Speech #990066240

What you are doing is a service not only to Soviet Jews. but a service to all Americans. to all human beings that are concerned with human rights and dignity. I think it is particularly important that the focus here tonight be on individual Soviet refuseniks. We know that the Soviet Union has great enmity toward Jews and toward other religious groups. but a special malice for these people who have had the temerity to request permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union. the refuseniks. Mr. Speaker. today we consider the Orwellian madness that is the Soviet Unions policy toward its Jewish citizens. While its enmity toward all Jews. and toward other religious groups is painfully obvious. the Soviet Union reserves its special malice for the socalled refuseniks. Refuseniks are Soviet Jews who have had the temerity to request permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union. In considering the hellish plight of millions of Soviet Jewsand refuseniks in particularit is perhaps easy to lose sight of the individual. And that of course is exactly what the Soviet leaderswhose system is the very antithesis of individual rights and self determinationwould like ui to do.