E1588 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 21, 2012 

logical world, an excuse for the murder of people wholly uninvolved in this. 

The question of the judgment of the people 

who made that terrible movie must be kept entirely separate from the question of whether or 

not there was any justification for any of the 

violence that it caused. The answer is, without 

any doubt, that there was not. 

It is bad enough when some leaders of the 

Muslim world suggest that there was some 

justification for killing people because someone felt that their religion was insulted. This 

error is compounded by the extraordinary hypocrisy involved when many of those who declaim what they found insulting are themselves 

guilty of equal vituperation of other religions 

and ethnic groups. 

In an extraordinary, eloquent and thoughtful 

column in the New York Times for September 

19th, Thomas L. Friedman, a balanced commentator on the Middle East who has often 

been very sympathetic to the legitimate concerns of Muslim people, wrote an excellent 

column on the essentiality of free speech, the 

absolutely unjustified nature of violence, and 

the hypocrisy to which I just alluded—and to 

which, to be honest, I was not paying enough 

attention until I read Mr. Friedman’s column. 

As Mr. Friedman says, ‘‘an insult—even one 

as stupid and ugly as the anti-Islam video on 

YouTube that started all of this—does not entitle people to go out and attack embassies and 

kill innocent diplomats. That is not how a proper self-governing people behave. There is no 

excuse for it. It is shameful.’’ Mr. Friedman 

goes on to note, with regard to some in the 

Muslim community who have been demanding 

that America apologize for this, said ‘‘they 

might to look at the chauvinistic bile that is 

pumped out by some of their own media . . . 

insulting Shiites, Jews, Christians, Sufis and 

anyone else who is not a Sunni, or Fundamentalist, Muslim.’’ 

Thomas Friedman’s column should be very 

widely read, both because he has earned the 

right to be taken very seriously on the crisis in 

the Middle East, and because of its wisdom 

and eloquence. 

[From the New York Times, Sept. 18, 2012] 

LOOK IN YOUR MIRROR

(By Thomas Friedman) 

On Monday, David D. Kirkpatrick, the 

Cairo bureau chief for The Times, quoted one 

of the Egyptian demonstrators outside the 

American Embassy, Khaled Ali, as justifying 

last week’s violent protests by declaring: 

‘‘We never insult any prophet—not Moses, 

not Jesus—so why can’t we demand that Muhammad be respected?’’ Mr. Ali, a 39-year-old 

textile worker, was holding up a handwritten 

sign in English that read: ‘‘Shut Up America.’’ ‘‘Obama is the president, so he should 

have to apologize!’’ 

I read several such comments from the rioters in the press last week, and I have a big 

problem with them. I don’t like to see anyone’s faith insulted, but we need to make 

two things very clear—more clear than 

President Obama’s team has made them. One 

is that an insult—even one as stupid and 

ugly as the anti-Islam video on YouTube 

that started all of this—does not entitle people to go out and attack embassies and kill 

innocent diplomats. That is not how a proper 

self-governing people behave. There is no excuse for it. It is shameful. And, second, before demanding an apology from our president, Mr. Ali and the young Egyptians, 

Tunisians, Libyans, Yemenis, Pakistanis, Afghans and Sudanese who have been taking to 

the streets might want to look in the mirror—or just turn on their own televisions. 

They might want to look at the chauvinistic 

bile that is pumped out by some of their own 

media on satellite television stations and 

Web sites or sold in sidewalk bookstores outside of mosques—insulting Shiites, Jews, 

Christians, Sufis and anyone else who is not 

a Sunni, or fundamentalist, Muslim. There 

are people in their countries for whom 

hating ‘‘the other’’ has become a source of 

identity and a collective excuse for failing to 

realize their own potential. 

