First Round Excerpts From 1998-99 Essay Contest
The Role Of Personal Responsibility In Balancing
Individual Liberty And The Common Good
New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
1st Eric Szymonski
2nd Tacasa Vliem
3rd Travis
Jensen
Founding Fathers
"Individuals should have the right to do anything they choose
as long as it doesn't harm others. The founding fathers put great emphasis on the
individuals of the country and knew that individual liberty was essential for their
democracy to exist."
Eric Szymonski, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
"Our forefathers put the laws into effect to protect people in
the front seats of cars. I believe that the founding fathers understood the importance of
freedom and community more than anyone else, and I believe that the founding fathers
themselves put the greater need of the country above the feelings of a small group. This
point is the basis of the constitution. I also feel that this is why we have a democratic
system. So they made this decision to put the needs of community over the needs of an
individual and if the individual still feels a need, then that person or group may take it
up with their congressmen or the judiciary system. It's nonsense when people say it's
against their rights to be forced to wear a seat belt."
Roy M. Eckert, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
Freedom
"In America our basic desire is to possess the greatest amount
of freedom as possible. It would be great if today's school systems could make the young
realize the importance of personal freedom, as well as respecting others."
Tacasa Vliem, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
"For individuals to have freedom they must also accept the
responsibility for their actions and make wise judgments. But I believe individuals should
have ultimate freedom as long as their actions do not cause harm to others, which is
fundamental in a democracy."
Eric Szymonski, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
"When faced with the choice of individual liberty or the lives
of the people for the common good, the common good should always come first."
Tammi Ramsey, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
Gangs
"Most young people join gangs, because they have nowhere else
to go, they can't find a job, they need someone to protect them, and they need a
family-like environment. They join gangs not because they want to, but because they need
to."
Nathan Schmitz, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
Guns
"The Second Amendment does not grant anything. The right to
bear arms was recognized as a common law, long before the constitution was written.
Self-defense is a human right. The right to defend yourself from violent attack is perhaps
the most basic human right of all. It is beneficial to both individuals and society at
large."
Jeremy Stover, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
"In my opinion there are very few cons with this ruling. The
Supreme Court declared the Act unconstitutional. The justices were referring to laws
passed in the early part of this century. These laws are outdated and do not affect
society today. They were using laws that were passed almost a century ago to argue with
problems that affect the United States today. They should be trying to make life better
and safer for the future instead of dwelling on the past."
Hilary Rohr, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
"'If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.' That is
one of the most famous aphorisms of the pro-gun forces. Sophisticated liberals laugh at
this point, but they should not. No matter how many laws are passed, only the law abiding
citizen is going to obey the laws that have been passed. Why should we expect armed
robbers and street thugs to obey these new laws when they readily violate laws against
robbery, assault and murder?"
Ron Anderson, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
"Schools are a place where kids go to get an education, not
die. Parents send their kids to school trusting that they will be safe there, and they
should be. Children should not have to fear going to school."
Melissa Smith, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
Role of Government
"We need to provide money for people that live in the slums. We
need to provide food and shelter for the children living in the slums."
Nathan Schmitz, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
"Should the government be able to restrict the advertising of
alcohol and tobacco? Should the government be able to ban smoking? I don't believe that
the government should be in total control of these things because it infringes on an
individual's choice. If a person chooses to use a vice, they are willingly accepting the
consequences of cancer, death, etc. By banning smoking, it's taking away what America
stands for: freedom."
Hilary Rohr, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota
"The people need someone to regulate their actions. If there
were no regulation in this nation I think it would be total chaos and there would be n
order. The government should take responsibility for the well-being of society. By
requiring everyone to wear a seatbelt they are only trying to protect the people from
tragic fatalities, but many people feel their right to make decisions and personal freedom
should come before safety. I don't think a person should be able to decide what is best
when it is endangering their life. I think it should be the government's job to look out
for society and the welfare of the people."
Ronda Gottschalk, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South Dakota