Mr. Speaker. in the last several days there has been much discussion. a great deal of it profoundly distressing. about the plight of the thousands of refugees from South Vietnam who are now in our country. The distressing part of the discussion has been coming from certain segments of the population. aided and abetted. very unfortunately. by a number of national leaders. particularly within the Congress. It is my sincere conviction that the American people as a whole do not share the sentiments of some of the hotheads who have been shouting that these people are not welcome here. Indeed. I was gratified to learn yesterday that the State Department has been literally flooded with calls from citizens asking how they can help the refugees. and in many instances specifically offering employment. housing and other assistance to them. That is the American spirit. the true American spirit. For we are not only a Nation of immigrants. we are a Nation of compassion. Now is not the time to repeal the Statue of Liberty. nor to offer schemes for deporting these people. schemes reminiscent of the racist "back to Africa" efforts directed at blacks years ago. I am proud of America. proud of our heritage. proud to say that we have been. and I believe will continue to be. a refuge for the oppressed peoples of the world. Congress must do its part in that effort. and rise above the rantings of a few who seem to feel that because they disagreed with the Vietnam policy of administrations of both parties they can turn their backs on the human beings who have suffered the most from the Vietnam war.
Keywords matched
immigrants deporting refugees