[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 125 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1594-E1595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATIONS TO FELICIA BELL: ANSWERING AMERICA'S CALL

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                          HON. CARDISS COLLINS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 12, 1996

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, each year the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States and its ladies auxiliary conduct a 
Voice of Democracy broadcast scriptwriting contest. This past year more 
than 116,000 secondary school students participated in the contest, 
competing for the 54 national scholarships. The contest theme for this 
year was ``Answering America's Call.'' I am extremely proud to announce 
that Felicia Bell, this year's winner from the State of Illinois, is 
from my own Seventh Congressional District.
  Ms. Felicia Bell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Bell, is a senior at 
St. Ignatius College

[[Page E1595]]

Prep of Chicago, IL. She was sponsored in the contest by Chicago VFW 
Post 1612. She aspires to pursue a career in the Foreign Service. Her 
hobbies include tennis, bowling, reading, baking, dancing, roller 
skating, and enjoying music. She has been the vice president of her 
sophomore class and an executive board member of the Black Organization 
of Students and a student council representative.
  It is with deep pride that I submit for publication in the 
Congressional Record, the winning essay written by Ms. Felicia Bell of 
Chicago, IL.

                        Answering America's Call

       Answering America's call. That's an interesting challenge. 
     Very thought-provoking, very metaphorical, very complicated. 
     What is America's call? Is it a call to exercise our civil 
     obligations or a call to improve our educational system? Is 
     it a call to volunteer our time for worthy causes or is it a 
     call to go out and have fun?
       After much thought (and a lot of snack and cartoon breaks), 
     I have come to the conclusion that it is a mixture of all 
     four. America is calling us to participate in the political 
     arena, the academic world, the recreational field and the 
     social service sector of society. America calls us to share 
     the wealth of skills and talents we have as proud young 
     Americans in order to perpetuate our strong points while 
     improving upon our weaknesses. The most effective way to 
     advance as a nation is by answering America's call.
       America is a country built on the inalienable rights of 
     man. We have the constitutional rights to vote, to free 
     speech, to peacefully assemble, to petition our grievances. 
     Not only are we encouraged to exercise these rights, as 
     American citizens, we are expected to. We fulfill America's 
     expectation by vociferously making known our opinions through 
     letters and petitions written to officials, by boycotting and 
     protesting against actions that run counter to our beliefs, 
     by running for office (instead of passively complaining about 
     the incompetent incumbents). Most importantly, America calls 
     us to vote for the people who will best serve the nation. 
     Citizens will play an integral part in the political process 
     next November at the ballot box because voting is the loudest 
     way we as citizens have to answer America's call.
       Only with a sound education can people make the most 
     informed choices. Education is the backbone of all societies. 
     Right now America is experiencing a grave educational crisis 
     in need of immediate repair. America is calling us to improve 
     Head Start programs so that the young will be instilled with 
     a love of learning early in life. America is calling us to 
     pursue technical and vocational training so that we will have 
     the skills necessary to excel in this increasingly 
     technological world.
       America is calling us to reform our lagging school system 
     so that all children will have the opportunity to learn the 
     two most fundamental lessons in life: how to think and how to 
     recognize their fullest potential. We must all continue to 
     educate ourselves because an educated citizenry is the mark 
     of a truly great civilization. America is calling us to help 
     attain that goal.
       We must go out into the communities, tutor school children, 
     become mentors, work in soup kitchens, help renovate 
     abandoned buildings for the homeless, donate blood, plant 
     trees, clean parks, and contribute to active charities. 
     Social service should be a part of every person's daily 
     routine. Not only does community service help restore our 
     deteriorating society, it helps us as individuals improve our 
     own lives. America implores us to help each other as we help 
     ourselves.
       Now anyone can spend their entire life writing letters to 
     Congresspeople, doing homework and volunteering their time 
     for a worthy cause, but that can get quite grim. If there is 
     no fun in life, we will all go crazy. Hobbies and recreation 
     sharpen our minds while sports and dance keep us physically 
     fit, preventing us from cracking under the strain of 
     answering America's other calls. America urges us to bake 
     some chocolate chip cookies or read a novel, go fly a kite on 
     a windy day or jump in puddles when it is raining. America 
     encourages us to rest, relax and just ``kick it''.
       Throughout history, America has had many calls. We have 
     been called to bear arms during times of war, called to 
     protest grave injustices, called to mourn during times of 
     tragedy and sorrow. We have even been called to switch long 
     distance phone companies. We are bombarded with calls. I 
     believe that answering America's call enables us to live life 
     to the fullest, to become the most fully engaged citizens 
     possible. America challenges us to become involved 
     politically, to improve our educational system, to volunteer 
     our talents to worthy causes and to enjoy living the good 
     American life. We must answer America's call so that we can 
     lead our country into its glory and grandeur in the 21st 
     century.

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