H.C.R. No. 276
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, In 1986, as Texas entered a difficult economic
period, Speaker Gib Lewis gave each member of the legislature a copy
of a book, The New Legacy, with a letter indicating that it was a
book that not only defined Texas values but gave an insight and a
vision as to the future of Texas as it evolved from the difficult
times it faced; and
WHEREAS, The legislature again faces not only difficult
economic times but significant questions as to how it will evolve a
culture and a process to solve these issues in the future; and
WHEREAS, Another book, The Language of Conscience, addresses
with the same insight the most difficult issues of modern times,
provides decision systems based on conscience versus convenience,
and provides a thoughtful alternative to partisanship alone; and
WHEREAS, The Language of Conscience is based on a premise
that character and individual responsibility are the core of a
Texas value system that must be preserved and that the choice of
conscience over convenience as a value decision will best serve the
state but will only exist in an institutional culture that promotes
it; and
WHEREAS, The book's core belief is that conscience operates
best on an individual level but that convenience inevitably
occupies the realms of power; thus, the only way to move conscience
into the realms of power is to make it convenient by affecting the
culture and its support of conscience as a fundamental value of an
institution; and
WHEREAS, The legacy of our 78th Texas Legislative Session
will be defined in history not just by what we do or how well we do
it, but also by the purposes for which it is done; let us indicate
that, though we may disagree with each other, we will strive to have
these disagreements be based on conscience rather than on political
and personal convenience, and let us endeavor to build a framework
that maintains the value-based system of the Texas culture so that
we may work more closely together in the future; though conscience
based on our constituents' needs will inevitably make us disagree
on issues, the manner in which we disagree and our ultimate purpose
should set the culture of this institution; this book is an
enlightenment of the options from which we can individually choose;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commend Tieman H. Dippel, Jr., the author of The New Legacy
and The Language of Conscience, for the lifelong efforts that he has
made to advance Texas and to defend its value-based culture and the
principles of conscience, God, family, and service to others; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That former U.S. Representatives Bill Archer and
Jake Pickle, the Ethics Officers Association, and the other
contributors to The Language of Conscience also be commended for
their insights that develop a perspective for these issues; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That Tieman "Skipper" Dippel be proclaimed the
"Texas Prophet on Conscience" for the guidance he has provided
throughout his life, and particularly for his works The New Legacy
and The Language of Conscience, and that these books be recommended
to those who are united by Texas values, the concept of conscience,
and the effort to bring out the best of man.
Garza
Craddick
Laney
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 276 was adopted by the House on May
29, 2003, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 276 was adopted by the Senate on May
29, 2003, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor