[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 25, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8190-S8192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CELEBRATE AMERICA CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the five 
poems, the winner and runner-up entries for the Celebrate America 
Creative Writing Contest about the contribution of immigrants to 
America, be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                            My Mom ``Thuy''

                       (By Jasminh Duc Schelkopf)


   International School of Indiana 2006 National Contest Grand Prize 
                                 Winner

       My mother's name is Thuy. She was born in Saigon, South 
     Vietnam. Her father was a 3-star Lieutenant General for the 
     South Vietnam military and her family had almost everything 
     that you could possibly think of before the civil war of 
     Vietnam. However, when they lost their country, they lost 
     everything. After the war, all they had left was their hope 
     and beliefs.
       In 1975, North Vietnam won the war. When my mother was only 
     12 years old (8th Grade), she and her brother and sister were 
     forced to go to Canada. The rest of her family was

[[Page S8191]]

     then scattered around the world in places like France, 
     Australia, Canada and the U.S.A. They all had a very tough 
     time there because they had no support and no money as new 
     immigrants.
       For 7 years after the war, my mother went to school and 
     worked during the evening to help out my grandfather. My 
     mother attended college for only 2 years because she needed a 
     full time job to support her family. She also went to beauty 
     school, graduated, and worked for the family. Then, having 
     lived in Canada for 10 years, my mother realized there was a 
     better future for her in the U.S.A.--``The Land of 
     Opportunity.'' She decided to move to Pennsylvania in 1985.
       My mother began hard work at a beauty shop near 
     Philadelphia and she worked hard everyday. Her dreams were to 
     ``ONE DAY'' create her own salon and reach her many dreams. 
     Due to her talents, she developed many clients and made a lot 
     of friends. She saved as much money as she could and even 
     avoided eating out or going to the movies or doing anything 
     fun that might cost money.
       Then her dream of ``ONE DAY'' had come true when she met my 
     dad, John Bruce Schelkopf. My dad was a very bright young man 
     who was full of energy. With my dad's knowledge and skills 
     and my mom's talent, they opened a small beauty salon in 
     Pennsylvania. During this time my Mom also finished her 
     college degree and got her Bachelor's Degree in Business. My 
     mother also sponsored my grandparents from Canada to the 
     United States. My parents then got married in 1995 to begin a 
     family.
       My mother's dreams came true because she always viewed life 
     as ``half of a full glass'' and because she found the U.S.A. 
     to truly be the ``land of opportunity.'' My mother often says 
     to me, ``You can do it if you believe in yourself and always 
     try your best.'' My mother is only one of the few million 
     Vietnamese immigrants who settled in the United States. But 
     that one particular Vietnamese immigrant is one special 
     immigrant to me as she struggled to overcome many challenges, 
     hard times, and obstacles in her way. She is a special 
     immigrant who I am happy to call ``My Mom Thuy.''
                                  ____


            Why I Am Glad America Is a Nation of Immigrants

                         (By Arjun Kandaswamy)


