[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7384]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            AMANDA McINTIRE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 21, 2013

  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 these with my House colleagues.
  Amanda McIntire is a senior at Hightowner High School in Fort Bend 
County, Texas. Her essay topic is: Select an important event that has 
occurred in the past 50 years and explain how that event has changed 
our country.

                  Where Were You on That Fateful Day?

       Shock . . . dismay . . . disbelief . . . words that even 
     this six-year-old could feel on that early September morning. 
     Parents swarmed my elementary school. Classrooms became 
     practically empty. Teachers tried to stay calm, but it was 
     obvious that their attention was focused on the day's events. 
     9/11 changed our world. It was an act intended to create 
     terror and fear. Until then, we had never fought a foreign 
     country on our soil since the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
       ``How do I respond when I see that in some Islamic 
     countries there is vitriolic hatred for America? . . . I'm 
     amazed that there is such misunderstanding of what our 
     country is about, that people would hate us. I am, I am--like 
     most Americans, I just can't believe it. Because I know how 
     good we are, and we've got to do a better job of making our 
     case.''--George W. Bush, press conference
       At six, I knew something happened that would change my life 
     forever, but I did not realize its magnitude for years to 
     come. At first, in my mind, we appeared united, but how could 
     a nation that was founded on the belief that all men are 
     created equal and should be free, treat others that looked a 
     certain way differently? Many of my school mates' parents 
     came to get my friends fearing for revenge against them that 
     day because of their religion or heritage. A turban on your 
     head or an unfamiliar religious belief should not mean that 
     you are an enemy. My community is very diverse. In fact, my 
     blond hair and blue eyes make me a minority at my school. I 
     have come to understand that as a nation, we must restore 
     faith in the world's eyes that we are not wealthy bigots, but 
     people who want a free world filled with peace and prosperity 
     for everyone.
       As Secretary of State John Kerry once stated, ``We believe 
     that what matters most is not narrow appeals masquerading as 
     values, but the shared values that show the true face of 
     America; not narrow values that divide us, but the shared 
     values that unite us: family, faith, hard work, opportunity 
     and responsibility for all, so that every child, every adult, 
     every parent, every worker in America has an equal shot at 
     living up to their God-given potential. That is the American 
     dream and the American value.''
       The attacks on 9/11 were intended to weaken our country and 
     our souls. Instead, we are more cautious, more observant, and 
     more determined than ever to prove to the world that we are a 
     strong and powerful nation whose intent is not domination, 
     but coexistence in a free world that respects human life, the 
     pursuit of happiness, and freedom.

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