[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 41 (Friday, April 15, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 SOUTH DAKOTA VOICE OF DEMOCRACY WINNER

                                 ______


                            HON. TIM JOHNSON

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 1994

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, Marcus Stubbles of 
Brookings, SD, was recently selected as a State winner in the Voice of 
Democracy broadcast script writing contest conducted each year by the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Ladies Auxiliary. 
The contest theme for this year was ``My Commitment to America,'' and 
of the more than 138,000 secondary school students who participated in 
this year's contest, Marcus also placed 27th at the national level. Mr. 
Speaker, I ask that Marcus' winning script be reprinted in the 
Congressional Record. Marcus deserves to be commended for his 
exceptional efforts in writing this script and participating in this 
contest. His insights and enthusiasm will serve as a model to others 
his age.

                        My Commitment to America

       What is America?
       This question sounds simple and silly, but it can be 
     answered in many different ways. You could look in a 
     dictionary, and it would tell you that the term ``America'', 
     used in this context, is the common shortened name for a 
     nation known officially as the United States of America. 
     Technically, I suppose that this is what ``America'' is. But 
     all we've done by answering the question this way is to 
     replace one word with others.
       What is America?
       Look at an encyclopedia, and it will tell you that America 
     is composed of 50 states and assorted territories, covers 
     three million, six hundred and eighteen thousand, seven 
     hundred and seventy square miles, has about 250 million 
     citizens, with a per capita income of about sixteen thousand 
     U.S. dollars. Again, I suppose that this, technically, is 
     America. But I don't think that's all there is to America.
       So, what is America?
       Look at an atlas. It will show you that America includes 
     almost every type of terrain and climate documented on Earth. 
     It has thousands of unique and beautiful plant and animal 
     species. On the human side, it has farms and factories, homes 
     and businesses, and every scale of settlement from small 
     towns with only a few dozen residents to vast metropolitan 
     areas covering hundreds of square miles with millions of 
     people. Again, this is America. But I don't think we've 
     really found the core of what America truly is.
       The word America, to me, is a symbol representing an 
     emotional intangible. America, more than anything else, is a 
     state of mind, a feeling in the heart comprised of defiance, 
     courage, and loyalty to principles and ideals above men and 
     institutions. Let me give you some examples of what I mean.
       The colonial leaders who signed the Declaration of 
     Independence did so knowing full well that it meant war, a 
     war in which their families and friends could be killed or 
     imprisoned, and they themselves could be executed for 
     treason. But they risked it all in the name of liberty and 
     justice. That was the true beginning of America.
       When John Paul Jones was called upon by his British 
     opponent to surrender the badly damaged Bonhomme Richard, his 
     response was nothing of the kind. Boldly declaring that he 
     ``had not yet begun to fight,'' he pressed the battle against 
     the British frigate--and won. His fighting spirit, even in 
     the face of terrible odds, was America.
       When the pioneers struck out for the midwest, they faced 
     disease, starvation, danger, and the extremes of the 
     elements. To meet these risks, they had only what they could 
     haul with them and their own ingenuity to use those supplies 
     to best advantage. And they did it all for the promise of a 
     piece of land to call their own, to work for no landlord, no 
     master. This fierce independence and determination was 
     America.
       When the depression changed America from a carefree, 
     prosperous land to a dustbowl filled with the unemployed and 
     the poor, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt took to the 
     airwaves to personally calm and reassure the country and lead 
     it toward its former security and prosperity. This firm 
     leadership, coupled with true concern for the people, was 
     America.
       When refugees give up what property and friends they have, 
     and risk their lives to cross an armed border or enter the 
     sanctuary of an embassy, they have already proved themselves 
     to be great Americans, for they have done it all to reach a 
     place they have never seen, only heard of. America is the 
     gleam of hope in their eyes that this new land might be free 
     and just.
       I believe that we must commit ourselves to keeping this 
     concept of America alive. We must commit ourselves to the 
     ideas of liberty and justice, and be as committed as the 
     daring colonists who started America. We must maintain a 
     fighting spirit against the worst of odds, like John Paul 
     Jones. We must be as determined and as independent as the 
     daring pioneers of the great plains. We must be resolute and 
     confident in our course, and keep the common man at heart, 
     like Franklin Delano Roosevelt. And we must always hope for a 
     better future, and be willing to risk our property and even 
     lives to grasp it like the refugees who have come to America 
     since the pilgrims and who continue to dream of America 
     today.
       So, what is America? America is a nation built upon the 
     ideals of liberty and justice, determination and confidence, 
     spirit and defiance, courage and hope. These values have made 
     America a great nation and have kept it strong through the 
     years. My commitment to these values is my commitment to 
     America. Thank you.

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