The Middle East Media Research Institute, 

or Memri, was founded in 1998 in Washington 

by Yigal Carmon, a former Israeli government adviser on counterterrorism, ‘‘to 

bridge the language gap between the Middle 

East and the West by monitoring, translating and studying Arab, Iranian, Urdu and 

Pashtu media, schoolbooks, and religious 

sermons.’’ What I respect about Memri is 

that it translates not only the ugly stuff but 

the courageous liberal, reformist Arab commentators as well. I asked Memri for a sampler of the hate-filled videos that appear regularly on Arab/Muslim mass media. Here are 

some: 

ON CHRISTIANS Hasan Rahimpur Azghadi 

of the Iranian Supreme Council for Cultural 

Revolution: Christianity is ‘‘a reeking 

corpse, on which you have to constantly pour 

eau de cologne and perfume, and wash it in 

order to keep it clean.’’ http:// 

www.memritv.org/clip/en/1528.htm—July 20, 

2007. 

Sheik Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi: It is permissible to spill the blood of the Iraqi Christians—and a duty to wage jihad against 

them. http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/ 

0/0/5200.htm—April 14, 2011. 

Abd al-Aziz Fawzan al-Fawzan, a Saudi 

professor of Islamic law, calls for ‘‘positive 

hatred’’ of Christians. Al-Majd TV (Saudi 

Arabia), http://www.memritv.org/clip/ 

en1992.htm—Dec. 16, 2005. 

ON SHIITES The Egyptian Cleric Muhammad Hussein Yaaqub: ‘‘Muslim Brotherhood 

Presidential Candidate Mohamed Morsi told 

me that the Shiites are more dangerous to 

Islam than the Jews.’’ www.memritv.org/ 

clip/en13466.htm—June 13, 2012. 

The Egyptian Cleric Mazen al-Sirsawi: ‘‘If 

Allah had not created the Shiites as human 

beings, they would have been donkeys.’’ 

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en13101.htm— 

Aug. 7, 2011. 

The Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan video series: 

‘‘The Shiite is a Nasl [Race/Offspring] of 

Jews.’’ http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/ 

0/51/6208.htm—March 21, 2012. 

ON JEWS Article on the Muslim Brotherhood’s Web site praises jihad against America and the Jews: ‘‘The Descendants of Apes 

and Pigs.’’ http://www.memri.org/report/en10/ 

0/0/0/0/51/6656.htm—Sept. 7, 2012. 

The Pakistani cleric Muhammad Raza 

Saqib Mustafai: ‘‘When the Jews are wiped 

out, the world would be purified and the sun 

of peace would rise on the entire world.’’ 

http://www.menuiorg/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/51/ 

6557.htm—Aug. 1, 2012. 

Dr. Ismail Ali Muhammad, a senior AlAzhar scholar: The Jews, ‘‘a source of evil 

and harm in all human societies.’’ http:// 

www.memri.org/report/en10/0/0/0/0/51/ 

6086.htm—Feb. 14, 2012. 

ON SUFIS A shrine venerating a Sufi Muslim saint in Libya has been partly destroyed, 

the latest in a series of attacks blamed on 

ultraconservative Salafi Islamists. http:// 

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa–19380083— 

Aug. 26, 2012. 

As a Jew who has lived and worked in the 

Muslim world, I know that these expressions 

of intolerance are only one side of the story 

and that there are deeply tolerant views and 

strains of Islam espoused and practiced there 

as well. Theirs are complex societies. 

That’s the point. America is a complex society, too. But let’s cut the nonsense that 

this is just our problem and the only issue is 

how we clean up our act. That Cairo protester is right: We should respect the faiths 

and prophets of others. But that runs both 

ways. Our president and major newspapers 

consistently condemn hate speech against 

other religions. How about yours? 

f 

IN REMEMBRANCE OF SAUL MINTZ 

HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER OF LOUISIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 

to honor the life and memory of Mr. Saul 

Mintz, whose ardent presence as a family 

man, business man, and philanthropist in 

Monroe, La., will be sorely missed. 

Mr. Mintz was brilliant in business, opening 

the very successful Strauss Interests with his 

wife, Jean, many years ago, but he will be remembered more for his community philanthropy than his genius for the market. A family 

man and mentor by nature, many of his 

crowning philanthropic works bettered the lives 

of children in 12 parishes in our area. 

The Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana received their first donation 15 years 

ago from the Mintz family, and Mr. Mintz was 

with the Coalition every step of the way thereafter, lending not only financial, but also social 

and philosophical support. Similarly, he and 

his wife were steadfast supporters of the 

Strauss Theatre and were integral to the establishment of a children’s theatre, among 

many other institutions. 

In reflecting on his life, Mr. Mintz said ‘‘I 

don’t think too many people have been submitted to so many opportunities as I. So, it 

would be irresponsible if I didn’t take advantage of what God [has] given me to try to 

leave a better future for others.’’ His grateful 

spirit and humble generosity have won him a 

spot in the hearts of everyone who knew him, 

and he serves as a reminder of the responsibility that we all have to give what we can and 

take care of one another in our families and 

communities. 

When we look back on Mr. Mintz’s life, we 

see a life of giving. Not only did he personally 

do everything he could to better our community, he also preached about the joy of giving 

generously and helping others to anyone who 

would listen. For his three children, 10 grandchildren, one great grandchild, and for all of 

us, the way in which Mr. Mintz led his life 

should be emulated. We are all grateful to 

have known him and will never forget what a 

beautiful and civic-minded person he was. 

To say Mr. Mintz left his fingerprint on the 

world would be an understatement. Countless 

lives have been changed for the better by his 

efforts, and he will stay in the hearts of Louisianians forever. 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS
September 21, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1589 

RECOGNIZING TERRE JONES ON 

THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE WOLF TRAP 

FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 

HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise along with my colleagues, Rep. FRANK

WOLF and Rep. JIM MORAN, to recognize and 

commend Terrence D. ‘‘Terre’’ Jones on the 

occasion of his retirement after 17 years of 

distinguished service as President and CEO of 

the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing 

Arts. Terre’s career in the performing arts 

spans more than 40 years, and he leaves a 

rich legacy both on and off the stage that will 

benefit the arts community and Northern Virginia for years to come. 

During his tenure, Terre helped fulfill and 

then expand Wolf Trap’s mission of providing 

a world-class platform for aspiring and accomplished artists alike at the majestic Filene Center and the 18th century Barns at Wolf Trap. 

Thanks to his innovative spirit, the Foundation 

continues to set new attendance and fundraising records. As the guiding force behind 

America’s only National Park for the Performing Arts, Terre has positioned Wolf Trap 

as a leader not only in the arts, but also in 

connecting education, technology and environmental stewardship through the arts and inspiring passion for those pursuits in a new 

generation. And though its artistic scope is on 

the national and global stages, Terre has 

made sure that Wolf Trap also is a resource 

for our local communities. 

In 2003, Terre helped lead the fund-raising 

effort to establish a National Center for Education on the Wolf Trap campus. Wolf Trap’s 

education programs focus on early childhood 

arts education and also serve as a resource 

for the entire community, particularly local 

school children. More recently, Wolf Trap received a competitively awarded grant from the 

U.S. Department of Education to demonstrate 

the effectiveness of the arts in advancing 

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and 

Math) learning for young children. 

Terre also has strengthened Wolf Trap’s 

connection to its environmental roots. In 2007, 

he launched the Foundation’s ‘‘Go Green’’ 

program with the stretch goal of making Wolf 

Trap carbon neutral. To date, the program has 

decreased the park’s carbon footprint by 20% 

and cut landfill waste in half. Wolf Trap has 

been designated as a Climate Friendly Park 

by the EPA and National Park service. Terre 

also led the effort to establish the National 

Council on the Arts and Environment and a 

partnership with the Aspen Institute on a nationwide Summit on the Arts and the Environment. 

Prior to taking the helm at Wolf Trap, Terre 

served as CEO and artistic Director of the 

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the 

University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He 

previously served as General Manager of 

Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis, Assistant Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Butler 

University, and he also founded the Bradford 

Repertory Theater in Vermont. 

Throughout his distinguished career, Terre 

has received local and national recognition. 

He received the Distinguished Alumni 

Achievement Award from his alma mater, the 

University of Kansas, was named Washingtonian of the Year in 2006 by Washingtonian 

Magazine, and was recognized by his peers 

with the Fan Taylor Distinguished Service 

Award from the Association of Performing Arts 

Presenters. During his tenure as Foundation 

president, Wolf Trap also has received numerous awards and accolades. 

