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Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H . Con . Res . 49 ) expressing the sense of the Congress that the sharp escalation of anti-Semitic violence within many participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is of profound concern and efforts should be undertaken to prevent future occurrences.
The Clerk read as follows:
Whereas the expressions of anti-Semitism experienced throughout the region encompassing the participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have included physical assaults, with some instances involving weapons or stones, arson of synagogues, and desecration of Jewish cultural sites, such as cemeteries and statues;
Whereas vicious propaganda and violence in many OSCE States against Jews, foreigners, and others portrayed as alien have reached alarming levels, in part due to the dangerous promotion of aggressive nationalism by political figures and others;
Whereas violence and other manifestations of xenophobia and discrimination can never be justified by political issues or international developments;
Whereas the Copenhagen Concluding Document adopted by the OSCE in 1990 was the first international agreement to condemn anti-Semitic acts, and the OSCE participating States pledged to "clearly and unequivocally condemn totalitarianism, racial and ethnic hatred, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and discrimination against anyone as well as persecution on religious and ideological grounds";
Whereas the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly at its meeting in Berlin in July 2002 unanimously adopted a resolution that, inter alia, called upon participating States to "ensure aggressive law enforcement by local and national authorities, including thorough investigation of anti-Semitic criminal acts, apprehension of perpetrators, initiation of appropriate criminal prosecutions and judicial proceedings";
Whereas Decision No. 6 adopted by the OSCE Ministerial Council at its Tenth Meeting in Porto, Portugal in December 2002 (the "Porto Ministerial Declaration") condemned "the recent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the OSCE area, recognizing the role that the existence of anti-Semitism has played throughout history as a major threat to freedom";
Whereas the Porto Ministerial Declaration also urged "the convening of separately designated human dimension events on issues addressed in this decision, including on the topics of anti-Semitism, discrimination and racism and xenophobia"; and
Whereas on December 10, 2002, at the Washington Parliamentary Forum on Confronting and Combating anti-Semitism in the OSCE Region, representatives of the United States Congress and the German Parliament agreed to denounce all forms of anti-Semitism and agreed that "anti-Semitic bigotry must have no place in our democratic societies": Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that–
(1) officials of the executive branch and Members of Congress should raise the issue of anti-Semitism in their bilateral contacts with other countries and at multilateral fora, including meetings of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Twelfth Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to be convened in July 2003;
(2) participating States of the OSCE should unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism (including violence against Jews and Jewish cultural sites), racial and ethnic hatred, xenophobia, and discrimination, as well as persecution on religious grounds whenever it occurs;
(3) participating States of the OSCE should ensure effective law enforcement by local and national authorities against criminal acts stemming from anti-Semitism, xenophobia, or racial or ethnic hatred, whether directed at individuals, communities, or property, including thorough investigation and prosecution of such acts;
(4) participating States of the OSCE should promote the creation of educational efforts throughout the region encompassing the participating States of the OSCE to counter anti-Semitic stereotypes and attitudes among younger people, increase Holocaust awareness programs, and help identify the necessary resources to accomplish this goal;
(5) legislators in all OSCE participating States should play a leading role in combating anti-Semitism and ensure that the resolution adopted at the 2002 meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Berlin is followed up by a series of concrete actions at the national level; and
(6) the OSCE should organize a separately designated human dimension event on anti-Semitism as early as possible in 2003, consistent with the Porto Ministerial Declaration adopted by the OSCE at the Tenth Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in December 2002.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, anti-Semitism is a deadly disease of the heart that leads to violence, cruelty, and unspeakable acts of horror. The anti-Semite is, as Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel grimly wrote last week, an ideological fanatic and pathological racist: "An anti-Semite is someone who never met me, never heard of me, yet he hates me."
While we all are aware and deplore the hate crimes and cowardly acts that are committed routinely by Hamas and their like-minded murderers, what is new, Mr. Speaker, is the enormous surge in anti-Semitic acts and the resurgence of hatred for Jews in Europe, the United States, and in Canada.
Just a brief look, Mr. Speaker, of some of the startling statistics makes the point. In France, for example, there was a 600 percent increase in anti-Semitic acts from the year 2001 to the year 2002. Thankfully, the French have moved with new legislation designed to not only chronicle and get a better handle on how often these hate crimes are occurring, but they are also trying to stop them.
The Anti-Defamation League, Mr. Speaker, did a survey that also showed a spike in five other countries of Europe. They found that 21 percent of the people in those five countries had strongly anti-Semitic perspectives or views. The ADL also looked at the United States and found that 17 percent of our own people in the United States had strong anti-Semitic views. If you extrapolate that, Mr. Speaker, that is about 35 million Americans. That is up 5 percent from just 5 years ago.
H . Con . Res . 49 recognizes this dangerous and alarming trend, condemns this ancient-modern scourge, and calls on each of the 55 countries that make up the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to take concrete steps to eradicate anti-Semitism. The resolution before us today is an unequivocal condemnation of violence against Jews and Jewish cultural sites, racial and ethnic hatred, xenophobia and discrimination, as well as persecution on religious grounds wherever it occurs.
The resolution calls on all the states of the OSCE to ensure effective law enforcement and prosecution of individuals perpetrating anti-Semitic violence as well as urging the parliaments of all those states to take concrete legislative action at the national level. We are encouraging, Mr. Speaker, the creation of education efforts to counter these anti-Semitic stereotypes and the attitudes that we are seeing increasingly among younger people. We are calling for an increase in Holocaust awareness programs, and seeking to identify necessary resources to accomplish these goals.
Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, I chaired a congressional hearing and three international summits on anti-Semitism within the last year alone. Joined by my good friend and colleague from the German Bundestag, Gert Weisskirchen, at the three special summits, and my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), who I thank as well for his good work on this, these summits have focused on this rising tide of anti-Semitism.
The summits, Mr. Speaker, were held in Berlin, in 2002; in Washington, in December of 2002; and in Vienna, earlier this year, in February. We heard from world renowned leaders, including Rabbi Israel Singer, President of the World Jewish Congress; Ambassador Alfred Moses, Abraham Foxman and Ken Jacobson of the Anti-Defamation League; Mark Levin from the NCSJ; Rabbi Andrew Baker of the American Jewish Committee; Dr. Shimon Samuels, director of the Weisenthal Center located in Paris; and many others, Amnesty International and other human rights' organizations, all of whom made very powerful statements about this alarming rise of hate directed towards Jews.
Let me just quote for my colleagues what Dr. Samuels said, very briefly: "The Holocaust, for 30 years, acted as a protective Teflon against blatant anti-Semitic expression. That Teflon has eroded, and what was considered distasteful and politically incorrect is becoming simply an opinion. But cocktail chatter at fine English dinners can end as Molotov cocktails against synagogues. Political correctness is also ending for others, as tolerance for multiculturalism gives way to populist voices in France, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, and the Netherlands. These countries' Jewish communities can be caught between the rock of radical Islamic violence and the hard place of a revitalized Holocaust-denying extreme right. Common cause must be sought between the victimized minorities against extremism and against fanaticism."
Dr. Jacobson pointed out, and I quote, "Sadly, some European leaders have rationalized anti-Jewish attitudes and even more violent attacks against Jews as nothing more than a sign of popular frustration with events in the Middle East. Something to be expected, even understandable, they say."
Mr. Speaker, we have been hearing more and more about this idea of pretext; that there is a disagreement with the policies of the Israeli Government, that somehow that gives license and an ability and permission for some people to hate the Jews themselves. We can disagree, as we do on this House floor. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), and I have been working on this for years, and of course the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos). We disagree on some issues, but anti-Semitism? We do not hate. We do not use that as a pretext, as a front to promote hatred. That is exactly what is happening in Europe, in the United States, and in Canada.
Let me point out too that, as a result of these summits, we have come up with an action plan. Mr. Weisskirchen and I have signed it, it has been agreed to by our commissions, and we are trying to promote it among all our States. Again, education, trying to get parliaments to step up to the plate, and trying to make a meaningful difference to mitigate and hopefully to end this terrible anti-Semitism.
