Start and after-school programs and sports and cultural 
experiences heavily influence children as well.
  The character education programs that this Congress has been funding 
in recent years have similarly made great contributions.
  One of the innovations enjoying great popularity and success and 
which we honor today by the passage of this resolution is Operation 
Respect. Through the diligent efforts of Peter Yarrow and many 
educators, psychologists and advocates that work with him, Operation 
Respect has conducted over 230 workshops throughout the Nation reaching 
over 18,000 educators in 27 States. Tens of thousands of copies of its 
professionally developed curriculum have been distributed to teachers 
in after-school programs and camp operators and others who are 
similarly committed to making a difference in the lives of these 
children. Teachers love this program and have given it

[[Page 9925]]

their strong endorsement. And today we should add the United States 
House of Representatives to that list saluting this great effort on 
behalf of America's children and America's best values.
  Lastly, I would like to note that Steve Seskin, the composer of the 
song ``Don't Laugh At Me,'' which has inspired Mr. Yarrow's efforts, is 
a resident of my congressional district. Mr. Seskin is a very highly 
respected composer and recording artist as well in the folk and country 
venues; and in this case his music has helped to inspire a movement 
that is having dramatic and beneficial effects on millions of young 
Americans. And I appreciate the support of all Members of this House on 
the resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I am very pleased that the House of Representatives 
today is considering my resolution to honor an outstanding program that 
is working with school districts, camps, teachers and students across 
America to promote the health social and emotional development of 
children.
  I want to thank Duke Cunningham for his co-sponsorship of this 
legislation and for his own strong support for Operation respect. 
Congressman Cunningham was responsible for arranging for Peter Yarrow 
to visit the Republican Conference last year to talk about this program 
and sing a few songs, and that achievement deserves the recognition of 
the House as well.
  I also want to thank my other co-sponsors for their support for this 
Resolution, and particularly, Mr. Obey for his strong support of 
character education programs and the Labor-HHS appropriations bill in 
recent years.
  Lastly, my thanks to Chairman John Boehner and his staff for their 
assistance in having this Resolution placed before the House 
expeditiously.
  Most of us are already familiar with the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' 
program. Last year, its founder and tireless advocate, Peter Yarrow of 
the legendary trio Peter, Paul and Mary, spoke to both the Republican 
Conference and the Democratic Caucus about the necessity for, and the 
success of, this program.
  Many of us have seen him as he has also appeared before dozens of 
school boards, teacher organizations, parent groups and others 
throughout the nation promoting sound emotional development and 
tolerance among out children.
  We all are painfully aware of the images, language and experiences of 
children that assault their self-image, their attitudes towards others, 
and their sense of compassion and tolerance. From bullying in school 
yards to the lyrics of many popular songs to violence in film and news 
broadcasts, young children in our society--and adults, too--are 
assaulted by messages and images of intolerance, brutality, 
victimization and bias. Any reasonable person must be concerned about 
the impact of those values on these young people now and throughout 
their lives, and we are concerned that they be taught alternative 
values that help us to build closer personal relationships and stronger 
communities.
  These concerns have great immediacy. Just last week, there was yet 
another example of terrible school violence. A study of school violence 
in California recently concluded that ``alienated and disaffected young 
people are escaping the attention of families, friends and teachers 
until they explode.'' Meanwhile, programs like boot camps, may enjoy 
public approval but consume huge amounts of money and do not have a 
record of success.
  Fortunately, there are efforts and institutions that are effectively 
promoting positive values of respect, tolerance, understanding and 
compassion. Our churches and synagogues play that role; programs like 
Head Start and after-school programs and sports and cultural 
experiences heavily influence children as well. The character education 
programs that this Congress has been funding in recent years have 
similarly made great contributions.
  One of the innovations that has enjoyed great popularity and success, 
and which we honor today by the passage of this resolution, is 
Operation Respect. Through the diligent efforts of Peter Yarrow and 
many other educators, psychologists and advocates who work with him, 
Operation Respect has conducted 230 workshops throughout the nation, 
reaching over 18,000 educators in 27 states. Tens of thousands of 
copies of its professionally-developed curriculum have been distributed 
to teachers, after-school programs, camp operators and others who are 
similarly committed to making a difference in the lives of these 
children.
  As H. Res. 161 states, the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' program ``increases 
mutual respect and fellowship among hundreds of thousands of elementary 
school children, creating an environment for students that improves 
focus on their schoolwork and encourages social and emotional growth.'' 
Evaluations of the program have found overwhelming support for its 
message among teachers, parents and students alike, as well as 
increased tolerance and a reduction in such negative behaviors such as 
bullying.
  Among professional educators and others, Operation Respect has 
enjoyed similar popularity. Operation Respect and the ``Don't Laugh At 
Me'' program has been recognized by the National Conference of State 
Legislatures, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, 
the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the American 
Association of School Administrators, the Council of Great City 
Colleges and Education, the National Education Association, the Council 
of Great City Schools, the American School Counselors Association, the 
National School Boards Association, the National Middle School 
Association, and the American Federation of Teachers.
  Teachers love this program; here's a representative comments from a 
teacher in southwestern Virginia: Over the years I have used many 
approaches and programs, all of which have good points. ``Don't Laugh 
At Me'' encompasses all those strong points into one easy to use 
program. I've seen a difference in my class even though we have only 
used it for a few months. One of the biggest benefits is the dialog 
that comes from using the program. The kids love the CD and found the 
video to be very powerful. Now that I have had a chance to use ``Don't 
Laugh At Me'' and see its benefits, I will be doing a presentation to 
our staff about it. I guess I sound like a commercial, but I honestly 
loves this program!
  Today, we should add the United States House of Representatives to 
that list saluting this great effort on behalf of America's children 
and America's best values.
  Lastly, I would like to note that Steve Seskin, the composer of the 
song ``Don't Laugh At Me'' which inspired Mr. Yarrow's efforts, is a 
resident of my Congressional district. Mr. Seskin is a very highly 
respected composer and recording artist, well known in the folk and 
country venues, and in this case, his music has helped to inspire a 
movement that is having dramatic and beneficial effects on millions of 
young Americans.
  I appreciate the support of all Members for this Resolution today.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Cunningham), a prior member of our committee.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Speaker, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
George Miller) and I quite often get in a rhubarb right here on the 
House floor on issues. This is one we agree on. And I am a hawk. I am a 
conservative. Well, maybe not a hawk, maybe a well-armed dove; but I 
was asked to go to an event and hear a man speak. And I said, Who is 
speaking? And they said, Peter Yarrow. And I said, Who is Peter Yarrow? 
And they said, You know, Peter, Paul and Mary. And I said, I am not 
going to go listen to that anti-war, left-wing guy. And I went. And I 
want to tell Members something. Coming from a conservative and a hawk, 
he is one of the nicest guys I have ever met in my life.

