[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7989]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO PHILLIP LOPEZ

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 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.
  Phillip Lopez is a senior at Clear Lake High School in Harris County, 
Texas. His essay topic is: Select an important event that has occurred 
in the past 50 years and explain how that event has changed our 
country.

       Over the past fifty years America has seen an explosion in 
     technology, social changes, and monumental historic events. A 
     man walked on the moon and remade the concept of the 
     frontier. A wall fell that divided a nation, helping bring 
     peace to a decimated land. A plane smashed the security of a 
     great people and showed that terror can strike anywhere. And 
     the demographics of this country have shifted establishing it 
     as a true land of freedom for all who cross its borders. All 
     have shaped this country, but one breakthrough has extended 
     its impacts further than all others. In 1969 the first 
     internet connection was made and revolutionized our society. 
     Over the past forty five years the internet has created 
     innovations that Americans fifty years ago could only dream 
     of. The internet has fostered a new era of social and 
     economic reformation across the nation helping us establish 
     ourselves as the global superpower that we are today.
       The age of the internet has allowed Americans to interact 
     with people, places, and events from around the world. For 
     example, the internet has given rise to the popularity of 
     social media sites that enable you to communicate with and 
     learn about others from half the world away. In addition 
     these sites have impacted politics by enabling average 
     citizens to stay more informed with an elected official's 
     policy or daily activities. This web of interactions has led 
     to America becoming a more global power and its people 
     staying connected with information that is occurring anywhere 
     in the world. Furthermore, we can now send and acquire that 
     information faster, quicker, and easier than ever before. 
     With the click of a button anyone can become their own 
     encyclopedia by having the ability to know anything about 
     everything; from the current state of the economy to the 
     price of eggs in China one can find it all. This plethora of 
     available knowledge has led to younger generations developing 
     proficiency in finding it. Furthermore, the news programs 
     have embraced the importance and speed of the internet by 
     enabling people to stay more informed and have more detailed 
     information about current events. However, as a result of the 
     speed at which one can acquire knowledge it is now expected 
     to return information to people much faster, such as quickly 
     responding to a text message or email. This speed of 
     information is made even easier yet more required with the 
     introduction of the web on mobile phones allowing Americans 
     to know anything, anywhere, at any time; as long as you have 
     service. For example, Google Maps has revolutionized the map 
     industry and made paper maps obsolete. Why carry a large, 
     bulky piece of paper when you can find where you are in 
     minutes with a device the size of your hand. Anything that 
     does not fit into the ``faster, quicker, and easier'' 
     category that was created by the internet is now outdated and 
     archaic. The new American society has more knowledge at its 
     disposal than ever before which has propelled us as the 
     leader of the modern world.
       The internet has revolutionized the American economy and 
     trade across the world. People can now purchase and sell 
     items online in a process that is faster, easier, and more 
     available to everyone. Online shopping has led to the 
     creation of large companies such as Amazon and EBay. These 
     online companies have opened new markets and made it easier 
     to trade with remote places such as Alaska or small islands. 
     The ability to trade with anyone in the world has helped 
     establish America as a major leader in global trade. The 
     internet has also caused our perception of a store to change. 
     Instead of traveling to a store, one can buy the same good 
     with the push of a button from the comfort of their home. 
     Stores have become somewhat unnecessary and as a result many 
     have gone out of business. Nevertheless the internet has 
     created a nation built on quicker, easier, and cheaper trade 
     across the world. Combined with social revolutions regarding 
     education and available knowledge, the internet has quickly 
     changed a nation.
       Although it can be perceived as a positive or negative 
     technology the internet has made America an economic 
     superpower. Socially it has allowed this country to become 
     more globally connected and opened the possibilities for 
     endless knowledge. Economically it has revolutionized the way 
     that we trade with other nations and altered our perceptions 
     of traditional shopping methods. The internet has created a 
     shiny future for our society in the world of trade and 
     communications.

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