Last week, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) and I joined Rudy Giuliani in Vienna for an OSCE assembly focused on anti-Semitism. We have been doing it in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, but now the OSCE itself has taken up this important cause. And it will be followed up with a meeting, most likely in Berlin next year, to focus on anti-Semitism so that we rally the troops all over the world, starting with Europe, the U.S., and Canada to say "never again."
Let me also point out to my colleagues, and I thought his statement said it all, when Abraham Foxman, who gave riveting testimony at our Berlin conference, pointed out just recently in the Jerusalem Post, just a couple of days ago, and I would like to close with his statement, he said "Anti-Semitism is surging in the world to the extent unprecedented since the end of World War II. Europe must take seriously the ideology of anti-Semitism coming out of the Arab and Islamic world. It must denounce the deliberate targeting of Jews by terrorist groups, whether it be al Qaeda or Hamas. It must denounce the vicious anti-Semitic material in the Arab press and educational systems and call on Arab leaders to do something about it. It must understand that the Holocaust happened not only because Germany was taken over by the Nazis, who developed a massive military power to conquer most of Europe, but also by the complicity–active and passive–of other Europeans. Today, the great threat comes from the combination of the ideology of hatred with Islamic extremists to acquire weapons of mass destruction." And then he bottom lines it and says, "Let Europe never again be complicit in developments of this kind."
Mr. Speaker, this Congress needs to go on record in a bipartisan way, Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, Moderates, and Liberals to say anti-Semitism, never again, and we need to do it strongly today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of the resolution.
First, I want to commend my dear friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of our delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, for his lifelong indefatigable and passionate advocacy of human rights, and his powerful opposition in all fora to anti-Semitism. We are all in his debt.
I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), of the Committee on International Relations, for moving this legislation so expeditiously to the floor. And I want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), the ranking Democrat on our OSCE delegation, for his outstanding work on behalf of all of the causes that the human rights community is interested in.
Mr. Speaker, as the only survivor of the Holocaust ever elected to Congress, I am acutely aware of the dangers of allowing anti-Semitism to go unchecked. The horrors of the Holocaust in World War II began with anti-Semitism. Growing up in Europe in the 1930s, I saw firsthand the horrendous results of anti-Semitic rhetoric, leading to the nightmare of anti-Semitic violence, and, ultimately, to the mass murder of 6 million innocent men, women and children.
Mr. Speaker, today, anti-Semitism in Europe, as well as in a number of other places in this world, is approaching the appalling levels that I personally experienced in the 1930s.
We cannot, we must not, and we will not sit idly by and ignore the sharp escalation of anti-Semitic rhetoric and anti-Semitic violence.
Our resolution notes that expressions of anti-Semitism in some European countries range from vicious propaganda to physical assaults, from the burning of synagogues to the desecration of cemeteries. Since the 1990 Copenhagen Concluding Document, a number of resolutions have been adopted by OSCE condemning anti-Semitism. In that spirit, I welcome this effort.
Our resolution urges officials of our executive branch and Members of Congress to raise the issue of anti-Semitism in their bilateral and multilateral meetings with all foreign government officials where appropriate and to condemn in the strongest possible terms not only anti-Semitism but racial and ethnic hatred, xenophobia, discrimination and religious persecution of all types. We urge all member countries of the OSCE to ensure effective law enforcement by local and national authorities against criminal actions stemming from anti-Semitism and other types of racial hatred.
Most importantly, our resolution calls upon all States to promote educational efforts to counter anti-Semitic stereotypes and attitudes and to dramatically increase Holocaust awareness. Our best ammunition in this fight against anti-Semitism is education.
Mr. Speaker, the battle against this age-old and horrendous mental sickness will not be easily won, but I believe the recognition of the problem and the call for actions to deal with it is the first critical step. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation which serves to eliminate the outrage of hate-filled anti-Semitism.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be in the company of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) in cosponsoring this resolution. I rise in support of its passage and ask my colleagues to vote in its favor as well.
Mr. Speaker, one of the essential lessons of the Holocaust is that words lead to murder, that the teaching of contempt and acceptance of bigotry and anti-Semitism can lead to genocide. Today, over 50 years after the horrors of the Holocaust, anti-Semitism has again become a disease spreading throughout the world. In recent years I have witnessed its resurgence, particularly through my work relating to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and legislative efforts concerning religious freedom in Europe.
At the commission, resolution after resolution, statement after statement are filled with the rhetoric of hatred, using the international fora to further promote and generate support for an anti-Semitic agenda, an agenda which condemns a freedom-loving people and a democratic nation, while many times legitimizing those regimes that torture, oppress, and subjugate their own people.
As the previous chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and as the current chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia, and as cochair along with my colleague and friend the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) of the Congressional Task Force on Anti-Semitism, I have pressed European officials to take concrete steps to monitor, investigate and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law crimes that are borne out of hatred for the Jewish people.
In January of this year, for example, Jewish leaders in France came to me with concern and anxiety about the increasing example of vandalism and personal attacks against rabbis in that country. I immediately called on the French foreign ministry officials and French parliamentarians to address this grave matter.
The situation in France, however, is only a microcosm of a growing problem that is sweeping throughout many OSCE states. While I will not delve into details because my colleagues, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), have already done so, I will simply note, as has been said, we must learn the lessons and the mistakes of the past, or we are condemned to repeat them.
This is why it is imperative that we take immediate action to prevent further escalation of anti-Semitism and related violence, to help ensure that the evil of the Holocaust will never again be allowed to exist.
As Eli Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace laureate has said, "A destruction, an annihilation that only man can provoke, only man can prevent." We can help prevent a repetition of history, and we can begin here today by voting in favor of this resolution. Let us adopt House Concurrent Resolution 49 and convey the commitment of the U.S. House of Representatives to work with our allies to confront and combat anti-Semitism and eradicate it from its roots.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), the distinguished ranking Democratic member of the Helsinki Commission, who has demonstrated a passionate commitment to human rights and on all of the issues that that commission works with.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos). There is no Member of this body who has done more in his lifetime to fight anti-Semitism than the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), and I congratulate him for his effective leadership against anti-Semitism here and around the world.
I also want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who is the chairman of our OSCE delegation. I have the honor of being the ranking Democratic member. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), who will be speaking shortly, is one of the commissioners. We have made the fight against anti-Semitism a top priority of our delegation. We have been effective in making it a top priority within the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
We have done that because we have seen a rise of anti-Semitism, physical assaults on individuals solely because they are Jewish, desecration of Jewish cultural sites, propaganda in the media have all been on the rise. We must have a zero tolerance policy about anti-Semitism.
The OSCE Helsinki Commission provides a unique opportunity for us to fight anti-Semitism. It not only has in its membership all of the countries of Europe, Canada and the United States, but it has the participation of our Mediterranean partners, which include Israel, Egypt and Jordan. The OSCE Helsinki Commission has had a history of effectively dealing with human rights issues, so that is why the United States leadership has been effective in bringing about the forums to deal with anti-Semitism. I know there was just a meeting in Vienna that the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) participated in. We adopted in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly last year a very strong resolution against anti-Semitism as a result of the U.S. leadership, and we have signed a letter of intent with Germany to spell out specific actions that we need to take in order to fight anti-Semitism.
We can never justify anti-Semitic actions by international developments or political issues. We need to have an action plan to fight anti-Semitism. We need to have strong laws that are adopted by our member states and enforced. We need to speak out against anti-Semitism as parliamentarians. Silence is not an option. As all my colleagues have expressed, we need educational programs for our children. The resolution says we need to create educational efforts throughout the region encompassing the participating states of OSCE to counter anti-Semitic stereotypes and attitudes among younger people, increase Holocaust awareness programs, and help identify the necessary resources to accomplish this goal. Our children are our future. In many of these states, we are finding there are counterproductive programs promoting anti-Semitism.
We need a proactive agenda. This resolution puts this body on record in strong support of our resolution within OSCE to continue our commitment to support action plans to stamp out anti-Semitism. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who has been a champion not only of the fight against anti-Semitism but on behalf of all human rights causes.
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for their extraordinary leadership on this important issue and so many others.
