[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E782-E783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  HONORING THE CESAR CHAVEZ WRITING CONTEST AWARD WINNERS OF THE EAST 
                    SIDE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

                                 ______


                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 4, 1995
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the winners of 
the first annual Cesar Chavez writing contest held by the East Side 
Union High School District in San Jose, CA. I had the great privilege 
of attending the award ceremony honoring the student winners on March 
31, 1995, which, as you know, marks the birthday of the late Cesar 
Chavez. I would like to especially thank Joe Coto, superintendent of 
the East Side Union High School District, for organizing this important 
event.
  I am very proud of all the students who participated in the Cesar 
Chavez Writing Contest, and would like to congratulate each of them on 
their achievement. By participating in this writing contest, these 
students paid tribute to Cesar Chavez, who dedicated his life to the 
struggle for equal rights and equal opportunity. His work fighting for 
human beings and fair working and living conditions for farmworkers was 
an inspiration to those who joined him and those who supported his 
efforts around the world.
  Cesar Chavez will be remembered for his tireless commitment to 
improve the plight of farmworkers and the poor throughout the United 
States. And, he will be remembered for the inspiration his heroic 
efforts gave to so many Americans to work nonviolently for justice in 
their communities.
  These students who participated in this writing contest have been an 
inspiration to me in my efforts as a recent cosponsor of a resolution 
that would declare March 31 a Federal holiday in honor of Cesar Chavez. 
The resolution which is sponsored by Congressman Bob Filner of San 
Diego currently has 20 original cosponsors and will be introduced this 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, the students who participated in the Cesar Chavez 
Writing Contest deserve to be recognized individually for the wonderful 
essays and poems they wrote in his honor.
  Rosalinda Gonzalez of Independence High School and Nicole Perez of 
Mt. Pleasant High School were the two grand prize winners. Each wrote 
poems about Cesar Chavez's life. Rosalinda Gonzalez' poem is titled 
``Cesar Chavez'' and Nicole Perez' poem is titled ``Recollection.''
  The first place winners are listed as follows: Sabrina Hernandez of 
Andrew High School who write the essay titled ``This Spirit We 
Follow''; Aberin Rodrigo of James Lick High School who wrote the essay 
titled ``Cesar Chavez''; Kathryn White of Oak Grove High School who 
wrote the essay titled ``Making the World a Better Place''; Lisette 
Muniz of W.C. Overfelt High School who wrote the poem titled ``Cesar 
Chavez''; Ahmed Desai of Piedmont Hills High School who wrote the essay 
titled ``Dedicated to a Dedicator''; Maria Gonzalez of Santa Teresa 
High School who wrote the poem titled ``Battle''; Brenda Reyes of 
Silver Creek High School who wrote the poem titled ``Who is He?''; and 
Eulala Reynolds of Yerba Buena High School who wrote the poem titled 
``Cesar Chavez.''
  The second place winners are listed as follows: Lauren Droira of 
Andrew Hill High School who wrote the essay titled ``Cesar Chavez' 
Testimony to Modern Society''; Eve Zuniga of Independence High School 
who wrote the essay titled ``Charity''; Troy Arevalo of James Lick High 
School who wrote the poem titled ``Cesar Chavez''; Marie Aloy of Mt. 
Pleasant High School who wrote an untitled essay; Mark Papellero of
 W.C. Overfelt High School who wrote the poem titled ``The Lives of 
Workers''; Raymond Ramirez of Piedmont Hills High School who wrote the 
poem titled ``Chavez y La Causa''; Ester Martinez Estrada of Santa 
Teresa High School who wrote the essay titled ``A Hero to the Mexican 
Community''; and Anthonette Pena of Silver Creek High School who wrote 
the essay titled ``Cesar Chavez.''

  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I ask you to join me in 
recognizing these distinguished students and award recipients from my 
district, who looked to see Cesar Chavez as a great citizen worthy of 
respect, praise, and emulation. Mr. Speaker, we all look in our history 
with respect and love for the men and women who devote their lives to 
the cause of social and economic justice to all citizens. Cesar Chavez 
is such a man. His memory will live on through the heart-felt poems and 
essays of these students. I commend each of these remarkable students 
for their important contribution to preserving the memory of Cesar 
Chavez.
  Mr. Speaker, over the next several days I will be entering into the 
Record the essays and poems of these students. I will start by sharing 
with you the poems of the two grand prize winners, Rosalinda Gonzalez 
of Independence High School, and Nicole Perez of Mt. Pleasant High 
School. Their poems follow:

       Rosalinda Gonzalez of Independence High School.
                            ``cesar chavez''

     Lying there in death
     In a hot room
     With only a fan to cool him
     A crate-looking casket
     I saw him
     In the flesh

     A great man's death
     People in mourning
     Over the end of an era
     An era in which
     I had no part

     The marches, boycotts, fasts,
     La huelga
     I had only heard of them
     from my Dad

     Assembled for a funeral
     March
     Was when I understood
     It is about people
     By the thousands
     They came
     Men, women, children
     Different races, lifestyles, and creeds

     Unity
     As I marched
     I felt it
     I was brought back
     To the days
     My Dad Spoke of
     Marching for a cause
     Together as one

     Now
     Is the time
     For action
     Our generation is
     Next in line
     Educate and make a
     Change
     The birth of a new era
                                                                    ____

       Nicole Perez of Mt. Pleasant High School.


