[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E624-E625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MEREDITH TAYLOR

                                 ______


                         HON. MICHAEL D. CRAPO

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 24, 1996

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following essay by 
16-year-old Meredith Taylor, one of my constituents. Meredith's essay 
won the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Broadcast 
Scriptwriting Contest.

                        Answering America's Call

                          (By Meredith Taylor)

       A needy America called--a compassionate America answered. 
     Listen:
       ``Give me liberty or give me death!'' ``Let the open arms 
     of your Statue of Liberty shelter me from me land's potato 
     famine!'' ``Just one more breath, please. The polio . . . it 
     hurts . . . my iron lung . . . will it last?'' ``Don't whip 
     me, master. Let me be free from slavery!'' ``We have a voice, 
     let us women speak out and vote!'' ``Reporting NASA, this is 
     one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!'' ``Don't 
     ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for 
     your country!''
       Patrick Henry called for the separation from England, and 
     the colonists rallied for freedom. Oppression, tyranny and 
     famine led helpless Irish and other immigrants to our 
     encompassing harbors. America fed and clothed them. Agonizing 
     pleas for life screamed to America's medical researchers to 
     discover a cure for Polio. Dr. Jonas Salk answered with a 
     vaccine. The Civil War split not only the North from the 
     South, but families and friends because of the call to end 
     slavery. President Lincoln died and so did slavery. Following 
     the end of slavery the suffragette demanded the right to vote 
     in America's future and the 19th Amendment to the U.S. 
     Constitution was passed. Neil Armstrong walked on the 
     silverdusted moon to answer the call of curiosity, ``to know 
     the unknown.'' President Kennedy called out to the citizens 
     of America to step up and participate in a positive way in 
     the reformation of each citizen's relationship to the United 
     States. The response was civil rights legislation and 
     Medicare for the elderly.
       These were the inflammatory, pleading, demanding, awe-
     inspiring calls to America in the past, and each time America 
     answered with justice, equality, research and compassion. Now 
     Americans call out with greater intensity and passion.
       ``I never thought it could happen to me. I mean, I'm only 
     fifteen and I have AIDs. And the baby . . . this means she 
     could have it too.'' ``One more man. Please just give me one 
     more hit!'' ``i'm outta here. I quit school.'' ``Don't hit 
     me, momma, not again . . . please . . .!'' ``What's a 
     divorce, daddy? Why does mommy have to leave?''
       These are the present day calls--the opportunities for us, 
     you--me, to give something back to our nation and those who 
     helped make such a strong foundation. How many AIDS-caused 
     deaths and teenage pregnancies must occur before sex 
     education is engraved into the minds of the ignorant? Not 
     just sex education, but comprehensive education will assist 
     in the rebirth of an ``A'' rather than an ``X'' generation--a 
     generation free of substance abuse, hatred and 
     discrimination. In the past the patriots, libertarians, 
     adventurers and risk-takers strived to overcome political 
     barriers, hatred, disease and economic hardships. It is 
     incumbent upon all of us to unveil our loyalty and hope and 
     to act with determination, desire and commitment. We must 
     buttress the efforts of our civic organizations, city 
     councils and religious groups. Each call can be answered if 
     we listen.

[[Page E625]]

       As long as there are Americans, there will be the calls for 
     clean air and water, conservation of resources and an 
     effective educational system. But answering these calls with 
     laws and money will fail unless we exhibit respect for people 
     and property, love of God and country and compassion for the 
     sick and poor. Then and only then can we answer the most 
     important call--the right to be called an American.

                          ____________________