We are experiencing the worst outbreak of anti-Semitism in Europe since the end of Holocaust in 1945. Just under 60 years have passed since the defeat of Hitler and now swastikas have reappeared in Europe. They can be found sprayed on Jewish schools, drawn on gravestones in a desecrated Jewish cemetery, painted on the wall of a synagogue, and stitched on the flags of anti-Israel demonstrators, and in the hearts and minds of the people who attack rabbinical students and Jewish athletes.
When we allow intolerance and hatred to fester and flourish, we are faced with tragic consequences. Put simply, hatred, violence and prejudice must not be tolerated. Countries must speak out against anti-Semitic acts, but rhetoric is not enough. Words will not restore the hundreds of Jewish cultural and religious sites which have been burned, desecrated and destroyed throughout Europe, and words alone will not prevent these tragedies from happening again.
Governments and institutions must condemn these acts as we do today, and they must ensure effective law enforcement against them. They must also promote tolerance education for their children. There is no question teaching children about the horror and tragedy of the Holocaust and other tragedies will create a generation of youth who are less likely to commit hate crimes and who are more likely to mature into adults who will envision and work towards peaceful world relations.
When this body passes H . Con . Res . 49 , we will be spending a strong message to the world that anti-Semitism must be confronted and must be eradicated. I thank both leaders, particularly the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for his extraordinary life commitment to ending anti-Semitism and for world peace.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), who has been throughout his congressional career and prior to that an indefatigable fighter for human rights.
(Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for yielding me this time, and before I go forward, I would be terribly remiss if I did not point out that the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) has spent his lifetime in the struggle that some of us come to with equal passion, but not the clarity that he brings to the issue.
I also am happy to support the resolution offered by the chairman of the Helsinki Commission and to compliment the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his continuing work in the area of human rights and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) as being a stalwart champion for human rights.
As Chairman SMITH has already mentioned, last week he and I had the privilege to represent the United States at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's conference on anti-Semitism. A footnote right there. That conference came about because the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), myself and others on the Helsinki Commission along with colleagues in Europe brought it to the attention of the parliamentary assembly by way of resolution which we will introduce yet another resolution for follow-up purposes when we are in Rotterdam 1 week from now. But it was in this body that that conference's seed was planted. The conference, which was the first of its kind, provided the OSCE's 55 member states and NGOs with an opportunity to discuss ways in which governments can work to combat anti-Semitism within their borders and abroad.
Today's resolution is an important symbolic statement of the House that the United States will not stand idly by while many European governments neglect a rise in anti-Semitism. We must work with our allies and not hesitate to apply pressure when needed to ensure that governments properly address increases in anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination.
A few years ago, there were hopes that anti-Semitism was gradually declining and restricted to fringe elements such as neo-Nazis, white supremacists and certain conspiracy theorists. However, recent developments throughout much of Europe and the Middle East suggest that there is a resurgent anti-Semitism with a much broader base and message that resonates at an alarming level. Many European leaders have formally recognized the resurgence of anti-Semitism in their countries and have begun to take the necessary steps to stop this spreading virus. But still, more must be done to ensure that what occurred to the Jewish and minority communities in Europe during World War II will never happen again.
Sadly, Mr. Speaker, the fight against bigotry and xenophobia is an ongoing struggle as many of us know from our own personal experience. Last week when the gentleman from New Jersey and I were in Vienna, we heard from a woman whose name is Rosalia Abella of the Ontario Court of Appeals. As she noted in one of the more poignant statements made at that conference, "Indifference is injustice's incubator." Indeed it is.
Now is the time for the United States to be vocal and now is the time for the House to be active as it is today under the leadership of the gentleman from New Jersey and the gentleman from California. Today is not a day for complacency. If we remain silent, then there will be no tomorrow. We cannot legislate morality, we cannot legislate love, but we can teach tolerance and we can lead by example.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Smith-Cardin-Lantos resolution. I am a cosponsor of this resolution because I am deeply concerned about the surge of anti-Semitism in Europe and throughout other parts of the world, but particularly in Europe.
This is not a problem that simply can be monitored. It must be actively and aggressively dealt with, for we must never forget that just 60 years ago, Europe saw the worst scourge of systematic, government-ordained hatred, violence and murder in the history of mankind, in what was an unbelievable Holocaust.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has recognized and condemned anti-Semitic violence in its member states. At its parliamentary assembly in July 2002, the OSCE resolved to aggressively enforce laws and investigate anti-Semitic criminal acts. It is important that the United States openly support the OSCE's resolution and actively encourage it to address hatred and prevent violence in Europe.
Mr. Speaker, there are several topics on which the United States and Europe disagree. There must be no disagreement, however, on the absolute right of the Jewish people to practice their religion freely and to live in peace and prosperity. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe should not only investigate anti-Semitic crimes but also promote and facilitate discussions that address the root causes of xenophobic hatred.
I encourage my colleagues and the administration to take advantage of bilateral meetings with our European counterparts to reaffirm our deep commitment to the prevention of violence in Europe.
I again thank the gentleman from New Jersey for bringing this resolution to the floor and urge its adoption.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), a distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations.
Mr. CROWLEY. I thank my good friend the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly support this resolution, and I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for sponsoring this crucial piece of legislation. I am very aware of the danger of being inactive about the threat of anti-Semitism. It was anti-Semitism that was responsible for the horrors of the Holocaust, the most horrible crime committed against the Jewish people ever. Sadly, I have to say here today that nearly 60 years after the end of World War II, anti-Semitism in Europe, in many of the OSCE member states, is on the rise again. Once again we witness evil propaganda, physical attacks against Jews, the burning of Jewish sites and the desecration of synagogues. We must not stand aside and ignore this grave escalation of anti-Semitic violence and hatred.
This resolution addresses this threat. It particularly calls on administration officials and Members of Congress to focus on anti-Semitism in their bilateral and multilateral meetings. It calls upon OSCE member states to swiftly bring anti-Semitists to justice and to focus on educational endeavors to fight anti-Semitic stereotypes.
I would also like to point out that this piece of legislation is similar to a resolution I introduced last year. House Resolution 393 also addresses the anti-Semitic threat in the OSCE region. It urges European governments to provide security and safety of the Jewish communities, to prosecute and punish perpetrators of anti-Semitic violence, and to cultivate a climate in which all forms of anti-Semitism are rejected.
I was proud that my colleagues in Congress joined me in sending this message to the European Union, but we must go further. Anti-Semitism continues to fester throughout the OSCE region. This resolution is the right follow-up to my legislation that passed in the last Congress.
Mr. Speaker, the threat of anti-Semitism is looming large and our fight against it is far from over, but I believe that recognizing this problem and taking action is critical. I therefore urge all of my colleagues to strongly support House Resolution 49 sponsored by the gentleman from New Jersey. I would ask them all to vote for this resolution unanimously. I want to thank the gentleman from California again for his work on this resolution and all my colleagues in bringing this to the House floor.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join the gentleman from New Jersey and the gentleman from California as I have over the years on many human rights issues, and this is a human rights issue. Racism, religious hatred, these are things that decent people must condemn and we must unite in our strong opposition wherever this type of vile behavior and vile thought patterns emerge. We must recognize that there are, however, people who exploit these type of negative feelings and this type of racial hatred. Anti-Semitism is perhaps the epitome of this ignorance and irrationality and mindless hatred and it is again raising its ugly head both in Europe and in the United States.
Let us note that over 10 years ago, a major political figure in the United States referred to New York City as "Hymietown." What is important is the fact that he was winked at and that for 10 years after that statement, he still remained a recognized leader. That did tremendous harm in America's black community. It sent a horrible message to young blacks and we are paying some of the price of an increased anti-Semitism today in our black community by mistakes that we made 10 years ago by not condemning that and other types of horrible remarks that should never have been made or accepted in our political debate.