                              {time}  1430

  His heart is true. His politics are terrible. I would say extremely 
wrong. And I disagree with my colleague on tax rates, as well as with 
Peter Yarrow. But I want to say this: Peter Yarrow is doing this not 
for money but for the profound belief that there is a better way to 
reach out to children.
  Maybe music does bring people together because I have another ``left 
wing'' friend in Steven Stills, as a matter of fact, I think he was one 
of the heads of the DNC and yet we are still good friends. Aviation 
brought us together and music brought us together as well.
  Madam Speaker, I want to read something. This is the song ``Don't 
Laugh at Me,'' and I would like every single Member, and Madam Speaker, 
you too, to listen to this.
  ``I'm a little boy with glasses, the one they call a geek.'' Remember 
that in school? I do. ``A little girl who never smiles cuz I got braces 
on my teeth and I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep. I am that 
kid on every playground, who's always chosen last.'' That was me. ``A 
single teenage mother trying to overcome her past. You don't

[[Page 9926]]

have to be my friend if it's too much to ask. Don't laugh at me, don't 
call me names, don't get your pleasure from my pain. In God's eyes, 
we're all the same. Some day we'll all have perfect wings. Don't laugh 
at me.
  ``I'm a cripple on a corner, you pass me on the street. I wouldn't be 
out here begging if I had enough to eat. And don't think I don't notice 
that our eyes never meet. I lost my wife and little boy when someone 
crossed that yellow line. The day we laid 'em in the ground was the day 
I lost my mind.''
  And the song goes on and on, Madam Speaker. Peter Yarrow's idea is 
that maybe in Columbine, where one of the worst things we did was we 
took the young men that knew about the young man that went in and 
killed a bunch of students was arrested, and they drove him out 
further, but Peter Yarrow's idea is that we are all the same yet we are 
all different.
  I look at Gary Condit on this House floor. Many of us tried to 
befriend Gary Condit. Think about how he must have felt. I think we 
need to think about those kinds of things as individuals when we see 
people that are outside. In our major military institutions, the Naval 
Academy, the Air Force Academy, we will find each year that someone 
takes a dive off the top of a building. They have found that in most 
cases the individual has isolated themselves away from the rest of his 
group.
  Maybe in Columbine, instead of the young men that had been ostracized 
from their group, maybe if they had been brought back into the group, 
the suicides and things like Columbine maybe would not have happened.
  Madam Speaker, this is endorsed by every major school institution we 
take a look at. When I went through POW training in Eglin Air Force 
Base, one of the things they showed us was that if someone was going 
over to the other side, the enemy side, instead of chastising that 
person, you reach out to bring them in, to bring them into your group, 
to make them feel whole. That is what this program does.
  I want to thank my friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller), and my Republican colleague for supporting this, as well as 
the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), who is a good friend who knows 
Peter Yarrow very well, and I ask my colleagues, Madam Speaker, to 
support this.
  This is about a program that I believe in and that is going to help 
not only children, but adults all over the United States.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume to thank the gentleman for his remarks. The fact 
that he and I are working together on this, when we disagree on so many 
other issues, is in the spirit of this program. And as our great former 
Speaker, Tip O'Neill, used to say, you have to be able to disagree 
around here and not be disagreeable. I am working on that talent, but I 
have not achieved it yet. But this is in that spirit.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Frost).
  Mr. FROST. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I am here today to express my support for House Resolution 
161 honoring Peter Yarrow's Operation Respect and ``Don't Laugh at Me'' 
programs. These important programs are designed to promote compassion 
and tolerance among children in after-school programs and summer camps.
  I first met Peter Yarrow some years ago and became better acquainted 
with him when I served as co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force on 
