Neil Abercrombie: “I thank the gentleman. As I bring this up, let me say that I make it a practice of reading this play at least once a…”

“I thank the gentleman. As I bring this up, let me say that I make it a practice of reading this play at least once a year to remind myself of why I am in the Congress. This is one of the reasons why I am here, and I want to tell the Members that this debate has energized me. Sometimes I get up tired in the morning, and I am sure we all have done that. I read in the Post today how tired we all are because we have been moving at a fast pace. That is all right. I do not mind myself, but I realize I am here dealing with the fundamentals, not just me but all of us here, my dear friends and colleagues. We are dealing with the fundamentals. This is what this is all about. More paid with his head. More paid with his head for standing up for freedom. We will not have to do that today. This is my political head or your political head. What difference does that make? Nobody is going to be shot coming out of this Chamber. Nobody is going to be arrested under these circumstances, not coming out of here. But it is not rhetoric for those whom it affects. And when it comes to religion, this is the first, Mr. Chairman. The first of all our amendments, Mr. Chairman, is freedom of religion, Minus this, we lose the entire basis of what the United States and democracy is all about. I plead with the Members, please, to examine the basis of what we are doing here. It is not important to pass everything.…”