[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 137 (Wednesday, September 6, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       ``MY VISION FOR AMERICA''

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                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 1995
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues a letter written to me from the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
of the United States regarding the Voice of Democrary broadcast 
scriptwriting contest. Jennifer Schuler, a senior at Devils Lake High 
School from North Dakota, has been named a national winner in the 1995 
Voice of Democracy Program for her essay entitled ``My Vision For 
America'' which emphasizes remembering the positive things in this 
world. I have included Jennifer's essay for the benefit of my 
colleagues.

       Bullets flagged down thirty protesters in front of the 
     capitol. . . .(click) Four B-52 bombers flew over Kwait 
     today. . .(click) A 7.1 earthquake struck southern 
     California. . .(click) The mid-west estimates flood damage to 
     have reached. . .(click) The World Trade Center was a 
     evacuated today after a bomb blast. . . (click)
       Its hard to watch the news at night and come away with a 
     positive outlook on what the future holds. I, like many other 
     people, get caught up in the media's negative portrayal of 
     the world. If we are so wrapped up in the negative, it closes 
     us off to so many opportunities to see the good that is 
     around us. A perfect example is Susan Smith; the woman who 
     confessed to murdering her two children. The nation, perhaps 
     even the world, was struck to the soul by this story. A 
     shadow fell over the United States filling us with 
     helplessness and now hinders us from seeing the good that so 
     many people are giving.
       My vision is that people stop and take the time to see what 
     is actually being accomplished for the better good of this 
     nation. Look for the people who haven't given up on our 
     country. Look at our teachers. Everytime that a teacher helps 
     just one student understand, is another step forward. Look at 
     the organizations dedicated to helping citizens of our own 
     United States and the world. Consider for example, Mothers 
     against Drunk Driving, or students against drunk driving. 
     Everytime their message touches a parent or a child, chances 
     are that someone will be spared from an alcohol related 
     accident. What about UNICEF. Does anyone know what UNICEF 
     stands for anymore? The Jerry Lewis Telethon or the March of 
     Dimes. These organizations, too, are fighting for the people. 
     The people of the United States. It's not just organizations 
     who are making the world a better place. Individuals who 
     donate organs, give up a half an hour of their time to tutor 
     someone, or organize a program like Just Say No are all 
     contributing to the positive side of America.
       Certainly our world is not a perfect place. It does have 
     its share of problems. But rather than making these problems 
     so large that they seem impossible or insurmountable, doesn't 
     it make much sense to look at what has already been 
     accomplished. There are many people who have not let the 
     negativism of our country to pull them down. Would African 
     American's have their rights and freedom if Martin Luther 
     King, Jr. hadn't had the courage to bring his dream to life? 
     Would women have won the right to vote if Susan B. Anthony 
     had not held fast to her vision? The Wright Brothers may have 
     not have even attempted to design or construct a plane if 
     they had let the negativism and ridicule of their peers 
     influence their vision that flight was possible. Without 
     these visions, if people had not blocked out the negative, 
     America would not be a safe haven for refugees and 
     immigrants. Without a vision, America would international 
     relations be possible? Take for example Space Station Alpha. 
     Would this be an all-American project with closed doors to 
     the world if someone had not had a vision? In reality, the 
     U.S., Europe, Canada, Japan, and Russia have all bonded 
     together to create Space Station Alpha. This station is a 
     vision to our future.
       We all have visions of what we want America to accomplish. 
     Some examples are world peace, hunger relief, a cure for 
     Aids, or even a unified nation. But my vision is simple. All 
     I ask is that we remember the good, while we're dealing with 
     the bad.
     

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