1995-1996 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
Responsibility Who Has It And Who Doesn't
And What That Means For The Nation
Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
Teacher : Michael Nynas
1st Deonne
Marie Shotley 
2nd Jacob
Peters 3rd Lynell
Alajoki
"The song 'Get Over It' By the Eagles is telling about how they are sick of
everybody's whining. Maybe that should be our national anthem. Our country is exactly what
we made of it. With all of the freedoms we have, comes all of the responsibilities we are
all trying to shove on someone else. I think that they should close to court doors all of
the foolish things that aren't of any real significance. It would cut down on some of the
taxpayers money spent foolishly."
Susan Stangler, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"During the holiday season, a mail man found a wallet on a sidewalk in
Minneapolis. Inside the wallet was $8,000. Instead of keeping the money, he called the
owner. When the good Samaritan was offered a reward, he refused."
Lynell D. Alajoki, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Boys' State and Girls' State can help people do just that. These programs are
offered to juniors in high school and are intended to create a better awareness and
knowledge of government. Through programs like these, and the simple ambition and drive of
individuals who want to change the government, it is possible."
Alex Hastie, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Many people claim the government is not responsible enough in dealing with our
problems; but perhaps it is actually responsible enough but is just taking on the wrong
burdens. The United States spends billions of dollars every year helping out the rest of
the world, which is great except maybe we should fix our problems at home first."
Kimimila Eastman, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"We all have to vote, and vote carefully. It makes me sad to hear people just a
year older than me, that didn't even take the time to vote, complain about what the
government does to them. Failing to take part in one of the few governments that
encourages participation is the single greatest shortcoming of American
responsibility."
Jacob J. Peters, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"People say this is 'the land of opportunity', and it sure is. People from any
country can come here, get in an accident, and sue someone. How many other countries give
this opportunity to people?. . .Lawsuits. . .these days are foolish. One that stands out
is that a man convicted for murder is suing officials at the Bath Institution Prison,
because crew members had forgotten to remove a ladder. He claims this gave him the idea to
escape. . .A Canadian Olympic goalie filed a lawsuit against the government of Sweden
scoring the winning goal against him. He claims this is not the way he wants to be
remembered. Most of us would be proud enough to just participate in the Olympics. . .When
I sit back and look at what a hassle it actually is to go about and sue someone, I wonder
why do people go out and sue people for the irresponsible reasons?"
Nicole Goggleye, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Our court systems are backed up with unnecessary lawsuits. For example, take the
case of Jennine Pelletier. . .she was awarded $40,000 when she was struck in the face with
her own golf ball. Her actions are what caused the injury. Laws need to be passed to keep
these kinds of cases from reaching the courts."
Josh Villeneuve, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"A police chief in Portland, Oregon moved into the city where he had the option of
living in a rich, peaceful, crime free suburb; but, instead, he purchased a house in the
heart of a high-crime neighborhood. He faced his problem and has made a difference in the
crime rate. Police in other cities are now experimenting with community policy which puts
officers directly into the highest crime neighborhoods."
Jacob J. Peters, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Educating one's self is also a large responsibility. High school students are
going to college, and college graduates are working hard to find a good job to pay back
their loans, and support themselves. Many people find excuses not to continue their
education after high school. Saying, that maybe, it's too expensive, or that they don't
have the time. Then, they expect the government, once again, to take care of them."
Dawn Maynard, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Last December, my stepbrother passed away, the bills were pretty high. We had to
pay for a funeral, plane tickets, doctor bills and many more things. We got help and money
from all types of people. The school and the Indian student club threw on a dance to help
raise money. The Boys club donated money and so did the Leech Lake Reservation. The girls
basketball team even donated some money. We also had a few different places donate their
buildings for the wake and a benefit dinner. My community really pulled together and
helped out my family."
MacKenzie Miller, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"The entire idea behind a democracy is to include us, the people, whether we're
young, old, rich, poor, male, female, or of any race. By being included, however, we are
not being given a free ride but we are given a part of the responsibility of running a
nation."
Kimimila Eastman, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Many companies have tight budgets and have a hard time fitting in money for
charities. This inspired some companies to think of more creative ways to help. Some allow
employees to do volunteer work on company time. Others are donating merchandise instead of
money to different organizations. Kodak is planning on donating land to non-profit groups.
Even in hard time companies find ways to give."
Alex Hastie, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"My sister always puts her homework off until the last minute. One time I asked her why she did that, if she knew the material so well she should do it right away and get it done. She said that she always gets it done, and in the mean time she could be doing better things. I told her that if she worked ahead then she would have the time to improve her work and probably get a better score. She simply smiled and said that she was passing, and I should leave well enough alone.
This story could serve as a metaphor for the way that things are done in society today.
