Bill Nelson: “I am moved to speak because of the eloquence of the Senator from West Virginia and what he has taught us today by his…”

“I am moved to speak because of the eloquence of the Senator from West Virginia and what he has taught us today by his statements as the author of the Byrd rule, as the author of the reconciliation act, and how he has woven the importance of this body being able to freely debate and freely amend into the course of history. He talked about Runnymede. He talked about Xerxes. As he was speaking so eloquently, it recalled to my mind Athens in the fifth century before Christ, one of the greatest golden times in the age of civilization of planet Earth. But Athens had a problem in a bald-headed, bandy-legged little man by the name of Socrates who liked to ask all kinds of questions and who liked to challenge the established order of things Athenian. In the process of that experience with democracy and free speech, the special interests of the day urged the crowd so that the pack became in full cry to shut up the man who dared to ask the questions--Mr. Socrates. Ultimately they offered him the cup and said: Have a drink, Mr. Socrates. Socrates was such a part of that Athenian society that rather than break the rules, he drank from the cup. He showed by so doing that he adhered to the highest principles of Athenian society while they were muzzling and shackling and clamping his mouth shut.”