[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 46 (Monday, April 25, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         THE MEANING OF AMERICA

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I would like to submit for the Record the 
text of an essay written by a very talented young man from my State of 
South Dakota. Marcus Stubbles is the winner of this year's South Dakota 
Voice of Democracy award. With his essay, he has painted an eloquent 
picture of what America means to him. I think it is valuable for each 
of us, especially as Members of this body, to reflect on this 
fundamental question periodically. I would encourage my colleagues to 
take a moment to read this brief essay, and I ask that its text be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the essay was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

       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 
     dollars. Again, I suppose that this, technically, is America. 
     But I don't think that's all there is to America.
       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 millions 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 
     courage, defiance, and loyatly to principles and ideals 
     above men and institutions. Let me give you same 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, Franklin Delano Roosevelt took to the airwaves to 
     personally, calm and reassure the country and lead it toward 
     it's 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 
     our lives to grasp it like the refugees who have come to 
     America since the pilgrims and who continue to dream of 
     America today.
       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 in my commitment to 
     America.

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