[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24426]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IF I COULD CHANGE THE WORLD--AN ESSAY WRITTEN BY A DALLAS THIRD GRADER, 
                             MARIA BELTRAN

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 2003

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on September 6, I 
hosted my 11th Annual Community Appreciation Day in Dallas, Texas.
  To highlight the talent of the youth in my district, Frederick 
Douglass Elementary School of Pleasant Grove held a student essay 
contest. The top 10 essays were selected from over 137 essays 
submitted. Each winner was awarded a Congressional Certificate of 
Appreciation and an Autographed Bicycle Helmet.
  The Grand Prize winner of the student essay contest, Maria Beltran 
(3rd grade), was awarded a Congressional Certificate of Appreciation, 
an Autographed Bicycle Helmet and a New Red Unisex Bicycle. The grand 
prize winner read the following beautiful essay to the audience.
  Maria provided us with words that should be shared with all. I extend 
her remarks for fellow Members of Congress. I know that we can benefit 
from her words as we face international challenges.

       If I could change the world, I would change it by doing 
     something to stop the violence, because the violence is 
     destroying the world. I would like to have a better place to 
     live. I wish everybody would help each other and no fighting 
     and no pushing and no killing people. I wish I could change 
     the drugs for food, because a lot of children are hungry, I 
     will help the homeless because they don't have any food, 
     water or homes to live. If the people stop smoking they could 
     have a better life for themselves. Because smoking can make 
     you sick, I wish the children would listen to their parents 
     and their teachers and respect them so they can have the best 
     information of what is the best for everybody. I wish I could 
     stop the wars. I wish a peaceful place to live, with no wars, 
     with out drugs, only peace and love for everybody in the 
     whole world. I am glad when the people are nice to each 
     other.
       If I could change the world, these are the things I would 
     do.

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