                            ``recollection''

     My eyes looked up at him longingly,
     the man my parents often spoke of.
     ``There he is hija,''
     ``He's the one,'' the one that helped us.
     He shook my fathers hand, with a firm grip,
     and a subtle smile.
     He was wearing very simple clothes, yes,
     a very humble man.
     Yet he held a world of power,
     in his strong, worn out hand.
     I remembered all the things he did,
     all the things he did for us.
     The strikes, the vigils, his leadership against 
     [[Page E783]] the one's who tried to conquer us.
     My mother told me the stories,
     the stories of the past.
     Of how Mr. Chavez held on, never letting go,
     strong and always stead-fast.
     I held on tightly and whispered in my mama's ear
     ``I'm gonna be just like him mama,''
     ``I'm gonna be just like him.''

  There were eight first place winners. Of these eight, I will enter 
the essays of the first three first place winners today. The essays of 
Sabrina Hernandez of Andrew Hill High School, Aberin Rodrigo of James 
Lick High School, and Kathryn White of Oak Grove High School follow:

       Sabrina Hernandez of Andrew Hill High School.


                       ``this spirit we follow''

       Why are people of past struggles as well as successes 
     remembered in spite of their death? Why, because they are 
     leaders. Cesar Chavez died in 1993 and still, today, he 
     serves as a model for youth throughout the world. Cesar 
     Chavez had fire in himself, a spark of divine madness as he 
     would march, boycott, and strike to win rights for migrants. 
     But above all, Cesar Chavez helped all Hispanic people to 
     dignify their deepest desires, convinced many to follow his 
     own footsteps in the making of a great history, and finally, 
     gave people a sense of glory about themselves.
       Today people may wonder who Cesar Chavez really was and, as 
     a youth, one may question how Cesar Chavez became the person 
     he is remembered to be. Cesar Chavez helped people to dignify 
     their deepest desires, no matter what they were to be. In 
     doing so, people's desires today are to keep Cesar Chavez' 
     spirit alive in the hearts of his followers and, most of all, 
     in the hearts of the youth. We, the youth of today, will 
     become the leaders of tomorrow. In order to become successful 
     adults, we need people like Cesar Chavez, who struggled to 
     keep his dreams alive so they could become a reality. 
     Together we may look up to and follow in his footsteps, 
     determined to reach our goals despite the hardships that we 
     may come to face.
       Cesar Chavez was like a mirror, reflecting back to people 
     their own sense of purpose, putting into words their hopes 
     and dreams, transforming their needs and fears into coherent 
     policies and programs. On July 29, 1970, Cesar Chavez and his 
     followers signed union contracts with the U.F.W. known to be
      the United Farm Workers union. This union helped migrant 
     farmworkers join together to dramatize the plight of 
     America's poor farmhands. Today youth are able to look 
     upon this heroic man and into the future so that we may 
     finally realize, ``Yes, we can be leaders too.'' In the 
     mid 1900's, people had glory in themselves, though they 
     did not know it. They were too busy working the fields, 
     picking lettuce, picking fruits, and least liked of them 
     all, picking grapes. Now that we are approaching the year 
     2000, thanks to Cesar Chavez, farmworkers, some from our 
     own families, do not have to suffer as much to earn a 
     living. We still have to work, yet we have time to hope, 
     to wish, and to dream.
       Our strength made him strong; our determination made him 
     determined; our courage made him a hero; he was and still is, 
     in the final analysis, the symbol of our dreams and hopes, 
     shaped by our own spirit and will . . . his name, Cesar 
     Chavez. He lead the making of memorable history and today our 
     grandparents and our parents are able to tell us the story of 
     this wonderful man. Cesar Chavez' beliefs were bolder than a 
     pair of eagle's wings. He stood strong and tall surpassing 
     his own hardships while achieving dreams that were 
     interlocked in his heart and the hearts of us that believed 
     in him. He worked hard to break the wall of obscurity that 
     seemed to combine work with pain. The paths that Cesar Chavez 
     traveled are here for us today so that, we too, can 
     experience life's forsaken treasures.
       Cesar Chavez was a leader and today, for many, still 
     remains a leader. He spent his whole lifetime uniting people, 
     a quality he possessed even in death. He dignified, he 
     convinced, and he gave his life to all those that believed in 
     him. What Cesar Chavez stood for is relevant in our world and 
     lives today, and now he is able to serve as a model for all 
     youth to believe in, to follow, and to become.
                                                                    ____