       Findley Elementary School--2006 National Contest Runner-Up

       Imagine America without pizza and Top Ramen. Imagine 
     America without a booming economy. Imagine a world where 
     everyone wore the same boring style of clothes. That would be 
     reality if America did not have immigrants.
       Pizza, tandoori, lasagna, dumplings or tortillas would not 
     be a part of our vocabulary or among our favorite foods if it 
     were not for immigrants. Although we don't realize it, many 
     foods we have grown to enjoy were greatly influenced by other 
     cultures. For example, Top Ramen is a popular and addicting 
     food. Although it's an American brand, it was greatly 
     influenced by Manchurian noodles brought over by Chinese 
     immigrants. Despite the fact that Top Ramen has flavors like 
     Cajun chicken it all started with Manchurian noodles. 
     Immigrants not only make our plates colorful and interesting, 
     but also aid our economy in a huge way.
       Our economy is flourishing because of one thing. 
     Immigrants. Immigrants do countless things to help our 
     economy. For starters, immigrants fill jobs. Immigrants are 
     willing to take up jobs that others may not want to. They 
     take minimum wage, which is a lot compared to what they earn 
     in their homeland. Immigrants often work harder in the jobs 
     that they take up because they really want to stay in this 
     country. Because of this keeping a job is important. 
     Wealthier immigrants usually start their own businesses which 
     is sometimes a restaurant serving their customary dishes. In 
     addition in areas such as high-tech a lot of immigrants have 
     started their own companies and created a lot of new jobs. 
     Most importantly, immigrants raise the bar of America by 
     being hard-working and tough competitors.
       Since immigrants live in America they pay taxes, property, 
     sales, and income. Property taxes for the land they live on, 
     sales tax for the items they buy and income tax for the 
     amount of money they make. With over 90 percent of America's 
     population as immigrants, that's a lot of money the 
     government receives.
       Immigrants create or bring new art forms and music that 
     enrich our lives. Be it Jazz, Rap, classical music, or 
     varieties of instrumental music from their native lands. 
     Children of African immigrants founded jazz and Rap. Some of 
     the sports that we could not live without were founded by 
     immigrants, like basketball which is part of the American 
     lifestyle.
       Have you ever seen everyone walking around in Levi's and a 
     t-shirt? Thanks to immigrants we won't be seeing that. 
     Immigrants add a variety to our closet. Other styles have 
     been Americanized into a popular fashion, like bandanas. 
     Bandanas originated in the Caribbean and are found everywhere 
     in America, from a dog's neck to a person's head.
       Immigrants have done so many great things for us. They give 
     us a ``taste'' of the world; they strengthen our economy. 
     America should march on forward and continue the tradition of 
     it's forefathers of as a land of immigrants envisioned by 
     them.
                                  ____


                         A Nation of Difference

                          (By Kimya Khoshnan)


    Arroyo Vista Elementary School--2006 National Contest Runner-Up

     On the airplane I sat,
     As my heart thundered in my chest.
     The silent tears falling into my lap.
     Why did this have to happen?
     And of all the people in the world,
     Why me?
     Would I be the only one in my school,
     To have another language?
     I ponder these questions for a while,
     And then breathe a deep sigh.
     I had left everything in Japan,
     And had to start all over again.
     A new life, a new me.
     I would have to learn how to stay strong.
     I think more,
     Then my ears begin to pop.
     The airplane groans,
     As it reaches its final destination,
     California,
     And my new life has begun.

     As my parents and I enter our house,
     My hopes rise a bit.
     It is pretty but my house in Japan was better.
     But my hopes sink farther than ever,
     As my father leads us to the back.
     I see that we have rented,
     The very small two-bedroom house,
     With only a kitchen and a bathroom,
     Behind that luxurious castle.
     I feel jealous,
     Then angry.
     I had left my room bigger than a classroom,
     For this!

     As my first day of school approaches,
     My stomach is filled with fear and dread.
     I absolutely know that no one will like me.
     My backpack slung over my shoulders,
     My head raised up high,
     I try to be optimistic,
     But I know optimism will not help in reality.
     I slowly enter my classroom,
     And make my way toward the teacher.
     I quietly say hello.

     She looks up and says,
     ``Oh, hello there!
     Vhy, you must be the new student!
     Vhat's your name?''
     I am utterly surprised by her odd accent.
     Do all Americans speak this way?
     ``Toshiko,'' I whisper.
     ``Vell Toshiko welcome to our class!
     Class say hello to Toshiko!''
     ``Hi'' the class responded.
     ``Now Toshiko come sit here next Chieko.''
     I was suddenly alert of my surroundings,
     Chieko,
     Why that was a Japanese name!
     Could it be?
     I could not find out for sure until recess.

     Recess came and I ran over to Chieko,
     Asking if she was Japanese,
     When she replied yes,
     My spirits soared.
     I was so happy not to be the only one!
     I asked how she felt being the only foreigner,
     As she chuckled at my question,
     I began to feel confused.
     She replied, ``What do you mean?
     Everyone here is a foreigner!''
     I looked around me,
     And sure enough,
     Nobody was the same.
     I suddenly started to laugh,
     I thought I looked like a fool,
     Braying away like a donkey.
     As I finally stopped, Chieko asked me,
     Why I was laughing.
     I told her my story,
     And we have been best friends ever since.