Youth Violence. And during the last Congress, when I was Chair of the 
Democratic Caucus, I arranged for Peter to appear before our caucus and 
make a presentation about his program, and it was an extraordinary 
presentation.
  One of the things our task force heard from youth violence experts 
was the extremely harmful effect of bullying and ridiculing among young 
people. The goals of these important programs are aimed at making sure 
the tragedies of Columbine never occur again. They seek to build an 
environment of respect so that our children will grow to be kind to 
others and foster positive social relationships throughout their lives.
  Several years ago, I witnessed firsthand the positive impact this 
program can have. Peter Yarrow held a concert as a part of the ``Don't 
Laugh at Me'' summer program, a program that served more than 2 million 
campers that summer. As part of the event, children came up on the 
stage to call for greater compassion and respect and to declare their 
commitment to ending bullying and ridiculing. It was a powerful 
display, and I am so glad this resolution is on the floor today.
  I commend the ``Don't Laugh at Me'' and Operation Respect programs. 
They are truly unique, and they make a difference by encouraging 
greater tolerance among classmates while making the classroom 
environment more conducive to learning and improving academic 
performance. That is why I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this 
resolution.
  Let us honor a truly great program and the men and women who work so 
hard to make a positive impact on our children's lives.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as 
she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I thank both the gentleman from Nevada 
and my colleague from California for offering this resolution in 
support of Operation Respect and the ``Don't Laugh at Me'' program. I 
feel so privileged to have not only heard the presentation, the 
incredible voice, and the power of Peter Yarrow, as the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Cunningham) said, part of Peter, Paul and Mary group, 
sing this, but the way that it resonates in one's heart when you hear 
it, and I am sure in the minds of school children who welcome the words 
of tolerance and respect that are in this song written by Steve Seskin.
  The program is to create the sound emotional development, the 
personal growth, the physical safety of our children, to promote 
antibullying and compassion and tolerance among children. The gentleman 
from California (Mr. Cunningham) began to read some of the lyrics that 
are in this song, and we can just picture that wonderful voice of Peter 
Yarrow, so let me once again add a few more words in this song.
  ``Don't laugh at me, don't call me names, don't get your pleasure 
from my pain. In God's eyes we're all the same. Some day we'll all have 
perfect wings. Don't laugh at me. I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm 
tall, I'm deaf, I'm blind. Hey aren't we all. Don't laugh at me. Don't 
call me names. Don't get your pleasure from my pain. In God's eyes 
we're all the same. Some day we'll all have perfect wings. Don't laugh 
at me.''
  In 2002, Operation Respect began shifting its strategy from making 
presentations to a lot of these educational organizations to fostering 
systemic and sustainable implementation of its own programs as well as 
long-term comprehensive character education and social and emotional 
learning by opening State affiliates around the country. Now there are 
affiliates in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, 
where I am from, and Ohio.
  In Illinois, it is headed up by this wonderful woman, Flora LeZar, 
who was Executive Director of Operation Respect. She is helping, and I 
am working with them, to set up this program in Illinois identifying 
supporters in and around Chicago. And we are now in discussions with 
Columbia College's Office of Community Arts Partnerships, as well as an 
Evanston-based, that is my hometown, arts and education foundation, the 
Shanti Foundation, to partner in the implementation of ``Don't Laugh at 
Me'' in several Chicago public schools.
  I am looking forward to one of the schools in my district, an 
elementary school called Boone School, we are hoping that that school 
will have the benefit of the don't laugh at me program.
  Finally, let me just say this. Our world today is so marked by 
mistrust, where there is so much intolerance around the globe and here 
at home as well; a failure to really understand each other's cultures. 
In a country like

