[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S31-S32]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  POEMS FROM RUSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, each year I try and take 
advantage of the opportunity to visit some of the high performing 
schools in my State. This past year, I had the privilege of spending 
time with the students of Ruston Elementary School in Ruston, LA. I was 
very impressed by them and their level of achievement. The fifth grade 
students had just spent the semester studying the U.S. Senate and its 
role in American democracy. They were eager to learn about our work and 
the many traditions that make the Senate one of the most deliberative 
bodies in the world. I asked some of the students if they would mind 
sharing some of their work with me so that I may bring it back to 
Washington and enter it into the Record. I would like to thank their 
teacher, Sonja Walker, for all of her good work. In these poems, the 
children tell us that they are proud to be an American. I, for one, 
think America should be proud of them.
  I ask that the following poems be printed in the Record.
  The poems follow:

                     I'm Proud To Be American Poem

                              (By Alhira)

     I'm proud to be an American today.
     We have rules here in the USA.
     Rules that we love, rules that we hate.
     I'm proud to be an American in the USA.
     We have nice, kind, and sweet in the USA.
     I love to be an American.

                                Flowers

                          (By Sabrina Bowden)

     Some flowers are red,
     Some flowers are blue,
     Some are yellow, green, and purple,
     Like Mardi Gras masks
     Worn on children's smiling faces,
     While others are orange or white.
     But one thing they all have in common
     Are the big green stems
     And leaves that support the petals
     And carry fresh, clean water to the leaves.

                              Butterflies

                            (By Pymir Brown)

     They swirl around in my stomach.
     It feels like I'm going dizzy.
     They're playing volleyball.
     Hitting the ball over the net,
     Back and forth
     To each other.
     Don't you just love butterflies?

                                  Busy

                         (By Jasmine Calloway)

     Busy.
     Busy yesterday,
     Busy today.
     Busy tomorrow,
     Busy everyday.
     Busy and work,
     Must be the same.
     Work today,
     Busy tomorrow.
     If you think about it,
     It's all the same.

                            Remembering Abe

                           (By Travis Carter)

     America seems so beautiful,
     When I see the flag wave,
     But the most thing I think
     Of is when Abe freed the slaves.
     He brought everyone freedom
     And stopped segregation.
     He let everybody work together
     To form a nation.
     Abe helped us greatly
     Through our troubled days,
     So now we have love
     In all sorts of ways.

                                  Love

                          (By Crystal Harris)

     Love,
     Love is something you can't make or take,
     It just comes on a regular basis.
     But sometimes your love could be taken away.
     It might be the one you never even cared for, your love.
     You just tricked your love.
     Its hard to say goodbye to your love and it never comes back.
     Don't just dangle over a haystack, go find another love,
     And love him like you never loved any one before.
     Love,
     Love,
     Love.

                      I'm Proud To Be an American

                          (By Jamakia Hatter)

     I'm proud to be an American,
     I'm proud to do what I do, aren't you?
     I'm proud to stand for what I stand for,
     Especially when you're number one.
     I'm proud of what I believe,
     I'm proud to be in a country that's free.
     My country tis of thee and its sweet land of liberty.
     This is why I'm proud to be an American.

                                Feelings

                            (By Judy Huynh)

     Feelings, hopes, dreams
     Treasured so beautifully
     Like a butterfly flying across the meadow.
     Feelings, sorrows, madness
     Swirling so painfully
     Like a tornado.
     Your hopes and dreams sink
     Your heart is so cold and pure of darkness
     Like a vacuum feeding on your sorrows and madness.
     Feelings, feelings, feelings.

                          If I Were President

                           (By Kevin Jackson)

     If I were President, it would be fun. I could do all kinds of 
           things.
     I know I would have to do a lot of work, but in my free time, 
           I would do this.
     First, I would go and meet Michael Jackson.
     He is my favorite singer and he would teach me how to do the 
           moon walk.
     Next, I would go meet my favorite actor, Chris Tucker.
     He was in my favorite movie, Rush Hour 2.
     I would ask him about the movie.
     Last, but not least, I would get my groove on by going to 
           China.
     I would do all kinds of things. I would eat Chinese Food 
           everyday.
     This is what I would do.

                         If I Were the Senator

                           (By Randall Loyd)

     If I were the Senator,
     I would make a law about recess,
     Or even school.
     I would make a law of pizza.
     There would be free pizza.

                       America the Vacuum Cleaner

                          (By Ben McFatridge)

     Like a giant vacuum
     America
     Sucking all of the evil and terrorists
     Out of the world,
     Until it is clean,
     And rid of terrorists.

                         From Chaos to Courage

                           (By Matthew Rich)

     We watched them fall,
     With unbelieving eyes.
     We saw it burn,
     With staring eyes.
     We saw the rubble,
     With teary eyes.
     Then we saw the flag,
     With its brilliance,
     Shining through the dust.
     Now we see it
     With courage in our eyes.

                            Please Remember

                           (By Samantha Rich)

     Remember when time was ours to enjoy.
     Sometimes you wish you could turn around,
     And live it again,
     But you can't.
     So remember,
     Remember what happened.
     How we were there for each other,
     Singing Christmas music,
     Cheering for each other,
     Hoping for each other to win.
     So remember all that happened,
     Back when things were the same,
     And I'll always remember you and smile.
     Though memories last, time goes on.
     Although it is hard,
     We always have to say goodbye.
     So please remember,
     Please remember me.

                                  Why

                            (By Shane Rich)

     Sometimes I wish I could just ask why, and that why would be 
           answered.
     If I had that opportunity this is what I'd ask.
     Why can't we have world peace, where terrorists didn't exist, 
           and bombs, and guns, and wars were unheard of?

[[Page S32]]

     Why can't we come together to join and be a nation?
     And why can't it be that no one was prejudice or racist?
     And why can't we take out all the bad and use truth and 
           kindness to fill it in?
     But if I could change it I wouldn't, because I'm going to 
           leave that to God!

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