July 24, 2001 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 14391 Asia, that is not only in our national interest, urge you to press the Indian government on mill, and a store and post office. Among other it is the right thing to do. Fortunately, there are this issue and urge them to hold a free and professionals and tradesmen, it had a taxi- measures we can take to help bring freedom, fair plebiscite on the question of independ- dermist, a shoemaker, a constable, a milliner, peace, and stability to that dangerous region. ence, monitored by the international com- a barber, a liquor dealer, a druggist, black- munity. This would go a long way towards The time has come to stop providing American establishing stability, peace, and freedom in smiths, wagon makers and two justices of the aid to India—remember, this is public South Asia. peace. Though not yet incorporated as the Vil- money—until India begins to treat all its peo- Sincerely lage of Vanderbilt, by 1887 a community had ple fairly and ends the repression against the DR. GURMIT SINGH AULAKH, sprung to life in the North Woods, much as minorities. The other thing that we can do is President, the writers of the Northwest Ordinance had strongly urge India to hold a plebiscite, not just Council of Khalistan. envisioned 100 years before. in Kashmir as it promised in 1948, but in f Elizabeth Haus, village president, has said Khalistan, Nagalim, and everywhere else that that residents have planned ‘‘an old-time cele- people seek their freedom. This will help to MARKING THE CENTENNIAL OF bration’’ to mark the milestone 100 years. In defuse the tense situation in South Asia and THE VILLAGE OF VANDERBILT, addition to celebrating the centennial of enhance America’s national security by bring- MICHIGAN Vanderbilt’s incorporation, the community will ing us new allies in the subcontinent. also mark the 100th birthday of the Vanderbilt Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Coun- HON. BART STUPAK Community Church building, one of the cen- cil of Khalistan’s letter to President Musharraf OF MICHIGAN ters of community life. into the RECORD for the information of my col- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my House leagues. Tuesday, July 24, 2001 colleagues join me in wishing the people of COUNCIL OF KHALISTAN, Vanderbilt a joyous centennial celebration and GURU GOBIND SINGH JI, TENTH MASTER, Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, certainly one of in praying the community can thrive and con- Washington, DC June 27, 2001. the milestone events in the history of our na- tinue to be a great place to live, work and Hon. GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, tion was the adoption of the Constitution by a raise families. President of Pakistan, convention of the states in 1787. But another f Islamabad, Pakistan. significant event in our history took place that DEAR PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF, On behalf of TRIBUTE TO EDWARD AND SALLIE the Sikh Nation, I congratulatle you on be- year. Congress, operating under the governing coming President of Pakistan. We hope and document known as the Articles of Confed- MCCLAIN pray that this step will be useful for the peo- eration, approved a plan for the growth of the ple of Pakistan, the Sikhs, and the people of Untied States known as the Northwest Ordi- HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN South Asia. nance. OF SOUTH CAROLINA Soon you will be visiting India. We sin- I call these facts to mind, Mr. Speaker, be- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cerely hope that your visit will go well and cause the Northwest Ordinance spelled out to will be productive to the cause of peace and Tuesday, July 24, 2001 freedom in South Asia. the world that the United States planned to While you are in India, I urge you to visit settle the areas that would eventually become Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Sikhs Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and my own pay tribute to Edward and Sallie McClain of who visited Nankana Sahib last fall were so state of Michigan. Charleston, South Carolina, who have been well treated that we know you are a friend of Despite this early commitment by the young chosen as the South Carolina Parents of the the Sikh Nation. Your visit to the Golden nation to expand, settlement came late to Year for 2001. Reverend and Mrs. McClain Temple will enhance your friendship with many of these areas. In my congressional dis- will be honored on July 25, 2001 with this the Sikh nation. You are aware that India divided Pakistan trict the Village of Vanderbilt is celebrating its prestigious award at the seventh annual Con- through a war and created the nation of Ban- centennial, making it a young community even gressional Parents’ Day Celebration cospon- gladesh. You are also aware that India prom- by the standards of this young nation. The sored by The American Family Coalition and ised in 1948 to hold a plebiscite on the future community plans to mark its celebration with The Washington Times Foundation. of Kashimir. Fifty-three years later, that three days of festivities at the end of July. Reverend and Mrs. McClain have been mar- plebiscite has still not been held. The people Communities like Vanderbilt sprang into ried for 42 years. They have nine children, of Punjab, Khalistan also seek their freedom, being when railroads pushed north into the twenty grandchildren, and two great-grand- and General Javed Nasir has endorsed the vast timberlands of the upper Midwest. Van- children. All of their children lead successful achievement of Khalistan by peaceful means. In addition, there are freedom movements in derbilt itself is named for Cornelius Vander- lives, ranging from personnel directors and Nagalim, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Manipur, and bilt—famously known as Commodore Vander- electrical engineers to Olympian basketball other nations under Indian occupation. Self- bilt—who in 1866 took over the railroad that players and college students. I have no doubt determination is the birthright of all peoples runs through this small village, located near their success is due in strong part to the self- and nations. Support for the freedom move- the northern end of Lower Michigan. less and unconditional love bestowed upon ments within India’s borders would also be in The efforts of Commodore Vanderbilt to them by their parents and passed on to their Pakistan’s interest, as well as the interest of build for himself a sprawling rail empire are children. peace, freedom, and stability in South Asia. the stuff of American legend, the legendary ty- In addition to this complete and absolute de- In addition, it would help to prevent another war between India and Pakistan. coon did not visit all his holdings. As Vander- votion to their family, Reverend and Mrs. India has murdered over 250,000 Sikh since bilt local historian Bonnie Karslake has written, McClain continually extend their hearts to the 1984, more than 75,000 Kashmiri Muslims ‘‘None of the Vanderbilts ever lived in northern Charleston community. Reverend McClain, a since 1988, over 200,000 Christians in Michigan, even though the town as named for former educator and minister of Calvary Afri- Nagaland since 1947, and tens of thousands of them.’’ can Methodist Episcopal Church, serves on Dalits, Tamils, Manipuris, Assamese, and Bonnie Karslake’s history details the arrival the local school board. Reverend McClain is others. It has admitted to holding over 52,000 of the first permanent settlers and the devel- also one of the founders of the Interdenomina- Sikh political prisoners without charge or trial. Recently in Kashmir, Muslim and Sikh opment of the first local businesses around tional Ministerial Alliance, in which Mrs. villagers caught a group of Indian soldiers 1880. Such business activity, like the Vander- McClain plays an integral role as well. Rev- trying to burn down a Gudwara and over- bilt Bowl Factory under the proprietorship of erend and Mrs. McClain began a soup kitchen powered them. Is this the way of ‘‘the G.G. Williams, were based on forest products. that has operated for 17 years. They hold spe- world’s largest democracy’’? Add to this the As Bonnie’s history makes clear, however, a cial church services every year to honor the fact that India started the nuclear arms race village truly becomes a community when other young people in their church who have in South Asia with their nuclear tests. India businesses and services arrive, such as the achieved academic excellence, and have been is a destabilizing and repressive country Vanderbilt Gazette in 1883 and the Corwith leaders in a highly effective program against seeking hegemony in the subcontinent. President Musharraf, I urge you to support Township Library in 1884. drug dealing in their neighborhood. These ex- the freedom movements in Kashmir, Within a decade of 1879 the community ac- amples are only a fraction of the contributions Khalistan, Nagaland, and all the other na- quired three hotels, a two-story school, three Reverend and Mrs. McClain have made to the tions seeking their freedom from India. I sawmills, a planing and shingle mill, a stave Charleston community.

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