[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 61 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E794-E795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                TRIBUTE TO CANDICE NEAL OF EVA, ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2002

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Miss Candice Neal, 
winner of the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. 
Miss Neal is the first Alabamian to win this contest since it began 65 
years ago.
  In her speech, Miss Neal demonstrated incredible patriotism and a 
strong understanding of the United States Constitution. With the 
winning prize of a four-year scholarship, she will enroll in the 
University of Alabama this fall.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with honor that I submit Candice Neal's speech 
into the Congressional Record.

                 The Constitution: A Fantastic Journey

       Attention time travelers this is your final boarding call 
     for flight U.S. 1-7-8-7. Congratulations you have selected 
     one of our more popular destinations, The Beginning of 
     American Government. I will be your guide for today's journey 
     back in time. Today, you will experience some of the more 
     dramatic events in our nation's history. Flight 1-7-8-7 is a 
     nonstop flight, back in time, to the creation of the U.S. 
     Constitution. The flight crew has requested that you remain 
     seated with your personal liberties securely fastened. When 
     the captain is certain that you are not in danger she will 
     illuminate the ``ratification light'' indicating that you may 
     move about the cabin freely. As we prepare for take-off I 
     will remind you that this is a non-smoking flight, and in 
     keeping with today's destination, federal law prohibits the 
     violation of anyone's inalienable rights.
       Please look in the seat back pockets in front of you, to 
     review today's agenda. We begin our journey with a basic 
     knowledge and understanding of the Constitution and how it 
     was created. In the second phase of this adventure, you will 
     learn how to responsibly engage in our constitutional rights. 
     And, finally you will discover what it means to become a part 
     of history yourself, by participating in this government of 
     the people, by the people, and for the people.
       We've been cleared for takeoff, so please direct your 
     attention to the windows on the left side of the cabin. You 
     will note instances in recent history, in which rulers and 
     dictators have taken away people's personal freedoms. There's 
     Kosovo, Bosnia and Tianenmen Square.
       Make sure your seat belts are securely fastened. We are 
     about to enter a turbulent time in American History--the 
     defense of democracy--There's Desert Storm, now Pearl Harbor 
     and our final stop, the Revolutionary War. This is where our 
     journey begins . . .
       What you might not realize is that the Constitution is 
     actually our third form of government. It was here during the 
     Revolutionary War when our fight for freedom began. The 
     American Colonies were first forced to live under the reign 
     of England. From 1775 until 1783 the American Colonies fought 
     for their independence. Fast forward to 1781. You'll notice 
     that even before the fighting was over, our second form of 
     government, the Articles of the Confederation, was adopted. 
     It is obvious to us now, as time travelers, that these young 
     colonies would require much more structure than the Articles 
     of Confederation had to offer. Here we seek the lack of a 
     central government to levy taxes and enforce laws. We see 
     states minting their own currency and imposing tariffs on 
     out-of-state goods. We see economic depression and political 
     wandering.
       We now move forward to 1787, please do not disturb the 55 
     men who are meeting in this old Philadelphia state house. 
     They are statesmen, patriots, each with their own ideas about 
     how this new government should be organized. Some of them are 
     states' rights advocates. Many of them are federalists. But 
     you will notice that one man stands out in

[[Page E795]]

