[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E379-E380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ESSAY ON FREEDOM BY MICHELLE FUNK OF RICHMOND

                                 ______


                         HON. DAVID M. McINTOSH

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 19, 1996

  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to give my report from 
Indiana for the week of March 11.
  This week I would like to share with you an essay written by a sixth 
grade girl named Michelle Funk. Michelle is from Richmond, IN, in my 
district. Her essay won the top school award for sixth grade and first 
place in a Sertoma Club contest.
  Michelle has entitled her essay, ``Freedom.'' I think Michelle 
describes the God given right of self-determination better than many 
adults.
  Her essay begins.

       Imagine this: Johnny and Mark were playing one-on-one 
     basketball when a bully came up to them and said, ``Give me 
     that ball!'' Johnny said, ``I don't have to. It's a free 
     country.''
       ``It's a free country.'' Many times that just seems like an 
     excuse for not doing things we're told to. But it's true. It 
     is a free country. But what does that mean?
       One thing is rights, the rights that are listed in the 
     Constitution. They say that we can go to school, speak our 
     minds, publish our ideas, and believe in whatever and whoever 
     we want to.
       A right that is very important is voting. Even though it 
     doesn't apply to me yet, it's still important that we can 
     choose our own leaders instead of having a ruler who's 
     succeeded by his children and their children.
       Even though we have a right to freedom, it's still a 
     privilege, and privileges always go with responsibilities. If 
     we are responsible now and in the future, we will make a 
     better life for ourselves and our future families in many 
     ways. If you're responsible, you will do better in school and 
     in your future career. So be responsible!
       But then again, you don't have to. It's a free country!


[[Page E380]]


  I want to thank Michelle for helping us remember the true nature of 
freedom. In our Nation, we are blessed with freedoms which people in so 
many other countries do not enjoy. Michelle reminds us that freedom 
without responsibility is license. Freedom with responsibility is a 
virtue.
  Mr. Speaker, Michelle's words are an important reminder for our work 
here in Congress, and they bear repeating. ``If we are responsible now 
and in the future, we will make a better life for ourselves and our 
future families in many ways''. This sixth grader from Richmond, IN is 
right. Thank you Michelle.
  And that is my report from Indiana this week.

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