In Europe today, we see that same kind of winking going on. Oh, yes, people are ignoring statements that are being made that are totally unacceptable to people who believe in civilized behavior and are opposed to this type of vile hatred, the vile hatred in relationship to their fellow man. This is an alarm bell today. I am very proud to stand here with the gentleman from California and the gentleman from New Jersey ringing the alarm bell. We are not going to sit idly by and wink at an increase in this level of hatred towards our Jewish friends nor towards any other minority in the Western democracies. The Western democracies, our friends in Europe, just like we in the United States, have to remain vigilant and it is up to us as leaders of this society and the democratic leaders in Europe to call to task those who would wink and would not condemn this type of vicious trend in their society. We can cut it short now. Let us stand together united against anti-Semitism and all such hatred.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, in terms that we do not usually use on this floor but in terms that may be familiar to our friends in Europe, in the American context, I am a man of the left. I voted against the war in Iraq. I will vote for the resolution later about Israel's right to respond to terrorism, but I will put into the Congressional Record Tom Friedman's article urging them to think about prudence and restraint. I think the settlements are by and large a mistake. And I speak today in defense of this resolution, specifically to others on the left in Europe, many of whom have in my judgment been morally deficient in the obligation we have to speak out against prejudice and injustice across the board. Those who hold to liberal values have no moral right to put an ideological screen between victims and those values, and those on the left who use an excuse of a disagreement with the policy of the Sharon government or the Bush government or anybody else as a reason to be soft on anti-Semitism betray liberalism and betray its values.
By the way, with regard to the government of Israel, let me speak to the people on the left. I disagree with some aspects of its policy, but I staunchly defend its right to exist. But even more important, by every value that I as a liberal hold dear, the government and society of Israel is quite morally superior to any of its neighbors, and to focus only on those aspects of disagreement and to ignore its longstanding commitment to civil rights and civil liberties, in fact I think our society, the United States, has a good deal to learn from the society of Israel about how you deal with external threats and still show a respect for civil liberties.
I thank the gentleman from California and the gentleman from New Jersey for bringing this forward and the gentleman from Illinois for his support. I want to reiterate as a man on the left who shares a great deal of both general values and specific policy prescriptions with many on the left in Europe, I am appalled at those who fail to carry out our liberal principles fully and across the board. A vigorous and ongoing condemnation of anti-Semitism is a requisite part of that commitment.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
At the most recent conference that was held in Vienna, I just want to again thank the great work that Ambassador Minikes did, our Ambassador to the OSCE. He has worked very, very hard to help put together that anti-Semitism conference. He did an outstanding job. Ambassador Cliff Sobel, our Ambassador to the Netherlands, also worked very hard on it as well, as did many others in the State Department. It was a joint effort. Again I want to thank Rudy Giuliani for the good work he did in leading that.
Let me just also say that, Mr. Speaker, next week in Rotterdam we will have an OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and I plan on offering another resolution on anti-Semitism at that and hopefully we continue not only this dialogue but this outrage that we are expressing about intolerance. The more we raise our voices, the more we have mutually reinforcing policies, including good law, good law enforcement and hopefully a chronicling of these misdeeds so that law enforcement knows that they do indeed have a problem. This has been a particular problem in Europe, where hate crimes are committed and they are not attributed to the hate crimes that they represent.
The more we chronicle, the more we will see that there is an explosion of anti-Semitism in Europe. This is a good resolution. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), and I thank the gentleman and chairman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for moving this bill expeditiously through the committee and for his strong support for it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), a distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations and a fighter for human rights.
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for putting this before our body.
I grew up hearing about anti-Semitism from my grandparents and my parents, things that I could not believe could have ever happened; but the anti-Semitism acts that they spoke of seemed like historic oddities to me, something from a distant time and a distant place. I never dreamed, never dreamed that anti-Semitism could ever rear its ugly head again during my lifetime or the lifetime of my children.
Especially after World War II, I thought Europe and the rest of the world had learned a very important and valuable lesson. I ran for Congress so that I could speak out against issues that I thought were horrific; and anti-Semitism, and its continued existence on this planet, is certainly something that I wish to speak out against. I am glad that we are condemning anti-Semitism in no uncertain terms and putting the United States Congress on record and speaking out forcefully against this horrible scourge and plague.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time for purposes of yielding the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bass). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 1 minute.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Helsinki Commission for yielding me this time. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this very important resolution.
This is about anti-Semitism. But more broadly than that, it is about hate. It is about the human inclination from time to time to hate others who are different, to discriminate against others who are different, who have a different color of skin, who have a different religion, who have a different national origin. More human violence perhaps has been perpetrated in the name of those distinctions and prejudices and hate than any other.
It is important that we regularly and strongly and without equivocation speak out against those who would perpetrate and spread hate in our world, in our country, in our communities.
I thank the gentleman from New Jersey, and I thank my good friend, the gentleman from California, for their leadership on this issue. It is an appropriate statement for us to make as the representatives of a free and tolerant people.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis).
(Mr. DAVIS of Alabama asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. DAVIS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I do not want this debate to end without adding my voice in support of the resolution.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), a distinguished fighter for human rights.
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, many people thought that the Holocaust cleansed the Western world of anti-Semitism, that the catastrophe, the mass murder, and the genocide in the Holocaust caused the civilized world or at least the Western part of the civilized world to recoil in such horror that anti-Semitism would not be a major problem again. We now know that maybe it did that for a generation or two, but that the scourge of anti-Semitism is returning in great and terrible force in its ancient homeland of Europe and other places.
Today we have two major problems of anti-Semitism: in Europe and in the Muslim world. It is very appropriate that we adopt this resolution today to ask the governments of Europe through the OSCE and individually to crack down on anti-Semitism, to speak out against it, to act against it because many of the governments of Europe, many of the parts of the political left in Europe and elsewhere as well as the right have not done so. They ought to do so. And this resolution is fitting and appropriate to adopt today for that purpose. [Begin Insert]
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H . Con . Res . 49 , expressing the sense of Congress that the sharp escalation of anti-Semitic violence within many participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is of profound concern and efforts should be undertaken to prevent future occurrences.
I begin by praising the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for their conference this past weekend devoted to the issues of anti-Semitism and how to combat it. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is the largest regional security organization in the world with 55 participating countries from Europe, Central Asia, and North America. The OSCE has a comprehensive and cooperative approach to security, stressing preventative diplomacy and human rights.
The conference last weekend was the first high level OSCE conference devoted specifically to the issue of anti-Semitism. Over 400 government and nongovernment officials attended.
The conference took place at Vienna's Hofburg Palace. This same location is where Hitler stood, 65 years ago, proclaiming Austria's annexation to a cheering crowd of thousands. Sixty-five years later, what can we say about tolerance and diversity in Europe? What can we say about Human Rights worldwide? Specifically, 65 years after the beginning of the worst genocide in our time, what can we say we have learned about anti-Semitism and the horrors of racial hatred?
Much has changed since then. Yet today there are both overt and subtle versions of anti-Semitism, in the United States and abroad. Physical assaults, arson at synagogues and desecration of Jewish cultural sites are occurring. Unfortunately, government officials are not speaking harshly enough against them.
The conference on anti-Semitism opened a day after the Romanian Government retracted an earlier claim that "there was no Holocaust" on Romanian soil. In Greece, a recent newspaper cartoon had one Israeli soldier telling the other, "we were not in Dachau concentration camp to survive, but to learn."
France has experienced a six-fold increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the space of a year. In Poland, the word "Jewish" is used as a term of abuse for Polish soccer fans. In other parts of Europe, claims are made that Jews had forewarning of the September 11th attacks at the Pentagon and World Trade Towers.
The existence of anti-Semitism has played throughout history as a major threat to freedom. Participating states of the OSCE should unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism, racial and ethnic hatred and xenophobia, and they need to be loud and clear in their message.
We cannot allow future generations to be taught a distorted view of history. Prejudice must be rooted out of textbooks, governments must speak out against these wrongdoings, and anti-Semitic actions must be classified as hate crimes. We also need to ensure effective law enforcement. Finally, we must promote the creation of educational efforts and we must increase Holocaust awareness. I abhor and stand against all forms of hatred.
If action had been taken in the 1930s, many lives could have been saved. There are so many lessons of history that need to be learned, lest they not be repeated. For that reason I support H . Con . Res . 49 .
