[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 87 (Thursday, June 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     POEM BY ANASTASIA HAYES-STOKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARTIN FROST

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2001

  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise to submit a remarkable poem written by 
Anastasia Hayes-Stoker, a young student at Shakelford Junior High 
School in Arlington, Texas. Anastasia's poem was the overall winner of 
the ``Do the Write Thing'' Challenge. This contest, sponsored by the 
National Campaign to Stop Violence and partnered with the Arlington 
Jaycees, challenges middle school students to write an essay about the 
negative impact of violence in their lives and offer possible solutions 
to the problems they face today.
  Anastasia's poem speaks to the truths of the challenges our youth 
face in coping with violence. In my role as Co-Chair of the Bipartisan 
Working Group on Youth Violence, I listened to teachers, law 
enforcement, counselors, parents, and students. Over and over again, I 
heard about the need to mentor our youth and provide a safe haven for 
them to go. However, it is often only when we hear our children's 
voice, that our attention is grabbed. Anastasia has managed to convey, 
in a beautiful way, how she, and others in her generation, feel about 
the violence in her school, her appreciation for community involvement, 
and a child's need for family and love.


     Drug dealing, students stealing All around the campus
     Tempers flaring, kids are swearing All around the campus
     Fist to cuff, fights are a must All around the campus
     Backed to the wall, who do you call? All around the campus
     Punches thrown, lives are blown All around the campus
     Guns and knives, someone dies All around the campus

     Families shrinking, parents drinking Children are abandoned
     Marriage ending, no time for spending Children are abandoned
     Domestic violence, kept in silence Children are abandoned
     Learned aggression, whose oppression? Children are abandoned
     Repeat behavior, where's your savior? Children are abandoned

     Fight or flight, who sleeps at night Children are abandoned
     Crime prevention, good intention Community united
     Neighborhoods watched, gang fights botched Community united
     Security in the hall, protects us all Community united
     Mentors handy, hope feels dandy Community united
     Cops on the street, don't miss a beat Community united

     My home, safety zone Strong parental influence
     Curfews made, allowance paid Strong parental influence
     Loving brother, like no other Strong parental influence
     Self-respect, family honor to protect Strong parental 
           influence
     Lead by example, self worth is ample Strong parental 
           influence
     Loving silence, no need for violence Strong parental 
           influence

           

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