[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE PARTICIPATION OF MS. JOANNA MANUEL IN THE VOICES 
             AGAINST VIOLENCE CONGRESSIONAL TEEN CONFERENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, last month, 342 teenagers from throughout 
the country came to Capitol Hill to attended the Voices Against 
Violence Conference regarding youth violence. During the two days, the 
teenagers had unique opportunities to express their views on youth 
violence to Members, learn from national law enforcement and youth 
programming experts, and participate in workshops covering a variety of 
issues including diversity training, peer mediation, and hate crime 
prevention strategies. Supporting agencies and organizations included 
the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Crime Prevention Council, 
the American Mental Health Association, MTV, and the Children's Defense 
Fund.
  I felt it was important for a young person from Guam to participate 
in this conference to ensure that the diversity of perspectives of 
youth violence included teens from the furthest American jurisdiction. 
I was proud that Ms. Joanna Manuel, a sophomore attending Simon Sanchez 
High School, was Guam's representative to the conference. During her 
visit, Joanna gained practical knowledge about violence prevention 
initiatives and helped to explore the causes, needs and solutions to 
the problems of youth violence which continues to impact our society. 
Joanna proved to be a valuable contributor and an able spokesperson for 
Guam's youth.
  The two day conference resulted in the introduction of House 
Resolution 357, which represents the views of the 342 conference 
participants and provides their collective views of the causes and 
solutions to youth violence. The measure was introduced by Democratic 
Leader Richard A. Gephardt, myself, and 94 other co-sponsors.
  I am hopeful that Joanna will continue to be involved in the issue of 
youth violence and help raise community awareness and activity. It is 
evident from the outcome of the Voices Against Violence conference, 
that we can look to America's youth for solutions and guidance to 
understand why violence happens and what we can do to avert it.
  For the record, I am submitting an essay written by Ms. Joanne Manuel 
giving her views on the causes of violence among teenagers.

   What do you feel are the causes of violence among teenagers today?

       As anyone who listens to the radio, watches television, or 
     reads the newspaper knows, violence has become a cause for 
     nationwide and worldwide concern. Of particular concern is 
     the alarming increase in violence among children and youth. 
     The rates of youth-initiated violent crimes are rising 
     dramatically, as are the numbers of young victims. Many teens 
     are pressured into doing things they don't want to do. One of 
     the hardest parts of growing up, is the same today as it has 
     been for years, peer pressure. It is a part of every 
     teenager's junior and high school years. Some peer pressure 
     is actually quite good in working towards developing a teen's 
     recognition of right and wrong. Negative peer pressure, the 
     kind we most commonly associate with the concept, can be 
     devastatingly corruptive. Positive and negative pressure are 
     two totally different things. Positive pressure includes 
     encouragement to try out for the school play, or challenges 
     to study harder. Negative peer pressure includes 
     encouragement to use drugs, to smoke, or other things that 
     harm. Positive pressure has many benefits such as helping 
     teenagers develop a sense of morality. Part of being a teen 
     involves learning to make decisions. One of the things that 
     affects decision-making is pressure from friends. Teens 
     should make decisions based on their own morals and values. 
     Daily, teens are persuaded to participate in activities that 
     statistics report may harm their well-being. These activities 
     include: smoking, drinking, using drugs, having premarital 
     sex, and even cheating on schoolwork. Many teens are 
     pressured into taking drugs and smoking by ``friends.'' Teens 
     today need to learn to make their own decisions and say no to 
     drugs, smoking, and other things they know can harm them. Our 
     communities and schools have to work together to help prevent 
     negative peer pressure between teenagers. There are many 
     other things that cause violence among teens today. Troubled 
     teens are gradually increasing these days and many are caused 
     by problems stemming from home. Counseling is a great way to 
     find the problem and solve it before other problems arise. 
     While I was in middle school, we had a peer counseling 
     system. Students who needed help or just needed someone to 
     talk to would go to the counselor's office and fellow 
     students would talk and lend a helping hand. It was a great 
     system and it worked. I think that the government should set 
     aside some money to establish and maintain this type of 
     system in every school in the nation and maybe even 
     worldwide. We all have to work together to make a brighter 
     future for all of us and the generations to come.

     

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