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker: I will reluctantly vote in favor of this legislation, partly because it is simply a sense of Congress resolution. But I am concerned about this bill and the others like it we face with regularity on the floor of Congress. We all condemn violence against innocents, whether it is motivated by hatred, prejudice, greed, jealousy, or whatever else. But that is not what this legislation is really about. It is about the Congress of the United States presuming to know–and to legislate on–the affairs of European countries. First, this is the United States Congress. We have no Constitutional authority to pass legislation affecting foreign countries. Second, when we get involved in matters such as this we usually get it wrong. H. Con. Res. 45 is an example of us getting it wrong on both fronts.
This legislation refers to the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe as if it is a purely homegrown phenomenon, as if native residents of European countries are suddenly committing violent crimes against Jews. But I think we are only getting part of the story here. What is absent from the legislation is mention of the well-reported fact that much of the anti-Jewish violence in Europe is perpetrated by recent immigrants from Muslim countries of the Middle East and Africa. Reporting on a firebombing of a Synagogue in Marseille, France, for example, the New York Times quotes the longtime president of that region's Jewish Council, Charles Haddad, as saying, "This is not anti-Semitic violence; it's the Middle East conflict that's playing out here."
Therefore, part of the problem in many European countries is the massive immigration from predominantly Muslim countries, where new residents bring their hatreds and prejudices with them. Those European politicians who recognize this growing problem–there are now 600,000 Jews in France and five million Muslims–are denounced as racist and worse. While I do not oppose immigration, it must be admitted that massive immigration from vastly different cultures brings a myriad of potential problems and conflicts. These are complicated issues for we in Congress to deal with here in the United States. Yes, prejudice and hatred are evil and must be opposed, but it is absurd for us to try to solve these problems in countries overseas. [End Insert]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H . Con . Res . 49 .
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.


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There are dramatic developments in Iraq where an extremist group, that's taken over large parts of Syria, has stormed into the major Iraqi city of Mosul. Leaders there are saying that this Al Qaeda offshoot, which is called the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria, may even be pushing south in the direction of Baghdad. NPR's Alice Fordham joins us now from northern Iraq for more. And tell us, what exactly the situation is there, in Mosul.
ALICE FORDHAM, BYLINE: Well, as we understand things this morning, Mosul is still under the control of this group that we refer to as Isis. They have driven out hundreds of thousands of people from the city. It seems that the Iraqi security forces there dropped their weapons and left. I'm actually sitting right now at a checkpoint from the Mosul road into the northern part of Iraq and I can see hundreds of people streaming across the border.
MONTAGNE: Well, give us a sense of Mosul, just a small, nutshell version of how Mosul fits into the larger picture there, and why in fact this is rather a shock that it should now be in this situation.
FORDHAM: Exactly. Well, we've seen this group take over parts of Syria, parts of (unintelligible), the city of Fallujah, but Mosul is a large city, somewhere on a beacon of 2 million people. It's a trade hub. I'm sure a lot of people will remember, during American operations in Iraq, it was really fought over because it's important. And so it's a real shock to people, although they have seen the encroachment of these Islamist militants into Syria, into Iraq, this is a really key strategic city and I don't think anyone would be expecting it to fall so fast, so completely.
MONTAGNE: And in fact, how did that happen because there are thousands of Iraqi soldiers there?
FORDHAM: Right. A lot of people here are asking that question. The number of militants - we don't have a clear idea. But it points to - some people are saying - as we all say, you know - the leadership in the Iraqi military - there are a number of reasons this might be the case. There has been extensive fighting to try to retake Fallujah by Iraqi soldiers from the Islamist militants. And it's not been going well. Iraqi soldiers have told me stories of lack of equipment, lack of medicine for the wounded, even lack of food. And so it's the case that morale is low in the Iraqi army at the moment and people may have given up.
MONTAGNE: Well, just finding, a key question here would be this group, an al-Qaeda linked offshoot, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, that suggests something and that suggests that it's wanting to, like, control a lot of the area there. Would this particular moment, this takeover of Mosul, suggest that it is going to have an impact beyond Iraq?
FORDHAM: Absolutely. This is the worrying thing. So, yes, as you say, the name is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Their goal is to create a larger state with their extreme version of Islamic law - within the character - you know, they prefer territory that Iraq and Syria cover. So they've been able to take territory in Syria, in the course of this nasty little war that's happened there, and they've been able to take some territory in Iraq and we've seen attacks in Lebanon. We've seen attacks in Turkey but other neighboring countries - they're extremely worried. So this is something that's region-wide and not worldwide - the consequences.
MONTAGNE: Alice, thank you very much.
FORDHAM: You're welcome.
MONTAGNE: That's NPR's Alice Fordham, speaking to us from northern Iraq. This is NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

subset: commoncrawl


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For the person who has everything, gift these unique and luxurious Waterford Signature sheets while you grab a set for yourself. Lofty 300 thread count cotton feels amazingly soft to the touch and refreshes your bedroom. Specialty cuff features sport the signature Waterford seahorse logo so there's no mistaking your impeccable design taste. Available in white or taupe, these sheets are the perfect neutral to complement your other bedroom décor.
Please see the Measurements tab for dimensions.
Please Note: We make every effort to ensure colors are represented accurately online. Due to possible variances in manufacturer dye lots, however, colors may vary slightly from what is depicted. Also, due to the printing process of the pattern, slight imperfections in the pattern may exist.
Thread Count
Thread count is the number of yarns per square inch used when a fabric is woven. Higher thread counts create heavier, more durable weaves that generally feel smoother and softer. Lower thread counts can pill and feel rough, but are affordable and aptly serve their purposes. Common thread counts range from 180 to 1,200. A high thread count does not necessarily mean better quality, as it is important to consider other factors like fiber, finishing techniques, yarn size and ply.
Sheets can be made from many different fabrications. Various fibers and weaves are ultimately responsible for the particular performance characteristics of a sheet set.
Yarn Size
Yarn size refers to the thickness of the individual threads that make up a woven fabric. The higher the yarn size, the finer the thread. Quality sheets usually have a yarn size ranging from 40 to 100. Finer yarns can only be made from high-quality, long staple cottons such as Supima. Yarn size is important to thread count because finer yarns take up less space than thicker yarns, thus the highest thread count sheets are generally made from the finest yarns.
The other important component to thread count is ply. Single ply fabrics are made from individually woven threads of yarn, while two-ply fabrics are made from two threads of yarn that are first twisted together and then woven. Since two-ply fabrics have essentially double the thread count of their single ply counterparts, two-ply fabrics must be made from extremely fine yarns, otherwise the end product might feel too bulky and heavy
Make sure you have precisely measured your mattress for its length, width and height. Most mattresses are usually made in specific standard sizes, but there is the possibility of slight variances. A 15" fitted sheet pocket depth will accommodate a mattress up to 18" in height. Deep pockets will be required for Eurotop or pillow top mattresses.


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Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Caring for Your Child
Topic Overview
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease that currently has no cure. Your child needs to take insulin injections. This can be a scary process for adults, not to mention for a child. If your child is very young, you will need to give these injections. When your child is older, he or she can take on some of the responsibility for insulin injections.
If your child doesn't want to feel the insulin needle, your child's doctor can prescribe an indwelling subcutaneous cannula. A small needle is used to insert a soft tube into a place where you give your child an insulin shot, such as the belly. The needle is taken out, but the soft tube (cannula) stays in your child's body and is held in place with tape. Then, when your child needs insulin, the insulin needle is put into the cannula instead of into the skin. This way, your child won't have to feel the insulin needle. The cannula can be used for at least 3 days before your child will need a new one.
Your child needs to watch his or her diet closely. Again, this is an area many adults have difficulty with, and it can be even harder on a child. It helps if the entire family gets involved, eats healthy foods, and learns about counting carbohydrate. Although the lure of eating junk foods remains, you can balance your child's meals with healthier selections at home. Above all, a child needs to understand the relationship between food and his or her blood sugar.
Many children eat extra foods without telling their parents or other adults. This can lead to high blood sugar levels and hospitalizations. Make it clear to your child that eating equals a need for insulin, and he or she should always tell an adult when eating something that's not on the meal plan for the day.
It's helpful to incorporate the idea of balance into your child's understanding. If your child wants to eat a food not on the meal plan for the day, then your child needs to adjust the insulin dose to reflect this change.
School can also present a particular challenge for a child with type 1 diabetes. Because of the need to take insulin injections throughout the day (or use an insulin pump) and the need to eat on a regular schedule, children who have type 1 diabetes stand out from their peers. It may help if you encourage your child to explain diabetes to his or her friends and show them how the equipment works. Most children are merely curious and are eager to learn.
It is also important that you meet with your child's teacher, school nurse, and school administrators to discuss diabetes care at school. The Americans with Disabilities Act covers children with diabetes, so your child's school must assist you with his or her diabetes treatment. Make sure that the school has on hand the correct type of supplies and insulin for your child.
You should also meet with your child's gym teacher to discuss how diabetes is affected by exercise. Most gym teachers are not trained to recognize signs of sudden high or low blood sugar. So you must explain what symptoms your child may have and how to deal with them. Encourage your child to play sports and be physically active, because it positively contributes to his or her diabetes treatment. But physical activity will now take more planning than before. Your diabetes team can help you adjust your child's diabetes treatment plan for physical activity.
As children with type 1 diabetes grow, encourage them to take more control over their treatment. As a parent, you may want to be there every time your child gets an insulin injection. But it's important that you let your child develop independence.
There are many summer camps for children who have diabetes. Such settings can help children learn about their disease and about how to manage it. Also, the camp setting introduces them to other children who have type 1 diabetes. If you arm your child with the proper knowledge, it not only empowers him or her to take responsibility for self-care but also provides a greater understanding of the disease and why it's important to treat it.
Support for you
Remember that your family is not alone in dealing with your child's diabetes. Your diabetes team coordinator can direct you to local support groups as well as many resources on the Internet and publications from organizations such as the American Diabetes Association. In addition to providing emotional support, these groups can also direct you to information you need to overcome whatever hurdles arise in your child's experience with diabetes.
Current as of: April 16, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:John Pope, MD, MPH – Pediatrics & Adam Husney, MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD – Family Medicine & Stephen H. LaFranchi, MD – Pediatric Endocrinology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.


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The large rectangular compartment unzips to store makeup and tools. It actually fits a lot! Here's a shot of all the makeup I stored in there.
Inside their is also a large pocket so you can securely hold a palette which is perfect so that no shadows are shaking around and breaking. It fits a large Z Palette.
Theirs also a lining that can be removed to be cleaned.
You also get this really nifty brush holder. This is the first kind i've seen with the different diagonal slots. This is genius! You can hold brushes of multiple lengths in here - you fit more and you don't have to worry about some brushes being too long or short.
My Thoughts
I was a little concerned when I saw it...the material looked suede and I just pictured makeup just sticking to it. However directions recommending using a gentle soap to wipe it clean. I put some hand soap on a face towel and it really did wipe clean.
It's actually got a nice design. I like how it models a school girl's notebook. The soft "new suede" material is supposed to be super durable - off hand I liked how it was a soft case so it could squeeze into nooks and crannies of my luggage when I travel.
Here it is packed for my trip to the New York Makeup Show. This is an actual shot from the hotel. I did my makeup at the desk and left the makeup open like this. You can see how all the makeup is accessible on the left and brushes on the right. When I'm done I just close the covers and it protects everything.
- Fits a lot of makeup
- Fits a lot of brushes of varying size
- Nice and sleek looking
- String closure makes it easy to close no matter how bulky it gets
- Easy to clean
- Can get bulky
- Shows dirt
- A bit pricey - but for a quality makeup bag and brush holder in one I can see it being a little more
You can find this product at www.HoldMeCompany.com It retails for $55. You can also find these at select retail locations such as Alcone, Makeup Mania and more, Check out the list here.
Giveaway Alert! I am giving away one Hold Me Bag to a lucky viewer. Here's how to win!
- Follow my blog
- Open to international followers
- Leave a comment with a story about a makeup packing travel disaster and tell me why you'd like to win the Hold Me Bag
- I'll pick a winner at random and announce it on my blog and twitter next week!
Atlanta Makeup Artist
Atlanta Photographer


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TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) -- A chaotic 25-minute shooting spree through Orange County early Tuesday left a trail of dead and injured victims before the shooter stopped and killed himself, police said.
There were at least six crime scenes, Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino told KNBC-TV.
The shootings started with an apparent carjacking just after 5 a.m. Tuesday in an unincorporated Ladera Ranch area of Orange County, said Tustin police Supervisor Dave Kanoti.
From 5:30 a.m. to 5:55 a.m., Tustin police received police reports of shootings in several locations, he said.
Officers found one dead person and one wounded at State Route 55 and McFadden Street, two shot and wounded at Interstate 5 and Red Hill Avenue, and one dead at Del Amo Boulevard and Edinger Avenue. The alleged shooter then drove to the intersection of Wanda Road and Katella Avenue and shot himself in the middle of the intersection, Kanoti said.
The conditions of the wounded victims were unknown.
It is possible more people were shot at because some people may have chased the shooter, Kanoti said.
A spokeswoman for the California Highway Patrol said they didn't have any active crime scenes on the freeway but the southbound 55 McFadden Avenue off-ramp would be closed until further notice.
Kanoti said authorities were trying to figure out if the spree started with the fatal carjacking but could not yet confirm that.
Tustin is about 35 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.


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Spooning strained peas into a baby is the traditional way to start solid food. But babies might be better off feeding themselves.
That's the surprising result of a new study that compared the food preferences and weight of babies who fed themselves finger food with those who were spoon-fed.
Both groups of children had equal exposure to snack foods. But the babies who fed themselves preferred carbohydrates like toast, pasta or potatoes, while the spoon-fed children went for sweets when given a choice.
You'd think the children who controlled their own eating would be heavier, but not so. The spoon-fed crew was the one that was more likely to be obese as toddlers. Eight of the 63 spoon-fed children became obese, while none of the 63 self-feeding children were.
"That was interesting," says Ellen Townsend, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Nottingham in England, who led the study. "Maybe with spoon feeding, if you've lovingly prepared a delicious portion, and you might want to get that portion into that child. There may be a temptation to try to get in an extra spoonful or two."
The "self-weaning babies" might like carbs because they're easier to chew and tend to have nice textures, the researchers say. They want to do further research to see if breast-feeding and picky eating play a role.
The study, which was published in the journal BMJ Open, was small, and based on parents' recollections. But Townsend says it should reassure parents that it's OK to let the child take care of food choices, as long as the parents are providing nutritious options like fruits and vegetables, proteins, and iron-rich foods like hard-boiled eggs or strips of meat.
The good news is that most of the children were of a healthy weight, regardless of how they were fed as babies.
As for Townsend, she was holding her 9-month-old daughter when I called her in England today. What's that baby eating for dinner?
"She'll sit down with us tonight and have pork chops, string beans, some baby sweet corn, and probably some potatoes," Townsend says.
Like many parents with more than one child, she doesn't have the time to cook up special baby food. And her children seem perfectly happy to eat what's on the family table.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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The two things you need in the case of any type of natural disaster are an Emergency Kit and a Family Communication Plan. Your Emergency Kit is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.
Your kit should be ready long before any emergency. If you have to evacuate at a moment's notice, there won't be time to search for the supplies you need or go shopping for them.
Since you may be required to survive on your own, make sure you have sufficient food, water, and other supplies to last for at least 72 hours. Help may take hours or days. While local officials and relief will be on the scene, they rarely reach everyone immediately. Basic services, such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off, so your kit should contain items to help you manage during this type of outage.
Basic Emergency Supply Kit:
Other useful links:
Download & Print the FEMA Emergency Supply List
Other useful links:
Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or emails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. Sign up by visiting your local Office of Emergency Management website.


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Each room in a home has a certain feel. wood fireplace mantel in Wellpinit, WA. wood fireplace mantel in Wellpinit, WA. A kitchen for instance has a different feel as well as a different function than a family room. Many things attribute to this. It may be the color or the texture. One feature of many rooms is the fireplace. This is normally an eye catching main element to many rooms.
