Transcript [PDF] - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

41
clear, so many have spoken already that the two countries that are
involved have been working and trying to work this out.
And that is the way it should be, and my argument for less intervention
around the world really fits into this argument. But those
who are arguing for the nonintervention and staying out of this
and see so clearly how this does not serve our special interest, I
would just suggest to them to look at our foreign policy as well. Because
getting involved in the military conflicts of the world have
an immediate consequence much worse than us getting involved in
this.
Circumstances like this, I think we as Congressmen have a perfect
right to have personal opinions and historic opinions. But to
try to solve the emotional conflicts that have gone on by legislation
in taking one side over another and having one hyphenated American
group against another hyphenated American group, one country
against another country, this does not serve our interest, it
doesn’t serve the cause of peace, and it would be much better if we
look forward rather than backwards.
I think a resolution like this looks backwards, so I will be voting
no, not because I am taking a position but precisely because my position
is hopefully some day in the future we will have a lot less
of this discussion and these resolutions coming up not only dealing
with the past but also the current events that we have today as
well as our future around the world. I think the position that we
look after our own interests and follow a policy where we don’t get
involved in the internal affairs of other nations or the conflicts of
other nations would serve our interests well.
And that is not dropping out, that is not ignoring the world, because
there is no reason why we can’t pursue a foreign policy
where we talk with people, have diplomacy with people, trade with
people, and friendship with people, without picking sides. The
squabbles should be dealt with by governments themselves or the
people themselves within a country. At the same time if there are
border disputes or disputes between countries, it should involve
them rather than us believing that we can come in and settle the
dispute and make the world better. I think if we take a position
of more of neutrality and independence away from making these
decisions, the better off the world would be. I yield back.
Chairman BERMAN. Time of the gentleman has expired. The
gentlelady from California seeks recognition
Ms. LEE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and let me thank you and
Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for bringing this bill, H. Res. 252
for consideration before the committee. I am one of those who will
be at the White House, and I just want to register my support for
the bill. I am going to try to get back before the vote, Mr. Chairman,
but I join my colleagues today in recognition of one of the
greatest tragedies of the twentieth century, the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian Genocide, of course, began in 1915 when Armenian
leaders were rounded up, deported, and killed. One-and-a-half
million Armenians were murdered, and countless others displaced
and deported. The world must not forget the Armenian Genocide
nor the lives that this event claimed. We should never ever forget
this, and this resolution I think is extremely important in this day
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