CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E1425 the top of our mutual agenda. India's vast pool Pakistan to adhere to the principles of the of the magics that is America is the diver- of highly trained English speaking profes- Lahore Declaration. sity of culture, accepting any and all cus- toms, and yet still adopting them as valid sionals offers our nation critical resources in f Americans. our efforts to stay competitive and to remain PERSONAL EXPLANATION We have known what it is like to be the the world's leader in high tech industry. We underdog, we have felt the ridicule of the need to offer India a security and economic rest of the world, and the pressures of an partnership. HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER often losing struggle to overcome all odds, India's testing must be understood in terms OF NEW YORK against us, and we continue to offer our sup- port to those who feel the stress we felt, and of its verifiable, objective security concerns IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and how the world's nuclear powers have re- more. And each and every one of those peo- Tuesday, June 29, 1999 ple we bring in as our own call themselves sponded to those concerns. Any changes to Americans, yet are they believed by the ma- the Pressler amendment should be considered Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, jority? In our society today, there is great in terms of U.S. national interests in relation to June 25, I was unable to be present for rollcall conflict on every issue that could possibly be Pakistan's behavior. vote No. 256. Had I been present, I would argued over, and people speak of the destruc- Mr. Speaker, I will soon be introducing legis- have voted ``yes'' or ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. tion of the American spirit. Yet the fact lation regarding sanctions against India and 256. being overlooked is that the basis of the Pakistan. However, before we consider any f American way of life is within discord; we have the American right to disagree. But changes in the law affecting Pakistan there that discord brings about a people of accord, must be fundamental changes in the Govern- ARE YOU AN AMERICAN? THOUGHTS FOR INDEPENDENCE does it not? Through the wars fought and the ment in Pakistan. We cannot support a gov- policies enacted, we have always agreed to ernment that permits and encourages actions DAY disagree in one way or another, and that that lead to the murder of Americans or any leads to a harmony of the people. other innocent civilians. HON. JIM McDERMOTT But does an American necessarily have to According, I urge my colleagues to support be a hero, or a recently discovered patriot? OF WASHINGTON Think of the thousands of soldiers whose H. Res. 227. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES names you've never heard, of the ones who H. RES. 227 Tuesday, June 29, 1999 have died for this country in the last 200 or Whereas the United States has a vital in- so years, and of those who survived, who terest in ensuring stability in South Asia, Mr. MCDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, while par- make sure these heroes can live on in Amer- reducing tensions between India and Paki- ticipating in the recent Memorial Day observ- ican hearts. Think of the average working stan, and preventing the spread of terrorism; ance at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in my citizens, those who hold strict morals for Whereas Pakistani-backed armed forces District, I was privileged to hear an inspired themselves and those around them, who live and, reportedly Pakistani regulars, have essay about what it means to be an American. their lives maybe raising a farm and a fam- ily. These people proudly call themselves crossed from Pakistan into Jammu and This essay was composed and presented by Kashmir, India, and occupied Indian military Americans, and we believe them. Why? The Elizabeth [Liz] Bokan, a student at Washington truth is, Americans are people who will die positions that were temporarily abandoned Middle School in Seattle. Many of us in the for the winter season; for their country, who will stand up for their Whereas this incursion has the financial audience were deeply moved by Ms. Bokan's rights and those of the oppressed. Sure, it and military support of Pakistan; eloquence. Her words lend us confidence that may be done with fear in their hearts, but is Whereas Pakistan's strategy is to support our future as a nation is in the good hands of fear not also an American standard? We the armed incursion into Kashmir and re- enthusiastic and creative younger generations. thrive on it, and have never felt the need to negotiate the Line of Control; Mr. Speaker, many of us will celebrate Inde- deny ourselves of it. The people we embrace Whereas the Indian armed forces have been and those who do the embracing are Ameri- pendence Day by participating in naturalization cans. It is a state of mind to be an American, forced into action to defend the territory on ceremonies, helping to welcome new citizens the Indian side of the Line of Control and it is a love and joy in our freedom. I am an push the terrorists and Pakistani military to our ranks. I proudly offer Ms. Bokan's essay American, and if I could, I would tell the forces out; to all my colleagues as we return to our dis- world, but it is enough to know that I can, I Whereas Pakistani armed forces, report- tricts to renew the bonds that hold us together have the right to, and that absolutely no one edly, are involved in these incursions; as a nation this July 4th. can stop my love of the American spirit Whereas the actions by Pakistan are con- which I call my own. ARE YOU AN AMERICAN? trary to the Lahore Declaration, an agree- f ment between India and Pakistan to promote Are you an American? Ask yourself this, regional stability, peace, and security in and you come upon the easy answer, well IN HONOR OF DON FOWLER South Asia; yes, I am an American, as I am a citizen of Whereas the forces include well-trained America. But I ask you, is there not more to HON. JAY INSLEE and heavily armed Afghans and Pakistanis being an American? And how does a true pa- OF WASHINGTON associated with Osama bin Laden, the triot respond to pressure on one's beliefs, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, and the Government while maintaining the presence of mind that IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of Pakistan; and is characteristic of being an American? Tuesday, June 29, 1999 In my school, I have been taking a class on Whereas the Group of Eight (comprised of Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to the United States, France, Germany, Italy, American History. The truth will always United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and Russia) hurt, no less in the sense of what this coun- pay tribute to an exceptional college president on June 20, 1999, called for an immediate end try great. I have learned of battles fought, in my district, Mr. Don Fowler. Mr. Fowler will to the hostilities, restoration of the Line of and unnecessary blood spilled, and to what retire as President of Lake Washington Tech- Control, full respect in the future for the cause? Yet reading these texts, and seeing nical College on June 30, after 19 years on its Line of Control, and resumption of the dia- these illustrations of great American heroes, campus. logue between India and Pakistan in the one thing seems to shine through. The pride Lake Washington Technical College has spirit of the Lahore Declaration: Now, there- individuals appear to hold in their home, in blossomed under Mr. Fowler's leadership. The fore, be it their title, and in their love for themselves college, which enrolls 20,000 students, is the and their people. Does that not signify that Resolved, That it is the sense of the House largest hi-tech college on the East Side. More- of RepresentativesÐ these people were very much Americans? But (1) that it should be the policy of the does each and every person have to measure over, 92 percent of its graduates secure em- United States to oppose the Government of up to the incredible genius of Abraham Lin- ployment upon graduation. Pakistan's support for armed incursion into coln and Benjamin Franklin simply to be Lake Washington Technical College's strong Jammu and Kashmire, India; called an American? commitment to life-long learning is exemplified (2) that it should be the policy of the We are by name the country that accepts by its extensive curriculum. Vocational edu- United States to support the immediate the unwanted of other societies; the Statue cation is just one of the many paths students withdrawal of intruding forces supported by of Liberty asks for the sick and poor of the may choose. This college also offers ad- Pakistan from the Indian side of the Line of rest of the dismal world to travel to Amer- vanced skill training for the employees of local Control, to urge the reestablishment and fu- ica, the land of the free. It is said that we ture respect for the Line of Control, and to have lost our charity, and our openness to industries, hi-tech training, ESL classes for re- encourage all sides to end the fighting and the rest of the world's outcasts, and yet do cent immigrants, and courses geared toward exercise restraint; we not open our lives and hearts to the im- high-school students.