Beyond these accomplishments, we want to 

recognize Terre’s exemplary role not just as 

an arts advocate and executive, but also as 

an individual. When asked in an interview 

what he loves most about his job, he said: 

‘‘People—I don’t think you could do this job if 

you didn’t enjoy people and didn’t like being 

around people.’’ We can all recognize and appreciate Terre’s unequivocal commitment to 

his craft and our community. 

Mr. Speaker, Terre Jones has left a tangible, lasting imprint on the rich history of our 

National Park for the Performing Arts, and his 

legacy will continue to inspire a new generation of artists. We wish Terre, his wife, Polly, 

and their family the continued success as he 

enters this next act of his life, and we ask our 

colleagues to join us in expressing our appreciation for his tremendous contributions to the 

arts, our nation and the Northern Virginia community. 

f 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. AL GREEN OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was unavoidably detained and missed 

the following votes: 

1. H.R. 5044, the Andrew Carpenter Tax 

Act, as amended. Had I been present, I would 

have voted ‘‘yes’’ on this bill. 

2. H.R. 5912, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the use of public funds for political party conventions, and to 

provide for the return of previously distributed 

funds for deficit reduction, as amended. Had I 

been present, I would have voted ‘‘no’’ on this 

bill. 

f 

IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN 

STATEHOOD DAY 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 

honor of Armenian Statehood Day. As the Armenian community in Greater Cleveland gathers to celebrate, I join them in appreciation of 

their rich history and culture. 

September 21, 1991, marks the day that Armenia restored its independence by becoming 

the first republic proclaiming independence 

from the Soviet Union. Armenia was originally 

established by the Artashisian Dynasty in 189 

BC. Following hundreds of years of invasions, 

the last Armenian kingdom fell at the onset of 

the 14th century. The first Armenian democratic republic was not established until 1918, 

which followed the Armenian Genocide in 

1915. Unfortunately, just two years later, in 

1920, the Armenians were occupied by the 

Soviet Union until they declared sovereignty in 

1991. 

Cleveland is home to a strong Armenian 

community which has succeeded in preserving 

their heritage while wholeheartedly supporting 

American society, thereby contributing to the 

unique richness and diversity of our national 

culture. 

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me 

in honor and celebration of Armenian Statehood Day. May every American of Armenian 

heritage hold memories of their past forever in 

their hearts, remembering the day that their 

forbears gained their freedom. 

f 

RECOGNIZING MASTER SERGEANT 

MICHAEL HUNTER 

HON. ADAM SMITH OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to honor Master Sergeant Michael S. Hunter of the 1st Special Forces Group from Joint 

Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, who has 

received the Silver Star and the Bronze Star 

with Valor. These medals were awarded by 

Major General Jeffrey Buchanan, I Corps Deputy Commanding General on September 12, 

2012. 

Master Sergeant Hunter performed many 

heroic acts during his deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He helped execute a joint raid with 28 

Afghan commandos and three other American 

special operators. Master Sergeant Hunter put 

himself in danger to protect others and led the 

way for the U.S. and Afghan special operators. In June 2010, he delivered medical assistance to two injured soldiers during a long 

16 hour firefight. 

His courageous actions earned him the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor. The Silver Star is the Nation’s third highest medal for 

combat valor and ranked fifth in military 

awards. Master Sergeant Hunter’s award is 

also the highest for combat valor that is not 

unique to a specific service branch. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Master Sergeant Hunter for receiving 

the Silver Star and the Bronze Star. I ask my 

colleagues to join me in expressing our great 

appreciation for his dedication to protect and 

serve our country. 

f 

IN CELEBRATION OF THE UNVEILING OF A STATUE OF FREDERICK DOUGLAS IN THE UNITED 

STATES CAPITOL 

HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR. OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to honor an important milestone for our 

nation’s Capitol. The statue of abolitionist 

leader, Frederick Douglass, will soon grace 

the halls of the United States Capitol. This effigy will serve as a reminder of the hard work 

of this great American and civil rights leader 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS