Mike Thompson: “we meet here today to express our outrage even though words cannot express the sorrow and anger that fills our hearts.…”

“we meet here today to express our outrage even though words cannot express the sorrow and anger that fills our hearts. But we must express these feelings--on behalf of the family and friends of thousands of innocent victims, many whose identities we do not yet know--and on behalf of our entire nation. Our young people must wonder why the United States who they are taught is the beacon of hope and liberty for the world--why we of all countries--should be the world's main target of such savagery. I suggest it is because those teachings to our young people are true. It is because our history and the principles on which our country was founded go against the trend of thousands of years of human history. Thousands of years of 'might makes right,' of rulers and dictatorships of all shapes and forms, of religious intolerance and subjugation. We have shown the world that it doesn't have to be that way. And today's tyrants and would-be tyrants cannot afford to let that example stand. But stand it will. If this giant, America, has been sleeping as some say, it has been awakened once again and will not rest until an example is made of those who would murder our innocent citizens and tear at the very fabric of our national existence. Part of a great nation's responsibility for keeping peace in the world is the threat it must pose to those who would upset that peace. Therefore, we must act as a deterrent to outrageous activity when our interests are involved.…”