     As I reflect upon the past,
     I realize that if,
     California was not a state of immigrants,
     My life probably would have been,
     As horrible as I imagined it.
     But since it is,
     My family and I have been thriving
     And we shall honor our freedom,
     Forever.
                                  ____


                   Immigration, Past, Present, Future

                           (By Marissa Lynch)


          brown middle school--2006 national contest runner-up

       Last summer, my Grandpa and I visited Ellis Island and the 
     Statue of Liberty. As I looked up at her torch against the 
     baby blue sky, my grandpa read aloud the words at the base of 
     the statue:

     Give me your tired, your poor,
     Your huddled masses yearning to
     Breathe free,
     The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
     Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me
     I lift my lamp beside the golden door

       He told me that those great words were written by an 
     intelligent lady name Emma Lazarus. We talked about what the 
     words mean. From 1892 to 1954, 12,000,000 people passed 
     through the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to start a 
     new, better life in America. He told me his family came from 
     three different places so he is called ``mixed ancestry''. We 
     talked about why people moved here and what they did when 
     they got here. Many moved here for freedom and peace. We 
     decided that each came with their own stories, hopes and 
     dreams. Once they arrived, they could become anything--
     doctors, athletes, artists, astronauts, teachers and more!
       My other Grandpa told me that his parents came to America 
     at age 19. They moved because of a war in their country, 
     Greece, and

[[Page S8192]]

     they were driven out by the Turks. They worked at a 
     restaurant in Newark, New Jersey. At Ellis Island, there was 
     a big board with names of people that passed through there. I 
     noticed their name on the wall!
       I'm glad our country is full of immigrants because if no 
     one was brave enough to leave family, friends, and their 
     belongings behind, this country would not be as fascinating 
     as it is. Many people call our country a big mixing pot 
     because people all over the world come to live here. The 
     people mix and blend together like food in a mixing pot. Yet, 
     everyone has their own way of life and their own culture. 
     Everyone is a little different. It is good to be different. 
     Everyone stands out in a crowd!
       Do you think that immigration is just in history books and 
     doesn't happen any more? If you do, you are wrong. Today, 
     many people still come to America, like me. I was adopted 
     from South America, just like lots of kids. We came to 
     America with our new families! My mom and dad tell me about 
     the exciting day I became an American citizen. A flag was 
     flown over the United States Capitol for me! I have this flag 
     and a certificate which says:
       ``This is to certify that the accompanying flag was flown 
     over the United States Capitol on August 26, 1998, at the 
     request of the Honorable John Edward Porter, Member of 
     Congress. This flag was flown for Marissa Rose Lynch in 
     celebration of her receiving U.S. citizenship.''
       When I look at my flag, it makes me proud to be a part of a 
     new generation of immigrants.
                                  ____


            Why I Am Glad America Is a Country of Immigrants

                           (By Esteban Ochoa)


      st. clement's parish school--2006 national contest runner-up

       I am glad that the United States of America is a country of 
     immigrants because you never feel lonely; you just have to 
     look into a crowd to find someone with your same background. 
     When you think you are alone and without friends, you just 
     have to look around and you will find a friend.
       When I first transferred from Mexico to my current school 
     in Texas, I did not know how to speak English. I felt alone 
     and confused, but before long, I found that many people in my 
     class spoke Spanish, and I soon made many friends, who 
     eventually helped me learn English and do very well in 
     school.
       My case is not different from the story of most of the 
     people who have come to this country from other parts of the 
     world. Having millions of people from hundreds of countries, 
     races, religions and economic backgrounds has created a 
     society unlike any other in this planet.
       With diversity comes cultural, economic, and spiritual 
     richness. It is evident everywhere you look, in its food, in 
     its music, in its clothing, and in its churches, just to 
     mention a few examples. This Country has served as refuge for 
     many people who came to the U.S.A. looking for opportunities 
     and in many cases after having suffered extreme hardships.
       Those are some of the reasons why I like that America is a 
     country of immigrants. Just when you think that you do not 
     fit in, and that you are alone in this cold world, you can 
     still find variety, alternatives and, consequently, hope in 
     the most unexpected situations.

                          ____________________