On occasion though, fireplaces become a forgotten focal point because furniture arrangements or the needs of the family have changed. If you are in the midst of a remodel, you might want to think about what wood fireplace mantels can do for your room. In many cases, the design of the mantel sets the tone for the entire room.
The choice that is made for a particular room will depend in many case on the use of that room. If you have a kitchen with an attached seating area that has a fireplace, the construction of the fireplace should be taken into account when selecting a mantel. If the fireplace is constructed of natural stone, in many cases these colors will be taken into account in the completion of the rest of the room.
A carved mantel may reflect the homeowners love of animals or changing seasons. A rustic mantel may set the stage for a early American design for a kitchen or sitting room. Sometimes a wood mantel is taken from the property where the house was built giving the home a homey feeling.
Whatever your choice, wood fireplace mantels set the stage for a room for years to come. take the time to choose this item carefully as this item is not readily changeable.


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Derek Lowe (5-6, 4.03) vs. Aaron Harang (3-9, 4.10).
COMMENTS: MLB.com says we're facing either Harang (one win in his last six starts), or possibly Bronson Arroyo (4-5, 5.31). Either way, we're taking our chances sending Lowe out there on three days' rest after Brad Penny and Hiroki Kuroda wreaked havoc on the rotation with separate injuries. Lowe, perennially a victim of poor run support, has to be on his game since the Dodgers' bats likely won't back him up. On the bright side,
[Hi everybody, Orel here. This is where Sax's Game Thread ended. I'll pick it up from here.]
On the bright side...um...the earth continued rotating on its axis today. Enjoy the game, everybody!


text: Description Additional Information Description Unconjugated Rabbit Anti-WGA | 235-AL-2101-2 With the exception of Diagnostic Microbiology Products all biochemicals described are for research use only. The biochemical reagents are not designed for use in therapeutic or diagnostic applications. We are unable to ship to individuals. Please place all orders through an established firm or institution. Nothing disclosed is to be construed as a recommendation to use our products in violation of any patents. All research products are offered without warranty or guarantee, since the ultimate condition of use and the variability in material handling are beyond our control. View AllClose Additional Information Size: 100 µg View AllClose


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It's not us, it's you, Def Con founder tells NSA, CIA and FBI, saying attendees need "time to think" about recently revealed mass-surveillance programs.
July 11, 2013
"Feds, we need some time apart."
So read a message posted to the website of the Def Con 21 conference Wednesday by Jeff Moss, the Def Con founder known as Dark Tangent, representing the first time since the conference began in 1992 that the organizers have asked federal agents and officials to not attend.
"For over two decades Def Con has been an open nexus of hacker culture, a place where seasoned pros, hackers, academics and feds can meet, share ideas and party on neutral territory," said Moss, who's also the chief security officer of ICANN and since 2009 a member of the U.S. Homeland Security Advisory Council.
"When it comes to sharing and socializing with feds, recent revelations have made many in the community uncomfortable about this relationship. Therefore, I think it would be best for everyone involved if the feds call a 'time-out' and not attend Def Con this year," he said. "This will give everybody time to think about how we got here, and what comes next."
Those recent revelations, of course, include leaks by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed that the agency is running domestic surveillance programs.
[ Hero, criminal, or traitor? See why NSA Prism Whistleblower Snowden Deserves A Medal. ]
Moss' move represents a sharp about-face from last year, when Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, delivered the keynote address at the annual Las Vegas convention. Asked by Moss on stage if the NSA maintains files on all Americans, Alexander replied in the negative, reported Wired. "No, we don't. Absolutely no. And anybody who would tell you that we're keeping files or dossiers on the American people knows that's not true," said Alexander.
"I've spent 20 years trying to get someone from the NSA" to speak at the conference, Moss told CNET at the time. "It's eye-opening to see the world from their view," he said. "On the NSA's 60th anniversary and our 20th anniversary this has all come together."
As that suggests, federal agencies have a long-standing involvement in Def Con. In 2000, one press briefing I attended -- recording devices and cellphones prohibited -- was slow to start. "We apologize for the delay," said a Def Con media liaison. "The CIA is caucusing in the men's room."
"Spot the Fed," best described as "a paranoid version of pin the tail on the donkey" -- for hackers concerned that someone was watching their every move -- has long been a fun Def Con fixture, with spotters scoring an "I spotted the fed!" t-shirt and feds receiving an "I am the fed!" shirt.
The Def Con ban on U.S. government employees at the Aug. 1-4 conference drew mixed commentary from information security professionals. "If the suggested ban on 'feds' at Def Con this year is in the interest of their own safety, what does that say about the attendees?" tweeted Chris Eng, VP of research at Veracode.
In fact, that says a lot about attendees, replied the Bangkok-based vulnerability broker known as The Grugq. "There are loads of smelly moronic drunk teenage idiots males in attendance. Have you seriously never been or something?" The Grugq tweeted, noting that a ban on feds would "likely help prevent stupid drunken antics from some."
Others agreed with that assessment. "A highly visible fed presence is likely to trigger conflict with people upset over Snowden-gate. From shouting matches, to physical violence, to 'hack the fed,' something bad might occur. Or, simply attendees will choose to stay away. Any reasonable conference organizer, be they pro-fed or anti-fed, would want to reduce the likelihood of this conflict," said Robert David Graham, CEO of Errata Security, in a blog post.
"The easiest way to do this is by reducing the number of feds at Def Con, by asking them not to come," he said. "This is horribly unfair to them, of course, since they aren't the ones who would be starting these fights. But here's the thing: it's not a fed convention but a hacker party."
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Adult Proxy Express Waiver and Consent Instructions
The caregiver feature of MyHealthOne permits patients to grant access to their own MyHealthOne account so that others can view their health information. Caregivers should be trusted individuals and will be legally designated to access the patient's health information.
To request caregiver permissions for a family member or loved one through MyHealthOne, or, permit someone else to have caregiver permissions for your MyHealthOne account, take the attached form to the hospital that the patient most recently visited. You will be required to complete and sign the form in the presence of a hospital representative at the patient registration, health information management, or medical records office.
If the patient is unable to sign the Waiver and Consent form, the patient's Power of Attorney may sign on behalf of the patient. The Power of Attorney must present documentation and state-issued photo identification. If the patient is unable to sign the Waiver and Consent form but no Power of Attorney exists for the patient, then the caregiver or proxy enrollment cannot occur.
For patients aged 0-12
Please take the Proxy for Minor Patient 0-12 Years of Age Express Waiver and Consent to the hospital the minor patient most recently visited. A parent or legal guardian must present photo identification. Although anyone can be the caregiver or proxy, the Proxy for Minor Patient 0-12 Years of Age Express Waiver and Consent must be signed by the parent or legal guardian at the hospital's registration desk.
For patients aged 13-17
Select a trusted individual as your caregiver. Please take the Proxy for Minor Patient 13-17 Years of Age Express Waiver and Consent to the hospital you most recently visited. A parent or legal guardian and the minor patient must both sign the Proxy for Minor Patient 13-17 Years of Age Express Waiver and Consent and present photo identification at the hospital's registration desk.
For adult patients
Please take the Proxy for Adult Patient Express Waiver and Consent to the hospital you most recently visited. You will need to present photo identification at the hospital and be ready to provide information about your caregiver or proxy.
For the caregiver
All caregivers must be at least 18 years old, have an active email address, and present state-issued photo identification to the patient's most recent hospital.
When the hospital has processed the form, please call the MyHealthOne support team at 1-855-422-6625 to complete the caregiver enrollment process.
For the hospital
As a hospital employee, if you have questions about this form, please call the MyHealthOne hospital Portal Support team. This form is also available on Atlas Connect.
