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Editor's Note: The following article is the winning essay in a contest sponsored by the Lowden Historical Society in 1976 in commemoration of this bicentennial year. Fifth and Sixth grade students in Trinity Lutheran and Clarence-Lowden Middle Schools participated.
WHAT AMERICA MEANS TO ME
We won our independence in 1776. Our way was rough, but we had to fight for what was right. Though some were killed we went on. The sound of guns and the roar of cannons was heard. The men in battle fought with bravery for the rights of their country. We won with the loss of many brave lives.
Then as we became strong the time wore on. Men had to hunt for food, but whose food was it. They had to build homes, but on whose land were we on – The Indians. We hardly ever noticed the Indians and soon they became out-casts. The blacks became slaves. This became America's way. No one gave them a chance or thought about them as people.
Our presidents helped the slaves out. Abraham Lincoln helped the slaves, and set them free.
Our land was once very beautiful and we took care of it. Now I think of America today. Do we take care of our land and air? Do we treat people like people? Think of it this way. Do you take care of America's land? Do you treat all people fairly?
When you say the pledge of allegiance, do you know and mean what you say? These are my thoughts: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, which we thank God for. And to the Republic for which it stands, (And to the people who stand for our rights.) We are one nation under God, never to be divided, with liberty and justice for all.
To some people America means different things. It may be the city life. Crowds, streets, cars and noise. To others it is the country life. Farmers, fields, fresh air and quiet.
America is friendly too. I mean lots of people are almost as close as two brothers. It doesn't really matter what race or color or religion you are. Like a handicapped person. Some people will look at them and look frightened. They want to stay away from them and not want to help them.
Having good fun together is part of it too. I like commercials where everyone is having fun together. This is something anyone can do but some don't take time to do it.
America is also having a responsibility. Take our president for example. He has the responsibility to keep our nation going, keep our country out of war, to keep our congress in the right, and finally to give people his help as best he can.
What is peace in America? Peace may be living on a farm in the country, or reading a good book in your favorite quiet place, or maybe even becoming a hermit. We all have different ideas of what it is. To me peace is having no wars, freedom of our own choice, helping foreigners and others who need it. Peace is loving your neighbor and your country enough that you will want to keep it clean and beautiful.
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People in America really waste and litter a lot. They throw useful things away and throw wrappers or anything they don't want anywhere? I wonder if these people think of others who don't have it so good when they do this. We should try and keep America beautiful! We could pick up our litter from the streets, yards and parks. But most of all we could pollute a lot less in the air. That would help us and our surroundings. We usually don't care about pollution.
Schools today are mixed. It is blacks, whites, etc. put together. Yet still there are some who get all upset about it. Even most kids like it mixed. It's the parents who are afraid of what people will say. Anyway the kids are getting a good education. When schools are separate, the blacks usually do not get a good education. With old second-hand books and anything else they can scrape up, they don't learn much. But it's sad, we're the ones who do it.
I have shown the good points and I have criticized the bad. All I want now is that we make our land better and we will have a more beautiful one. Thank God for our country and by grateful we have it. For America is our home.
Michelle Daut