Everyone, generally speaking, is looking for a short cut for just about everything that
they do, looking for the quick way out. Responsibility takes a lot of conscious effort. It
takes the ability to discipline one's self."
Dawn Maynard, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Responsibility lies within all of us, some of us take hold of it, others run from
it; and our nation prospers or declines from the responsibility we take."
Sandra Free, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"People have to become educated, and socially active to keep our communities
strong. We all have to stop blaming all our problems on each other, and take
responsibility for our own lives and actions."
Daniel Sondgeroth, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"We also need to help one another. If you see someone do a good deed, praise them
for it. It will give them the incentive to do it again."
Eva Grossell, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"If there was more of a conscious effort made by everyone to be more responsible
then we might have a more stable economy, happier homes, and more fulfilled lives."
Dawn Maynard, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Morals and responsibility should also be taught at school, because a part of
shaping a child and his or her self-esteem begins there. Society, for young people, begins
at school, because they have to deal with peer pressure from other students, getting good
grades, and feedback from students and teachers. We need to focus on teaching young
students the lessons of morals and responsibility in order for them to survive in the real
world."
Rosel Carlson, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Being responsible is being trusted and counted on. If our nation only knew what a
better life we would have if we stopped our whining and accepted the responsibilities of
life. The only way our nation can achiever success is by loving one another, knowing right
from wrong, and living our lives to the fullest without stepping on people to achieve that
success."
Alicia Erickson, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Everyone has responsibility, whether it be simply making your bed or running the
country. Most people don't want responsibility; some don't want to take any
responsibility, not even for themselves. everyone has to realize that responsibility is a
part of life, we just have to do what's right for ourselves. When people start to realize
that and accept it them America's problems will start to take care of themselves. What
exactly is responsibility? The dictionary describes it as the quality or condition of
being responsible. But what is being responsible? It's doing what you're obliged or
expected to do; and doing something to make our lives better."
Eric Harju, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Schools wouldn't need to worry about teaching values, and people would learn to
respect each other if it all started in the home, and the world would then be a better
place to live in."
Rena Ikola, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Failure in people and nations is caused more by lack of determination than lack
of action."
Jody Jones, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"A woman brought before the state Supreme Court, was found dysfunctional; yet, a
judge gave her a chance to redeem herself. Is it right for a judge to give a women her
kids to abuse? Should the judge be punished or let it pass because he made a
mistake?"
Seth Paulsen, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Sometimes you have to sit and wonder what goes through the mind of a person who
kills someone or commits a crime of some sort and pleads insanity. Would someone really
want to be known as an insane person? However sometimes justice does work for the better.
James Matthew Miller, 19, gunned down, Dean Scott Phillips in the back and four more times
as his body fell to the ground. Miller pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Leading
forensic psychiatrists from Virginia stated that Millers mind was diseased at the time of
Phillips slaying, but the jury verdict was that he should be held accountable and punished
with a jail sentence. Don't you wish that more cases would be settled that way. I mean
come on, he pulled the trigger, he shot the gun, James Miller should pay the price.
Miller's attorney said that he saw James one day after Phillips' murder and Miller looked
like he had lost touch with reality. Then he went on to say that at the time of the
shooting James knew not right from wrong, nor what he was doing. Now I'm sorry but that
has to be the biggest joke of all. Who in the world is going to act normal after killing
their former classmate. Insane or not insane, a murderer is a murderer and a killer is a
killer. So what James is saying, is that he, himself, wasn't the killer."
Susan Schumacher, Deer River High School , Deer River, Minnesota
"We, as people, have to become more pragmatic and less indecisive. Hundreds of
individuals push aside their grief, anger, and long-standing differences to pull together
in common cause. If they can do it day-in and day-out, why can't we?"
Deonne Marie Shotley, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"As a child I once read a fable, Little Mouse on the Prairie, by Stephen Cosgrove.
In this story, Cosgrove illustrated one responsible little mouse named Tweezle amongst a
herd or irresponsible mice who only cared about the pleasures in life. When their
carelessness caught up to them, the irresponsible mice expected Tweezle to save them. I
compare the irresponsible mice to governmental leaders. In past years, governmental
responsibility has dwindled to near-extinction. Many years ago, governmental leaders were
amongst the highest ranked heroes for our American youth. Today those positions have been
filled by movie and sports stars. I seldom go through a day without hearing of
governmental scandals. In my short life I've lived through governmental scandals; such as,
drunken driving, sexual harassment, physical abuse, police brutality, and misuse of
privileges. These acts have been performed by people whom I was taught that I could trust.
So why do young people choose movie and sports stars to be their heroes? I know that I
would much rather choose a person who makes me laugh in a movie theater than a person who
makes me cry because I have to grow up in an age of chaos. Isn't there anyone left to be
my hero?"
Kristina Villeneuve, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota