Date: 2007-01-16
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. I rise in support of this resolution and in support of the honoring. of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. � I can recall. two decades ago. being on this floor with the gentleman from Michigan . and fighting to make sure that we established this holiday. Some may have forgotten that it took more than one time for this to occur. The resolution was defeated on two previous occasions. And I recall that some of us on our side of the aisle voted against it for fiscal reasons at that time. And I also recall. after having that vote. going home and talking with my wife and saying. you know. I think I did the wrong thing. and her giving me the great advice that she gave me. she said. well. if you did. youd better do something about it. And at that time I had the opportunity to approach Congressman Jack Kemp. who had voted against it as well for "fiscal reasons." and working with Ed Bethune and Newt Gingrich and others. attempting to garner enough support from some on our side of the aisle to ensure that the vote would go forward and that we would honor Dr. Martin Luther King. And the argument that was made at that time that I think was successful was that we have many different points of view. as we do today on the war. as we did at that time in how we appropriately deal with the then existing threat of the Soviet Union. many different issues that divided us in terms of our approach. But it seemed important for us to come together from all these different points of view to recognize Dr. Martin Luther Kings contribution to this country where he brought people who had differences of opinion together in a united effort that reminded us very vividly that we are one people dedicated to the proposition that all men and women are created equal. And it was cutting through the differences that we had at that time on a number of different issues that allowed us to come together. And I can recall going to visit Mr. CONYERS in his office and asking him whether it would be of any benefit for those of us who had initially opposed the resolution to come forward in support of it. And I can recall the gentleman from Michigans statement at that time. suggesting that we all ought to come together. So today. as we are again in a period of time in which there are sincere. passionate differences of opinion on issues such as the war and how we approach it. when we have some differences on how we -deal with certain economic matters. when we -have differences of opinion with respect to the extent and the definition of certain applications of affirmative action. isnt it good for us to at least step back and recognize that there is a commonality of purpose. a commonality of dedication. a commonality of the essence of America. that we recognize that we will never be perfect. but as we are moving to make real the promise of the Constitution. the Declaration of Independence. that we actually have more that joins us together than breaks us apart. Because had we not had that belief. and had we not had that as our base decision some two decades ago. we would not now have. as a recognition of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. the national holiday. It is not an African American holiday. It is not a Hispanic holiday. it is not an Irish American holiday. It is an American holiday that recognizes that Dr. King spoke to the essence of America. There could be nothing greater in the annals of American history. in my judgment. than his magnificent statement contained in the letter from the Birmingham jail. where he said that we. as the people. understand the difference between a just and an unjust law. He didnt say let us look at this legal book and tell us where it is. He said an unjust law is a law which violates Gods law. an unjust law is that which we know is wrong. I can also remember his great words in there when people said. Well. arent you a radical? He said. What was Jesus but a radical for love. -He asked that we come together and look in our hearts. as much as our heads. and remember that as imperfect as we are. we do all share in this- tremendous legacy of America. and we honor America by trying to be more true to that promise. I thank the gentleman for this resolution. I thank the manager of this bill for his work today and other days. and I thank the gentleman from Ohio for giving me this time.