[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9505-9506]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               TRIBUTE TO CANDICE A. NEAL OF EVA, ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

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

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2001

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I submit into the Congressional Record the 
following essay written by a bright young lady from North Alabama, Miss 
Candice Neal. The essay titled ``The Constitution: A Fantastic 
Journey'' was recently selected as the winner of the 2001 American 
Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. I would like to submit 
her patriotic words for the 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. 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, we will 
     learn how to responsibly engage in our constitutional rights. 
     And, finally you will discover what it means to become a part 
     of history, 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 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 see 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.

[[Page 9506]]

       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 the crowd. His 
     name? 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 of 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 and 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 its 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 freedom to infringe upon other's 
     inalienable rights, we are constantly called upon to defend 
     and uphold our constitution. As such, we must be able to use 
     our privileges responsibility. In 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 responsibility. 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 out 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 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 27 amendments, 
     will drop from the overhead compartments to ensure our 
     domestic tranquility.
       The amendment process is not the only way that we as 
     citizens can participate in our govenmnent. What we have 
     witnessed today should force us out of complacency and self-
     centeredness and put us in touch with a greater reality. 
     Robert Kennedy made it popular, but George Bernard Shaw said 
     it long ago: ``Some people see things as they 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. Then, we will begin 
     participating in bigger ways such as writing letters to 
     public officials, investigating the qualifications of 
     political candidates, and exercising our right to vote, So 
     you see, even in little ways, we must take a more active role 
     in our 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 fight U.S. 1-7-8-7, we have traveled back in time 
     to the formation of The Constitution of the United Sates. Our 
     itinerary included a basic knowledge and understanding of the 
     constitution; and appeal to engage in our rights responsibly; 
     and finally, a call to participate in our government.
       Here in the 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.

     

                          ____________________