declare 9/12 to 9/19 reconciliation and common humanity week in order to bring people back together after five years of complicated feelings

I thought about making this goal in honor of the town of Gander, Newfoundland, a town which took in hundreds of stranded passengers when the skies were shut down and no air travel was allowed on 9-12 and afterwards. And all the people who went out and donated water and blood and who have girted the hearts and souls of those affected by the tsunami and hurricanes and other tragedies. We’ve been living in interesting times, just like that Chinese curse always promised.

I also thought about how Star Trek is experiencing its 40th anniversary this year – it premiered this time last Friday, in 1966! – and couldn’t we use some of that good old fashioned human storytelling, that stretched our minds and tried to open our hearts a little? If Mr. Spock is so many folks’ favorite, maybe that means there’s a little bit of the alien, of the outsider in all of us – someone who can relate to needing a friend, needing understanding.

In all this remembrance of the 9-11 tragedy, and all the political tension leading up to the American elections in 2006, maybe we can take a week – at least a week – just to try and find commonality again, even if just for a short while.

Maybe we could all resolve to talk to someone new – someone who we wouldn’t otherwise have the courage to introduce ourselves to – or to go somewhere new. Maybe to get back in touch with an old friend or family member, “just because”. Or to tell people we love them. In the spirit of reconciliation and the humanity we share.

_Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),

SECTION 1. USE OF ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL.

The rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to be used at any time on November 27, 2001, or December 4, 2001, for a National Day of Reconciliation where —

(1) the 2 Houses of Congress shall assemble in the rotunda with the Chaplain of the House of Representatives and the Chaplain of the Senate in attendance; and

(2) during this assembly, the Members of the 2 Houses may gather to humbly seek the blessings of Providence for forgiveness, reconciliation, unity, and charity for all people of the United States, thereby assisting the Nation to realize its potential as —

(A) the champion of hope;

(B) the vindicator of the defenseless; and

(C) the guardian of freedom.

SEC. 2. PHYSICAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE ASSEMBLY.

Physical preparations for the assembly shall be carried out in accordance with such conditions as the Architect of the Capitol may prescribe._