The Congressional Black Caucus considers itself "the conscience of the U.S. Congress," and rightfully so. It has been the level-headed thinking of Black legislators that has demonstrated the most sane and practical approaches to the problems that perplex this nation.

However, it was only one woman, Rep. Barbra Lee (D-Calif.), who stood on the faith of her convictions despite tremendous pressure Sept. 14, to vote against a House Resolution that would put solely in President Bush�s hands the decision to use military force in response to the attacks of Sept. 11. The vote was 420-1 in the House and 98-0 in the Senate in favor of the resolution. We applaud Rep. Lee�s courage.

"Our Constitution provides for checks and balances between our branches of government," Rep. Lee offered as reasoning for her vote. "This resolution does not obligate the President to report back to Congress after 60 days, as was required by Congress during the Gulf War, about the actions our military will take. Additionally, this resolution authorizes an open-ended action and significantly reduces Congress� authority in this matter."

Even though the courageous congresswoman had voted in favor of: condemning the attacks and extending Congressional condolences to the victims and their families; providing $40 billion in emergency funding for increased public safety, anti-terrorism activities and disaster recovery efforts; expediting payments of benefits to families of public safety officers killed or injured in the attacks; and providing tax relief for victims of the attacks, it was her lone vote against giving the President carte-blanche authority to prosecute a "war on terrorism" without checks and balances that necessitated armed guards to be placed at her Capitol Hill office because of threats to her safety.

Understanding the grief and anger of the nation, and feeling the emotions herself, Rep. Lee said she agonized over her vote but ultimately decided that leadership must "step back for a moment and think through the implications of our action today so that it does not spiral out of control."

In America�s hunt for the perpetrators of the horrendous events of Sept. 11, depending on how she handles the situation will determine whether the situation does, in fact, spiral out of control.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, in his Sept. 16 press conference, described the ultimate conclusion of such a situation if it spins out of control�a war that would end all wars. Therefore, he counseled, "if we can avert war, we should do everything we can to avert it."

Min. Farrakhan also advised Pres. Bush to seek counsel from religious leadership, perhaps spiritual leaders out of his faith-based effort, for guidance from the perspective of those who look at prophecy on how to tread over this difficult path.

Now is the time for level heads to prevail, the kind of guidance that so often comes from the CBC during difficult times. And once again that guidance has come. This time, however, it was from a single voice.

Nevertheless, we should listen.