[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 122 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATIONS TO BRITTANY GOFF

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                         HON. MICHAEL D. CRAPO

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 15, 1997

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to your attention an 
award-winning essay written by a constituent of mine on a subject I 
know is near to your heart--the importance of freedom and democracy.
  I'm pleased to announce that Brittany Goff of Pocatello, ID, has been 
honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States with a VFW 
1997 Voice of Democracy Scholarship Award. Brittany's broadcast script 
is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices and commitments our 
forefathers made to ensure that we enjoy the rights and freedoms we 
have today. With all of today's headlines bemoaning the lack of 
appreciation America's youth has for civics, it is encouraging to know 
that those as young as Brittany understand the importance of democracy 
and freedom.
  I would like to submit that award-winning script into the Record at 
this time.

    ``Democracy--Above and Beyond''--1996-97 VFW Voice of Democracy 
                          Scholarship Program

                           (By Brittany Goff)

       America came with a high price tag attached. No one person 
     or groups of people could have paid the price to gain what we 
     now enjoy today. It took many pilgrims, Indians, pioneers, 
     soldiers, and all races of people with mixed ideals to 
     accomplish this enormous feat. There were many tears, sweat, 
     blood, families, friends, and lives sacrificed for the 
     accomplishing a single glory: FREEDOM!!! All of these labors 
     were just a foundation of a great fortress. This firm and 
     unchanging foundation, which we call America's heritage, was 
     the beginning of a wonderful government called--DEMOCRACY!!! 
     After all the trials and sacrifices endured by our fathers it 
     is no wonder why democracy is so strong and pure in its 
     motives.
       Democracy is government that is run by the people who live 
     under it. In a democracy people rule either directly through 
     meetings that all may attend or directly through the election 
     of certain representatives to attend to the business.
       Imagine the fear and anticipation of the pilgrims as they 
     left their mother country to come to a strange and savage 
     land, leaving everything behind just for a chance to make 
     their own choices and not live under a dictatorship! Little 
     would they know that in 1776 Thomas Jefferson's Declaration 
     of Independence would be accepted on the memorable July 
     fourth and change all of our lives forever. The framers of 
     the Constitution worked primarily to maintain a division of 
     power between federal and state government to preserve an 
     overall balance of federal government.
       Democracy accepts all individuals' point of views but 
     traditionally, it is associated with the ideals of liberty 
     and equality. In the United States especially it has been 
     identified with the special concern for the common man, but 
     the equality that is relevant to democracy is the equalizing 
     of liberty, not property or of people. As R.N. Mac Iver said, 
     ``True democracy respects not the average man, but the common 
     in man; the moral worth of personality, and its power to 
     achieve independence, integrity, and dignity.'' From this 
     point of view, democracy declares that any group of people 
     from whatever ancestry or status, has a monopoly of wisdom, 
     importance, and virtue. In this sense, democracy's ultimate 
     goal is respect of human personality and potential. It also 
     guarantees personal freedom for all who choose to live under 
     its direction.
       This great fortress of democracy was built upon the 
     foundation of our forefathers and their sacrifices. Although 
     America is still young, no other government can challenge 
     such a strong and stable republic. That is because daily 
     thousands of people across America are speaking out and 
     exercising those freedoms which we have inherited. Each time 
     we do this, we add a brick to our fortress; building it 
     higher and higher until no earthquake or thunderstorm can 
     tear it down. Our children will one day climb the ladder 
     leading to the top of our mighty fortress. They will remember 
     the steps it took of laying such a firm foundation, and then 
     they will be able to follow our example by exercising these 
     freedoms. Once they reach the top and look on the others 
     below, they'll know why DEMOCRACY is above and beyond all 
     other forms of government!!!

     

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