Joe Cunningham: “I take umbrage at some who would say that this is frivolous legislation. Mr. Speaker, to me, patriotism demands more…”

“I take umbrage at some who would say that this is frivolous legislation. Mr. Speaker, to me, patriotism demands more than standing on the House floor and stating that we are all patriotic or we all support the troops. Check the record of those Members that consistently vote against defense bills or intel or even our veterans. It is just not true. To me, there are Members who are unpatriotic in this body. I would say that voting against this bill in itself is not unpatriotic. People have different reasons. But patriotism is always unfinished business. It requires action, not just verbiage. And I state again that a vote against this bill does not mean you are unpatriotic, but I think there is a combination of votes and support for our troops and our country that does classify some people with those actions. Mr. Speaker, a few months ago, I watched on television as they played the series ``Glory.'' It was about a regiment of African American troops that volunteered to go up to the front. They knew in attacking a fort that it would be certain death. And as Denzel Washington, the actor, and his crowd started to go forward to this and attack, knowing that they would most certainly die, the question was asked, ``If I should fall, who will carry this flag?'' And echoed down the ranks was, ``I will,'' ``I will,'' ``I will,'' and they each did so. Each time the flag fell, African Americans picked up that flag and carried it forward.”