[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1657-E1658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   1995 DELAWARE WINNER OF THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

                                 ______


                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 1995
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I recommend the following essay by Janelle 
Jones, winner of 

[[Page E1658]]
the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program, to my colleagues.
                       ``My Vision for America''

       ``Where there is no vision, the people perish.''
       Never has this saying from the Book of Proverbs been more 
     true than for our country, right now. Imagine, you are 
     traveling through time to the year 2020, but instead of the 
     high-tech world of thriving businesses and prospering 
     families, you see ransacked, decaying cities. The former 
     United States, once strong and powerful, is now bankrupt both 
     financially and morally, a mere shadow of its former self. 
     The world leader that once generously gave to needy nations 
     must now beg for help. How has the American dream become this 
     nightmare? Since this is a nightmare, and not reality, I am 
     so thankful that the vision for America is still ours to 
     shape.
       Will Durant said, ``The present is the past rolled up for 
     action, and the past is the present unrolled for 
     understanding.'' In 1776, a vision for America was already 
     unfolding. Let's sift out the gold from the rubble of history 
     and rediscover our beloved country in the process. We can 
     dust off the bedrock principles that guided our Founding 
     Fathers then, and still keep us on course today. What are 
     these principles? We must first know them, understand them, 
     and embrace them before we can be willing to live by them and 
     die for them.
       Lives have been put on the line, fortunes risked and, 
     sacrifices made by a long line of patriots, from the signers 
     of our declaration, to the many brave veterans of conflicts 
     today. The inner fire that drove all of these was fueled by 
     belief in certain rights and principles as set forth in our 
     Constitution and Bill of Rights. They are simple, yet 
     profound. Among them are the right to own property, to 
     worship as we see fit, to meet and speak freely, and to be 
     free from any undue government interference. The dignity of 
     human life, common decency, personal responsibility, and a 
     free enterprise system were treasured as necessary to 
     freedom. These have been hard-won, and hard-kept. The price 
     of freedom is not apathy, but constant vigilance.
       Seeing the brilliance of gold from the past, I can say that 
     my vision for a strong America includes a resurgence of 
     unashamed pride and love for all that this country stands 
     for. We must preserve and communicate these values without 
     compromise.
       Former President Ronald Reagan said,
       ``The family has always been the cornerstone of American 
     society . . .'' and that ``. . . the strength of our families 
     is vital to the strength of our nation.''
       Our family structure, where these values are taught and 
     nurtured, must be supported by our society, laws and 
     institutions. Children snuggled on our lap can be read the 
     thrilling stories of all our American heroes, learning that 
     there is a moral law, and that the truly brave live by it.
       My vision for America's future includes a hard look at the 
     present, not as hopeless hand-writing, but as calls to 
     courageous action. It is our duty to participate as citizens, 
     not as passive bystanders. If the government is to be of the 
     people, by the people and for the people, then there must be 
     involved people. It takes very little time to call a 
     congressman, to vote, or to attend a town meeting to voice an 
     opinion.
       This vision of Future America beckons to me with great hope 
     and anticipation. The crumbling structures of our land have 
     been reinforced with a fresh appreciation for our tradition 
     and heritage. Any fog of confusion about our nation's 
     identity has been pierced with the light of truth. The 
     shackles of helplessness have been opened with the key of 
     principled thinking and responsible citizenship. Our 
     foundation of freedom is once more visible, and the spirit of 
     our forefathers recaptured. The pollution of compromise is 
     clearing from our purpose, and now all that is right and true 
     and lasting comes into focus once again. As Americans, we 
     will see the bright gold of restored vision for our country, 
     and will know that this nation, under god, indivisible, still 
     has liberty and justice for all.
     

                          ____________________