1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Responsibility, Who Has It and Who Doesn't and What That Means For The Nation
Teacher: Carlene Stueve

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Colby High School, Colby, Kansas

bd07219_.wmf (14350 bytes)1st Kristi St. Aubyn   bd07217_.wmf (15136 bytes)2nd Michelle Berens   bd07220_.wmf (15782 bytes)3rd Brian Albright

 

"Shifting of blame has been around since the time of Adam and Eve. Eve ate of the Tree of Good and Bad and later Adam joined her. When he was being questioned by God, Adam blamed Eve, saying the woman made me do it. [Even if] this transferring of blame started with the imperfection that humans inherited, people can't blame mistakes on imperfection and not try to overcome them."
Karen Gowin, Colby High School, Colby, Kansas

"Judge John Paul Sullivan of Massachusetts has demanded that a man convicted of murder get back his collection of sexually explicit material. Alfred Brown was awarded $2.7 million while serving time in jail for manslaughter. He lost his left hand while trying to clean machinery. Alfred claimed that the injury ended his career as a part time drummer and nearly ended his marriage. The judge also awarded Brown's wife $35,000 for losses."
Michelle Berens, Colby High School, Colby, Kansas

 "A Massachusetts firefighter was given notice his wife wanted a divorce. He crept into her bedroom and beat her within an inch of her life. While she was in the emergency room, he checked into a mental hospital. All charges were dropped because he pled insanity. Several months later, he was caught again sneaking into his ex-wife's home. The case was dismissed, but he was fired from his job. Where is this "victim" now? He was reinstated to his job, he collected $176,774 in back pay, and an additional $20,000 for emotional stress. Now, is he the real victim or is it his ex-wife, who received nothing but permanent injuries?"
Sara Tweed, Colby High School, Colby, Kansas

"Shifting of blame has been around since the time of Adam and Eve. Eve ate of the Tree of Good and Bad and later Adam joined her. When he was being questioned by God, Adam blamed Eve, saying the woman made me do it. [Even if] this transferring of blame started with the imperfection that humans inherited, people can't blame mistakes on imperfection and not try to overcome them."
Karen Gowin, Colby High School, Colby, Kansas

"A Wyoming man sued an adult video company because they failed to live up to their advertisements. He sought over $50,000, including the cost of the video, medical expenses covering the asthma attack he suffered as a result of the 'stress of being ripped off', and compensation for suffering."
Sara Tweed, Colby High School, Colby, Kansas

"A bad example of accepting accountability is that of a FBI agent, again the guy who was supposedly in charge, who embezzled a couple of thousand dollars from the government, then lost all of it gambling in Atlantic City. The man is fired, but wins reinstatement after a court rules that his affinity for gambling with other people's money is a handicap and therefore is protected by federal law."
Karen Gowin, Colby High School, Colby, Kansas

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