[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 13894-13895]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            TRAGEDY IN INDIA

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the 
House for 5 minutes.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Washington is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sorrow that I rise to 
extend my deepest regrets to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the 
people of India over today's deadly attack.
  Often on this floor we become very centered in our own events and 
don't notice what is happening in the rest of the world. I have 
traveled many times to India. I have enjoyed the company of the Prime 
Minister. He is a good man and a great leader, and I know that India's 
best defense in this time of grave trouble is to be led by a man of 
boundless integrity.
  As I speak, far more is unknown than is known about this cowardly act 
of violence, which occurred today in Mumbai. There is little doubt, 
however, that the atrocity was carried out by people who worship 
hatred, because there is no religion on Earth that condones the killing 
and maiming of innocent people.

[[Page 13895]]

  I recall the words of the great Indian leader, Gandhi, who wrote, 
``The most heinous and the most cruel crimes of which history has 
record have been committed under the cover of religion and equally 
noble motives.''
  Before long, I have little doubt that those responsible will hide 
behind one of the world's great religions to claim sanctuary for their 
violence. The world must not be fooled into accepting their claim.
  In the words of Gandhi, ``Permanent good can never be the outcome of 
untruth and violence.'' Weaving a web of lies cannot conceal this one 
single thread of truth. There is no religion on the planet, not 
Christianity, not Buddhism, not Islam, or all the others, that preaches 
or condones hatred.

                              {time}  1600

  None do. And only the perversion of a great religious ideal and great 
historical figures would pretend otherwise. That is done to try to 
spread more violence.
  An atrocity like the one that occurred today in India is done by 
extremists who are hollow inside. Violence is what they espouse because 
humanity is what they do not possess. Gandhi said about this violence: 
``The roots of violence: wealth without work, pleasure without 
conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, 
science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, and politics 
without principles.''
  The world is filled with problems. No nation is immune. Yet today's 
bombs and the bullets and the bloodshed will not move the world one 
step closer to peace. We cannot shoot our way to peace. Those willing 
to ambush the innocent are not trying to change the world, but they are 
trying to destroy it.
  The world needs people willing to change the world. Change it to 
produce a blue sky morning, not a world in mourning. Gandhi said: ``The 
difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would 
suffice to solve most of the world's problems.''
  Poverty is a scourge of millions in Africa, and it is not lessened by 
one single dime by today's violence. The spread of HIV/AIDS that is 
infecting Africa and now India, millions across India, will not be 
stopped by the blast of a bomb.
  India is a great nation, and the noble spirit of its people will 
overcome today's heartbreak. The bonds between India and the United 
States go much deeper than the democracy that we both practice as 
nations. The personal roots in my hometown of Seattle are deep and 
strong, and I know we all mourn this terrible loss. We proudly 
collaborate on so many levels, from trade and economic ties to cultural 
and charitable exchanges. We have grown close, and the people of 
Seattle would want me to extend to the people of India our deepest 
sympathies over this senseless tragedy. I am sure this is true across 
America.
  The truth is wanton violence meant to divide the world can unite it, 
in sadness today but, to be sure, in strength tomorrow.
  I am proud that I was one of the cofounders of the Congressional 
India Caucus over a dozen years ago. It has grown into a large 
bipartisan body. When it comes to India today, there really is no 
political divide in this House. We are very saddened by what has 
happened, but we are united in offering our support to a nation I am so 
very proud of.
  India, we stand with you.

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