[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO RACHEL DANIEL

                                 ______
                                 

                            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.
  Rachel Daniel is a sophomore at Dawson High School in Brazoria 
County, Texas. Her essay topic is: In your opinion, why is it important 
to be involved in the political process?

                          Processing Politics

       The purpose of creating this nation, The United States of 
     America, was so that the people could have a say in their 
     leaders and politics and people were willing to go against 
     everything they believed and start a war just to earn the 
     right to this liberty. After all the hardships that the 
     Founding Fathers of our nation suffered through in order for 
     us to have a representative democracy, we the people of the 
     United States of America have not only an obligation towards 
     nation but also towards ourselves. Our nation depends on each 
     and every citizen to make an informed decision as well as 
     pick the best people to represent us, and all citizens of 
     America deserves to have leaders who they support and trust.
       We were given the rights and freedoms that many nowadays 
     take for granted, but they really should be treasured, 
     valued, and taken advantage of. That is why it is paramount 
     that every citizen of America takes part in the political 
     process. It is the people's chance to express their views for 
     all to hear and to support what has taken centuries to 
     achieve.
       The political process is what holds this nation together. 
     It's when our nation unites in the form of many different 
     parties to decide who is fit to run our nation. The people, 
     who are chosen, are the ones who lead us as a nation with the 
     help of many. If we don't participate in the political 
     process of choosing these leaders and then helping to 
     implement new laws and policies, there is no longer any point 
     of having a representative democracy, and everything that has 
     been fought for will have been fought for in vain. All those 
     lives lost for our freedom and democracy will be lives lost 
     in vain. All the blood, sweat, and tears will be in vain. The 
     political process of our nation is what makes us great. Not 
     our education. Not our manufacturing. But, instead, our 
     political process and the unity of the United States of 
     America.

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