Adult Proxy Express Waiver and Consent
I, patient, hereby grant the identified proxy access to my patient health and other information ("my information") and understand that by doing so I waive all rights related to privacy and confidentiality of my information with the aforementioned person to whom I have granted access (including, without limitation, the privacy practices of HCA Midwest Physicians). I represent and warrant that I have either attained the relevant age of majority for my state of residence, or that I am a lawfully emancipated minor, with the ability to enter into agreements relating to the consent to access and waiver of rights involving my medical data. I further understand and acknowledge that (a) HCA Midwest Physicians can rely on this waiver and consent until revoked by me in writing; (b) by providing this waiver and consent the named individual has the same rights to access my information as I do; and (c) that I waive all rights and remedies relating to the named individual's use or misuse of my information that HCA Midwest Physicians provides the named individual pursuant to this Express Waiver and Consent. Please note that if this waiver and consent is revoked, such revocation will not affect any action taken in reliance on this waiver and consent prior to such revocation. If I want to revoke this Proxy Express Waiver and Consent, I must call Patient Portal Support at 1-855-422-6625.
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Epistylis Video No. 4T1/DSL/Cable Stream The genus Epistylis, also called Heteropolaria, belongs to the order Peritrichida, a group of ciliated vase-shaped protozoans. Many species in this genus are sessile and form branching colonies. Colonies of Epistylis can cause "red sore disease" in freshwater fish. The organisms secrete an enzyme that breaks down tissue at the attachment site and leaves a wound that is vulnerable to bacterial and fungal invasion. Questions or comments? Send us an email.© 1995-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, software, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
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- MsC-12
- Fonds
- 1960-1987
The fonds consists of correspondence, poems (including concrete, experimental and sound poem drafts), manuscripts (including drafts), notebooks, and journals of bp Nichol. Fonds includes records (1964-1987) of Nichol's presses, Ganglia and grOnk, consisting of manuscript files, correspondence files, mockups, business and reference files, computer discs, the authors poetry and comic book collections, photographs, television scripts, etc. Correspondents and contributors include Bill Bissett, Gerry Gilbert, Margaret Avison, Earle Birney, David Harris, David Phillips, David McFadden and others.
Nichol, bp (Barrie Phillip)


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"Everything happens for a good reason!" was a sentence I heard often these past few days. It probably does – but right now it kind of feels like things are happening for no reason at all! Still I hate crying over spilled milk for long. I do not have the patient for it. Yes, I lament, get mad and am frustrated at being thrown into this situation. The thought of having to unpack the boxes, I just packed a few weeks ago, makes me want to kick them to the Moon. But surprisingly I am on a high!
Yes I am riding a wave of enthusiasm right now and although I know keeping my balance might get trickier, I want to be able to grasp every minute of the magical support, motivation and joy I have been getting. It feels like balsam and makes me feel safe to face whatever is going to come my way. Everyone and I really mean everyone, whether it's the friends, parents at the school or colleagues and of course my blog family have been offering so much support, good words of advice and affection that it lifts me up higher and higher.
I am plowing ahead though. Although I have not unpacked and re-set up my photo studio yet, I am channeling my frustration into positive energy and have been taking photos again. I missed this! Just clearing my head and thinking of nothing else but exposure, aperture and lighting. There are no boxes, no fears of being separated and having to see Soeren be sad to be apart from his best buddy – his dad. Just me, my camera and my motive.
My mind is also back in the kitchen and I cannot wait to start experimenting, cooking and baking again. The past several weeks it was mostly quick meals and as I packed or sold off my kitchen tools, room for experimenting and being creative on a large scale was out of the question. One of the first things I did this week was contact Ivonne and Lisa and asked them if they would take me back into the safe and snug arms of the Daring Bakers. I'm looking forward to this month's challenge.
Another thing I am also doing is planning – a "I-am-back-without-really-leaving-and-thank-you-for-the-support" party! Those who know me, also know I always thank with food. Food comforts and brings people of all cultures together and food makes everyone happy. Many of my friends are used to getting jars filled with homemade apricot salsa or a medley of jams, jellies and preserves, favorites are of course my experiments of pralines or truffles. I have been playing around and trying to come up with a few special recipes.
I know that I can hit the nerves of all my dear ones around me – here in Weimar and on this blog – if I tickle their sweet tastebuds.
Sensually sweet mangoes and thick creamy Greek yogurt make this mousse an airy and delicious delight. Delicately infused with vanilla and topped with pure mango cubes, I am hoping that all of you who have been there for me over the past days will accept my humble way of showing my deepest gratitude.
Mango Yogurt Mousse (Eggless)
Printable version of recipe here
2-3 ripe mangoes, 2 puréed and 1 cut into cubes
250g thick Greek yogurt
65g fine sugar
240 ml heavy cream, chilled
1 vanilla bean, insides scraped out
1 sheet gelatinMethod
- In a food processor or blender, blend the sugar, mango purée from 2 mangoes and vanilla into a smooth mixture.
- Take about 2 to 3 tablespoons of the mixture and gently heat in a saucepan. Dissolve the gelatin in the mixture then add it back to the mango purée mixture. Blend everything quickly to ensure the gelatin in incorporated well.
- Transfer everything into a bowl then with a whisk, whisk in the Greek yogurt until smooth.
- In a separate bowl beat the chilled heavy cream until it holds stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mango mixture until thoroughly incorporated.
- Divide the mousse into 4 dessert bowls or glasses and chill overnight.
- Garnish with the mango cubes and serve well chilled with chocolate Florentine cookies.
You can use both low-fat yogurt and cream for the dessert. The heavy cream can be totally substituted by another 240-250g of Greek yogurt. However note that the texture will be slightly different. Expect it to be a bit more dense as when whipped cream is used.
Canned mangoes, available at most Indian stores, can be used if you cannot find ripe mangoes in your area.
Add a handful of pistachios or hazelnut brittle for a bit of crunch.
The test version of the mousse got enthusiastic thumbs up from both Tom and Soeren. I cannot imagine anyone not being a fan of mango and mousse. What I like about this dessert is that it is so quick to make and being an eggless dessert should get it a few additional bonus points. The subtle vanilla flavor highlights the aromas of mango intensively. A pure delight for all my sweet friends!
I am taking part in an event after a long time. The social mingling will do me good and as Srivalli of Cooking 4 All Seasons is having a Mango Mela I just have to be a part of the fun!
You might like these dessert delights from WFLH:
Spiced Chai Latte Cream | Chocolate Chile Pots De Crème | Coconut Mousse with Mango Coulis |
From around the blogs:
Key Lime Mousse topped with Mangoes – Half Baked
Saffron Yogurt Mousse with Rose Petal Honey – e-curry
Blackberry Mousse with Crushed Almond Praline – Kitchen Wench
Daily Tiffin Reading Tip:
Summer Fruits: Blueberries written by Andrea
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2009 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First


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Australian children are to be banned from blowing out candles on birthday cakes under new hygiene regulations that have been slammed by the Australian Medical Association as "bubble-wrapping."
According to Australia's Daily Telegraph, the guidelines, set by Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), instruct daycare centers to provide birthday boys and girls with their own individual cupcakes to blow the candles out, to avoid the spread of germs.
(MORE: Could Australia Get a New Flag?)
"Children love to blow out their candles while their friends are singing 'Happy birthday,'" the document states. "To prevent the spread of germs when the child blows out the candles, parents should either provide a separate cupcake, with a candle if they wish, for the birthday child and enough cupcakes for all the other children."
Daycare staff should also be required to clean toys, doorknobs, floors and cushion covers with germ-killing disinfectant on a daily basis, while youngsters must wash their hands with alcohol-based sanitizer before and after playing in sandpits, says the NHMRC.
But Australian doctors say the guidelines go too far, noting how exposure to bacteria is essential for the development of a healthy immune system.
"If somebody sneezes on a cake, I probably don't want to eat it either — but if you're blowing out candles, how many organisms are transferred to a communal cake, for goodness' sake?" AMA president Steve Hambleton told News Ltd.
"It's normal and healthy to be exposed to a certain amount of environmental antigens that build up our immune systems. If you live in a plastic bubble you're going to get infections [later on] that you can't handle."
The NHMRC also urged parents to allow their children to stay at home if feeling unwell in order to avoid unnecessarily spreading infections to their school classmates. Schools should ignore doctors' letters that state a pupil is healthy if teachers suspect otherwise, said the council.