Steven Gunderson: “we cannot today dictate the moral compass of civilized society, and we cannot today dictate the moral compass of even…”

“we cannot today dictate the moral compass of civilized society, and we cannot today dictate the moral compass of even the United Nations or our NATO allies. But I think today we will determine the limits beyond which the American people can no longer tolerate business as usual in Bosnia. I call upon my colleagues in this Congress to take a good look at the reality, the stark reality before us. Over 200,000 people have been killed; over 20,000 have been raped, over 4,000 children have been displaced and await some kind of placement; and over 2.75 million people have already been driven from their homes and their personal belongings stolen. I am reminded of those words of Pastor Martin Niemoller shortly after World War II when he wrote, First they came for the communists; I was not a communist, so I did not object. Then they came for the Jews; I was not a Jew, so I did not object. Then they came for the trade unionists; I was not a trade unionist, so I did not object. Then they came for the Catholics; I was not a Catholic, so I did not object. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to object. I am not Bosnian, and I am not Moslem. But, Mr. Chairman, I am appalled by how we have failed to learn the lesson of history and how we stand by to watch the rape, the murder, and the pillage of a people. We say nothing and we do nothing, and we let history dictate its results.”