15486 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS June 7, 1981,. EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS OK TO BE PATRIOTIC When President Reagan nominated me to government in which ultimate power was be the Director of Selective Service, some of vested in the citizenry. This power is exer my friends asked me the same question I cised by voting. HON.ROBERTE.BADHAM just put to you Army-philes. They said: In America the ballot is available to all OF CALIFORNIA "What did you do wrong to get named to citizens, and the ballot-box is not rigged. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that assignment?" My friends said they Now a final word on the Declaration of In Thursday, June 7, 1984 sympathized with me because I was being dependence. The document closes with the made responsible for carrying out what ap splendid phrase, "We mutually pledge to e Mr. BADHAM. Mr. Speaker, for the peared to be the most unpopular, most ig each other our lives, our fortune, and our benefit of my colleagues, I would like nored law since the 18th amendment to the sacred honor." That reminds me that the to place into the RECORD an address re constitution had prohibited consumption of strongest test of citizenship obligation is cently given at the Naval War College alcoholic beverages. performance of military service in defense by the Director of Selective Service, Well, to tell the truth, I did inherit a few of the Nation. That test is not being applied the Honorable Thomas K. Turnage. problems. In fact, I inherited one million, today. All a man is required to do at age 18 one hundred and seventy five thousand is to go to the post office and furnish to the Titled "It's Okay To Be Patriotic," the problems. That's how many men had failed Government his name, address, telephone speech pays tribute to America's 18- to register with Selective Service as of Janu number, social security number, and date of year-olds. ary 1982. I accepted that challenge with birth. After having registered, the individ General Turnage said: great relish because I knew registration was ual is free to go to school, to work, to travel, America has an advantage the Soviet a justifiable program, a program essential to to marry, to enjoy all the fruits of living in Union will never match; that advantage is national preparedness. Moreover, having this great country of ours. the quality of our youth-their resourceful been a commissioned officer for nearly 40 Unfortunately, there are a few conten ness, their imagination, their initiative. years, it was only natural that I wanted to tious characters who oppose the painless America's youth understand that entering be at the critical area of the battlefield. And and straightforward act of registration. I'm adulthood brings responsibilities as well as I am pleased to report to you that we have not speaking of the clearly conscientious privileges. Most of all they understand this: won the battle, and are now engaged in person who expresses religious, moral, or It's okay to be patriotic. mop-up operations. More than 12 million ethical objections to military service--al General Turnage reminds America's men have registered, and about 5,000 more though I can argue vigorously that neither are registering every day as they tum 18. registration nor military service is incompat 18-year-old men that the American We now have an overall compliance rate of ible with Christianity. I'm speaking of the Revolution is unfinished business and 97%. confused clowns who think they can make a he exhorts them to adhere to the prin As you entered Spruance Auditorium this political statement by defying the law and ciples of the Declaration of Independ evening, I hope you noticed the Selective refusing to register. These alienated, discon ence and to carry on the Revolution. Service poster that features the Declaration tented, hedonists do not understand that I commend General Turnage's of Independence. We have distributed these the principles of liberty and law are insepa timely remarks to my colleagues' at posters to 25,000 high schools throughout rable. If we are to have self-government po tention. the country. The poster focuses on the sig litically, we must also have self-government natures to the Declaration of Independence. personally. Each citizen must regulate his The speech follows: And our poster carries this message for own life by voluntarily imposing a certain IT'S OKAY To BE PATRIOTIC every 18-year-old man: These signatures amount of restraint and discipline upon
e This "bullet.. symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member of the Senate on the floor. e This "bullet.. symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. June 7, 1984 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 15487 said we are living in "crazy, patriotic, na mean the difference between winning and TALLAHASSEE, FLA.: A CITY tionalistic times!" losing if a war should occur. This savings of WHERE PEOPLE CARE FOR Well, put me on record as saying it's okay six weeks is worth more than its weight in OTHERS to sing "America the Beautiful." And it's gold-because any delay in mobilization okay to be patriotic! More recently, that would not be paid for in gold, it would be same misguided soul made another incredi paid for in blood. HON. DON FUQUA ble statement-she said "There are two ter We are fortunate that the past ten years OF FLORIDA rorists that rule the world-the United have been rather peaceful years. It hasn't IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES States and the U.S.S.R." She made that been a period of peace with harmony. It remark when she was doing a benefit for a hasn't been a period of peace without ten Thursday, June 7, 1984 convicted draft resister! Would it surprise sion. There is much disharmony and tension • Mr. FUQUA. Mr. Speaker, Web you to learn that I prefer Willie Nelson over around the world. Man has not been able to Joan Baez? ster's Dictionary defines "care" in a I bring you a very simple message this abolish war as a means of solving conflicts. number of ways, not the least of evening. My message is found in the title of But we have a President who is dedicated to which is "to love" and "to look after, my remarks, "It's Okay To Be Patriotic." peace. Let me quote President Reagan: provide for." The meaning of patriotism has been much "Peace with freedom is the highest aspira These thoughts came to mind as I debated over the years. I offer my personal tion of the American people. We negotiate noted the persons selected for the five definition of a patriot for your consider for peace. We sacrifice for it. We will never top honors at the Tallahassee, Fla., ation: A patriot is that citizen who loves his surrender for it." sixth annual Volunteer of the Year country and is willing to promote and Students in the audience will recall their defend its interests. I agree with Calvin Coo first weeks here at the Naval War College awards luncheon recently. lidge, who said, "Patriotism is easy to under when they were immersed in Thucydides It seemed to me, in reading the arti stand in America. It means looking out for and the Peloponnesian War. Four hundred cle in the Tallahassee Democrat, that yourself by looking out for your country." years before the birth of Christ, Thucy these recipients were representative of When I say it's okay to be patriotic, I dides, an Athenian who had achieved the the accomplishments of the 121 per mean- rank of general, wrote: "War is a bad thing, sons who were nominated. It is so re It's okay to stand at respectful attention but to submit to the dictation of other freshing and rewarding to see recogni when the National Anthem is played. states is worse." tion given to those who make our lives It's okay to attend parades on Memorial More recently, California author Eric better, rather than having news of Day, the Fourth of July, and Veterans Day. Hoffer put it this way: "You don't start a It's okay to get a lump in your throat such positive accomplishment pushed world war when a democracy throws its out of the headlines because of the when the flag passes by. weight around facing a bully. World wars It's okay to compete for acceptance into a continued inhumanity of man to his service academy. are started when the democracies are too fellow. It's okay to serve on active duty with our unprepared, too frightened, too cowardly, The accomplishments of these re Armed Forces, to join the National Guard too reasonable, too tired, or too humanitari- an.'' cipients are notable and they should or Reserve, to take ROTC in college. serve as a beacon for others. No better It's okay to register when you turn 18. Peace must be more than a slogan-it re That is, it's okay to register if you're an quires a commitment to preparedness. I tribute could be rendered than the ar 18-year-old guy. We have had about 15,000 submit to you that peacetime registration is ticle as it appeared in the May 11, 1984 girls try to register, but Congress and the a key element of national preparedness. Pre issue of the Tallahassee Democrat. Supreme Court have said no to the registra paredness never caused a war; unprepared I ask that it be reprinted at this tion of women. ness never prevented a war. point in the RECORD so that others In the past, some people questioned the If Congress ordered a return to a draft to might be moved and inspired, as was I, necessity of the registration program. They morrow, Selective Service could deliver the in what these recipients have done for asked: Why should young men register first man in 13 days, 100,000 men in the first others. I am grateful to them and when there is no draft; no one has been 30 days, and 650,000 men in first six months. extend my warmest congratulations as drafted in ten years, and a return to a draft We register 18-year-olds, but if there were a is not likely in the foreseeable future? well as a sincere feeling that I am draft, we would begin by calling up the 20- thanking them for a great many I want to to answer that question. Four year-olds. The current draft-eligible popula teen years ago, a Presidential Co:mmi!:sion tion consists of men born between 1960 and others who know and who have been headed by a former Secretary of Defense, 1964. We have over 10 million registrants in the beneficiaries of what. they have reported to President Nixon that it would done. be possible to rely solely on volunteers to this draft-eligible pool. That gives us a fair man our Armed Forces in peacetime. But and equitable system. We have an overall SIX TALLAHASSEEANS RECEIVE AWARDS FOR that same Commission also reported that registration compliance of 97%. I am proud ACTS OF CARING registration should be continued even after of what we have accomplished-but I'm not 81-059 ()-87-85 (Pt. 11) 15492 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS June 7, 198.1, The liberals are counting on the voters to As the New York Times correctly report fortunately, my congressional duties forget that the nation's first upsurge in pov ed, "Census officials said the increases 81~59 Q-87-86 (Pt. 11)