               (Aberin Rodrigo of James Lick High School)

                              Cesar Chavez

       In this crumbling society, where everything seems to 
     retrogress instead of progress, role models are needed to 
     guide the youth of the world in a positive direction. One 
     might suggest that the youth today do have role models, but 
     these role models are usually athletes or superstars. These 
     athletes and superstars may be rich and famous, but they hide 
     behind them the real models of today. Ordinary people who 
     struggle and battle for what they believe in should be the 
     role models of our youth because they display characteristics 
     that are not often shown today. There are so many of these 
     ``secondary'' role models, but one seems to stand out. This 
     man was not very big physically, yet his heart was one of 
     enormous proportions. A courageous and determined leader was 
     what he was, and his name was Cesar Chavez.
       Starting out his life as a farmer, Chavez began to realize 
     how poor the conditions were that migrant farmers faced. They 
     lived in shacks that were merely chunks of wood piled on one 
     another. The food they were given were of the worst quality 
     and plumbing was not available in these shacks. To make it 
     worse, these farmers were given no benefits, even though they 
     worked approximately sixteen hours a day, six to seven times 
     a week. these ridiculous facts awakened the leader which was 
     hidden in Chavez. His calm rage became visible when he 
     organized the United Farmworker's Union. With this union he 
     planned to call upon the nation's attention concerning the 
     rights of these ``invisible people.'' He wanted to let 
     everyone know how pitiful the migrant farmers' living 
     conditions were. If some people could be reached by Chavez's 
     actions, which included going on two hunger strikes, then 
     maybe these people could help make these conditions less 
     ridiculous
      and heinous. One might say, ``Well, why did they not just 
     leave and find another job?'' They could not. Who else 
     would give them a job knowing their background? Even 
     though they were paid so little, and were treated so 
     poorly, no one else would pay and treat them better. This 
     is what Chavez tried to change, and with great patience, 
     determination, courage and leadership, he would die 
     trying.
       All of Chavez's accomplishments were done with many 
     characteristics not often shown in modern life. His courage 
     was displayed when he spoke his mind representing the 
     opinions of the migrant workers. His determination was 
     displayed in his starvation protests, while his leadership 
     was displayed in his organization of the Grape Boycott and 
     the United Farmworker's Union. His patience undoubtedly was 
     the force behind his continuance to fight for what he 
     believed in. These are the characteristics lacked by the 
     youth today, and even though Chavez has passed on, maybe, 
     just maybe he might have influenced a few youths--youths who 
     need guidance.
                                                                    ____


                    Making the World a Better Place

                (Kathryn White of Oak Grove High School)

       Cesar Chavez was not just a man, in the eyes of many he was 
     a hero. Although Chavez passed away two years ago, he will 
     always be remembered and looked up to. Chavez was a man who 
     dedicated his life to improving the lives of the American 
     farm worker. He organized the powerless migrant farm workers 
     of California and forced the growers to pay better wages and 
     provide better working conditions for the workers. His 
     struggle was tough, but his commitment to the farm workers 
     was stronger than any of those who opposed him. It was 
     Chavez' honor, dignity, and sense of duty that make him one 
     of the best role models a child growing up in today's world 
     could possible have.
       Many children today look to violence to solve their 
     problems. Their only role models are those that they find on 
     the ``big screen,'' and because of this many important values 
     are being replaced by superficial beliefs in the lives of 
     children everywhere. Yet, it is people such as Cesar Chavez 
     who can bring about change in children's lives. Chavez was a 
     nonviolent and hardworking man who followed his heart and 
     used his time and energy to promote peace and make a better 
     life for those around him. The qualities which made Chavez 
     the great man that he was are those that children everywhere 
     should want to instill in their lives.
       Chavez had a mission, and although he was opposed by many 
     who did not agree with him, he never gave up. He had a 
     commitment, and his promise to the farm workers of America 
     was one that he intended to keep. The life and hard work of 
     Cesar Chavez demonstrates to children the rewards for having 
     a goal and working hard until it is reached. Chavez can serve 
     as a role model to children around the world in that he was a 
     dignified man who made a promise to himself and the people 
     around him and through hard work and determination reached 
     his goal. With a role model like this, children can learn 
     that working hard and helping others not only makes the other 
     person feel good but will bring about a sense of self-pride, 
     a huge reward for honest hard work.
       Cesar Chavez taught the world that working together 
     accomplishes in much more than working alone. He taught the 
     farm workers, the Latino community, and everyone around the 
     world that pride in one's self, belief in those around you, 
     and unending devotion to a worthy cause can make the world a 
     better place. With a role model like Chavez, children 
     everywhere can see that having honor and duty, not giving up 
     when things get tough, and working together with others will 
     provide a better more unified world where everyone can live 
     together in peace.
     

                          ____________________