[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JACK HAWKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 2015

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the 
brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening 
to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. 
They provide important insight into the concerns of our younger 
constituents and hopefully get a better sense of the importance of 
being an active participant in the political process. Many of the 
students have written short essays on a variety of topics and I am 
pleased to share them with my House colleagues.
  Jack Hawkins attends Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas. The 
essay topic is: in your opinion, what role should government play in 
our lives?

       The most important reason I believe Americans should be 
     involved in the political process is because of the right we 
     were given to vote for the leaders of our country. One reason 
     I believe this is a crucial role of citizens is because with 
     this right it allows us to vote into office the people who we 
     believe will pursue and advocate effectively what we as 
     citizens are needing from our city, state, and federal 
     government. This right is one of the primary reasons our 
     great nation was founded, so that people could live in a 
     democracy and advocate to officials what they needed instead 
     of having a monarchal (or more commonly today) a dictatorship 
     classification of government speak for them. But more 
     importantly, I believe citizens should exercise this right 
     because we have thousands of soldiers stationed all over the 
     world helping to both defend this right for our country, and 
     try to help others achieve the type of democratic government 
     that we possess and believe in so prominently. Therefore by 
     exercising this right, it is a small way to show our 
     appreciation and gratefulness for our troops by exercising 
     this right that they are fighting for so valiantly.
       The other important reason I believe Americans should be 
     involved in the political process is because with the 
     election of our nation's leaders it is has repeatedly proven 
     by history that through former political leaders, 
     specifically past American presidents, the United States has 
     made substantial positive differences in both domestic and 
     international affairs. For example with the election of 
     Franklin D. Roosevelt who transformed the country's economy. 
     With the enacting of his New Deal policies Roosevelt was able 
     to provide millions of Americans with jobs and economic 
     security therefore helping America incredibly through the 
     Great Depression. Also America has made major strides in 
     international affairs such as through President Obama who 
     with the aid of America's top military leaders and the United 
     States' Navy SEALs team was able to kill Osama bin Laden, the 
     leader of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda who was responsible 
     for horrific acts including most infamously the bombing of 
     the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. Although it has not 
     stopped Al-Qaeda completely, President Obama along with his 
     esteemed colleagues made American history and showed the 
     strength of the United States as an international power. The 
     United States is the by far the best country in the world and 
     it is repeatedly shown through the election of our country's 
     leaders who throughout history and in the future will 
     continue to show America's greatness both domestically and 
     internationally if the citizens of our magnificent country 
     continue to take an active role in America's political 
     process.

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