[[Page 9927]]

the United States of America, which is so wonderful because of its 
diversity, because we have so many people and children with different 
values that come to our public schools, that is our strength. But we 
need to help develop an appreciation of that in our children. It 
prepares them to be adults and leaders in a world that embraces 
diversity, that understands the differences among people and then can 
work to bring us all together for a world of peace and harmony.
  So this is more than just a little program or one song, this is a 
philosophy of education and really a philosophy about the way that all 
of us should live our lives. So I congratulate Peter Yarrow and 
Operation Respect and the ``Don't Laugh at Me'' program. I am just 
happy to be able to support this resolution and to be part of advancing 
this effort.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume to thank the gentlewoman for her remarks, and to 
thank again the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) for his help in 
getting this legislation to the floor; to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Cunningham) for his cosponsorship and his support for this 
program; to our speakers this afternoon in support of this resolution; 
and the gentleman from Nevada for taking time out to bring this to the 
floor this afternoon under suspensions.
  Finally, I want to thank my very long-time dear friend, Peter Yarrow, 
for all the time and the effort that he has taken on behalf of the 
children of this Nation to promote their healthy development and their 
emotional stability. He has reached out to so many people across this 
country and made them aware of this effort, of this need on behalf of 
our children. It is a wonderful gift that he has given to the children 
of this Nation, to the educators of this Nation, to caregivers in all 
different settings for our children, and I just really want to thank 
him for that effort. I am honored to sponsor this legislation, and I 
want to thank the House for giving us time to bring it to their 
attention and I ask my colleagues to support it.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 161, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Resolution 
recognizing the achievements of Operation Respect and the `Don't Laugh 
At Me' programs.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________