[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ANNE MARIE FOY

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES M. TALENT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 17, 1996

  Mr. TALENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my 
constituents, Anne Marie Foy, a student at Cor Jesu Academy who was 
recently awarded a Voice of Democracy Scholarship from the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars. Ms. Foy's essay was one chosen as a national winner from 
over 116,000 submitted. The contest theme this year was ``Answering 
America's Call'' and I have included her winning essay below.

       Good morning friends. I come today to speak with you about 
     an issue that is both very dear to my heart and extremely 
     vital to our nation's well-being. I speak about our answer as 
     citizens to America's call. Today I want to take a moment to 
     reflect on this call and to see it in its fullness, as a 
     necessary element of our personal democracy. I hope to 
     inflame your American passions with these few words. In fact, 
     I dream to awaken everything about you that defines you as an 
     American citizen.
       In the past, to be an American was to determine your own 
     destiny. It was to have a voice in your government and to 
     take a considerable role in the governing of yourself and of 
     your community. Never before in the history of the modern 
     world had autonomy been so real, so tangible, and so evident. 
     It was our political pluralism, the sovereign contract with 
     our government as a democratic people, and our rights to 
     assemble and disagree with our governing figures that united 
     us as America. It was our political views that we transformed 
     into civic activism and our personal involvement with the 
     government that made us strong. The freedom we enjoyed as 
     empowered citizens of this democratic nation led us to be one 
     of the great superpowers of the world. We had found our 
     strength as a country in our reply to the great American 
     call.
       The truest beauty of America is her people. Under a 
     democratic government each individual enjoys protected rights 
     and liberties, but this political system is dependent on 
     civic activism. Thus to enjoy your political rights, you must 
     fulfill your responsibilities as a citizen and accept a 
     political role. We as Americans are owners of a political 
     mechanism designed to pursue justice, yet somehow in 
     contemporary American society we managed to misplace the 
     operations manual and have forgotten how to keep this 
     beautiful machine working. If we are a government of the 
     people, why are the people so upset at the government? In 
     order to look at the real root problems we must first quiet 
     our partisan babble, we must calm our nationalistic 
     frustrations, we must look fearlessly at ourselves and then 
     we must listen. Listening for our genuine voice is the first 
     step. It will require patience and integrity and ultimately 
     it will lead to an answer. How do you reply to this 
     democratic call?
       You must first reply through education. We as citizens must 
     become knowledgeable of our history, our laws, and our 
     government structure. If we are not educated, these 
     institutions will cease to exist. We must strive to be aware 
     of current issues, and how our government is responding to 
     them. We as United States citizens are the government. We 
     cannot shut our eyes to what our representatives are doing.
       Education must be followed with action. A democratic state 
     is dependent on this integrity. Whether we sit in on city 
     council meetings, write letters to our government officials, 
     or protest against things we view unjust, we must reply to 
     the American call. If we feel far from Washington D.C. or 
     detached from government, then we should rise up and demand 
     straightforward dialogue. We must get past this glossy, 
     polished, television image of the government. For we are the 
     government. We are real. We are not polished. We are human. 
     We have mentally separated ourselves from the government in 
     this country. Government officials are no longer extensions 
     of the people but, professional television personas. If we 
     are upset with public officials, then we must vote them out 
     of office. If we are tired of corrupt politicians, then we 
     must speak with honesty ourselves and elect honest citizens. 
     If we are exasperated with government programs, then we must 
     take our seat on planning committees.
       In a world where so many fought and died for their 
     independence, for their freedom, for their autonomy, America 
     and her people should stand as an encouraging light and 
     example. We have so many brilliant minds, and caring hearts, 
     and noble spirits, and yet America seems lost, somewhat 
     bewildered about her path, her future. We are her future. Our 
     parents, our children, our countrymen, and our very selves, 
     we are the ones that must decide her path. First we must hear 
     the call and then as Americans, boldly and courageously, we 
     must answer.

                          ____________________