     the crowd. His name is James Madison. And he is presenting 
     the Virginia Plan to his fellow delegates. They will soon 
     refer to the plan as a ``political masterstroke,'' and in the 
     next 5 months, it will serve as the foundation for our 
     Constitution. By 1789, all the states had ratified and 
     approved this new form of government. This unusual document 
     was the first written, national constitutional since ancient 
     times. It was also the first to set up what was called the 
     federal system. Under this system, sovereign power comes from 
     the people, for the good of the people.
       The Founders attempted to create a form of government that 
     would be stable, but would also allow for change. You see, in 
     a sense, the Founding Fathers were time travelers too; they 
     were looking to the future, planning ahead, and forming a 
     basic framework to endure for all time. It is a document 
     written for ``we the people'' and that means that ``we the 
     people'' have a job to do!
       Fast forward to April 1999. An issue of the USA Today 
     Newsview, states that one of the first things that come to 
     mind when Americans are asked what they think about the 
     United States and its government is ``freedom.'' Yet 
     according to current public opinion research fewer than 15% 
     of Americans can name the freedom of the press as one of the 
     rights protected under the First Amendment. And little more 
     than half of Americans know that there are three forms of 
     government. You see, time travelers, with freedom also comes 
     responsibility--the responsibility to understand and defend 
     the Constitution.
       James Madison once said, ``The people who are the authors 
     of this blessing must also be guardians.'' Today more than 
     ever before we witness people and organizations testing the 
     bounds of their Constitutional rights. From tabloids that 
     slander high profile figures, to hate groups who use their 
     misunderstanding of free to infringe upon other's inalienable 
     rights, we are constantly called upon to defend and uphold 
     our constitution. Clearly, these types of situations 
     challenge our support and understanding of the constitution, 
     but in the end, they serve only to reinforce our Founding 
     Fathers' cry for responsible citizenry. As such, we must be 
     able to use our privileges responsibly. In the words of 
     Benjamin Franklin, ``we have a Republic, only if we can keep 
     it!''
       And now, as we make our way back to the 21st century, I 
     will remind you that this flight is interactive--meaning it 
     is not enough to simply understand our constitution and to 
     use our rights responsibly. Clearly, this travel back in time 
     has taught us that our duties as citizens also carry the 
     obligation to participate in our government.
       Long after our Founding Fathers penned the last words of 
     the Constitution, the amendment process ensured their 
     continued involvement. You will see what I mean, by looking 
     out the windows on the right side of the aircraft: here we 
     see that The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in 
     1791. In 1865 the 13th amendment abolished slavery and in 
     1868 the 14th amendment outlined the rights of all citizens. 
     Meeting the changing needs of a growing country, however, had 
     been known to cause slight turbulence in our return flight. 
     Therefore, in the event that we experience any threat to 
     ourselves and our posterity any one of the 26 amendments, 
     will drop from the overhead compartments to ensure our 
     domestic tranquility.
       The amendment process is not the only way we as citizens 
     can participate in our government. What we have witnessed 
     today should force us out of complacency and self-
     centeredness and put us in touch with a bigger reality. 
     Robert Kennedy made it popular, but George Bernard Shaw said 
     it long ago: ``Some people see things as they are and ask 
     `Why?' I prefer to see things as they might be, and ask `Why 
     not?'' That is what the framers of our constitution had in 
     mind so long ago. Our participation in that process in the 
     21st Century is essential to ensure that the Constitution 
     continues to withstand the many and varied assaults from 
     those who criticize it, misinterpret it, or challenge it.
       We can begin participating in small ways such as reading a 
     daily newspaper or weekly newsmagazine. What we will begin to 
     notice is that it will become a habit, and we will start 
     participating in bigger things as writing letters to public 
     officials, investigating the qualifications of political 
     candidates, exercising our right to vote, and attending 
     meetings where important local, regional, and national issues 
     are being discussed and deliberated. So you see, even in 
     little ways, we must take a more active role in the 
     government--that, time travelers, is the real journey!
       Our Founding Fathers, in the words of Justice Hugo Black, 
     ``. . . dreamed of a country where the mind and spirit of man 
     would be free; where there would be no limits to inquiry; 
     where men would be free to explore the unknown and to 
     challenge the most deeply rooted beliefs and principles . . 
     .''
       Today, on flight U.S. 1-7-8-7, we have traveled back in 
     time to the formation of The Constitution of the United 
     States. Our itinerary included a basic knowledge and 
     understanding of the constitution; an appeal to engage in our 
     constitutional rights responsibly; and finally, a call to 
     participate in our government.
       Here in thr 21st Century, the flight crew tells me that we 
     have been cleared for landing. We have people on hand waiting 
     to assist you in your efforts to continue the good work of 
     our Founding Fathers. Remember what you have experienced 
     today is much more than a fantastic journey in to the past, 
     it is a reminder of your responsibility for the future.

     

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