1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Responsibility, Who Has It and Who Doesn't and What That Means For The Nation

Teacher: Michael Nynas

Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota

1st Marvin ScottVerbeck  2nd Lindsay Mannelin 3rd Erika E. Grossell

"A man named Christopher Duffy of Farmington, Massachusetts. stole a car from a parking lot and got killed in an accident. His estate sued the proprietor of the lot for failing to prevent auto thefts."
Erika Grossell, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota

"A convicted murderer, Ratford Cox, was awarded $19,609.80 for two years worth of withheld benefits, after he complained of not having enough money to buy cigarettes. When his life sentence was decided, the judge took away Cox's weekly workers' compensation payments. After his complaint, the state's Court of Appeals reinstated his payments saying that "there is no statutory authority for such a suspension."
Angie Guthrie, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota

"One night four teenage friends were in an idling vehicle. The driver had unknowingly backed his Bronco into a snow bank. The exhaust system was not working right, and carbon monoxide seeped into the vehicle. Sometime later a boyfriend of one of the two girls was out looking for them. What he found didn't look good. He found his girlfriend, her best friend, and two male friends slumped over; he knew it was carbon monoxide poisoning and that he had to get them to a hospital quick. He rolled down the windows of the Bronco and drove to the hospital. Upon arrival the two sitting in the back seat, a boy and his girlfriend's friend, were found dead. The others were near death but lived with minor problems resulting from the poisoning. It was a matter of minutes before they would've died too. Now the parents who own the Bronco want to sue the teen who saved their son's life. He took responsibility and did a heroic thing, but the responsibility avoiders claim he should not have driven their vehicle without their permission."
Lindsay Mannelin, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota

"Another example of media irresponsibility is the recent rash of setup news stories. Although NBC, and its scandal over setting up a GMC truck to blow up during a news story on the dangers of the truck's gas tanks, was the most publicized, almost every major network has been accused of rigging news stories. CBS has been accused of setting up combat scenes in Afghanistan. A news reporter in Alexandria, Minnesota, was found guilty of providing minors with alcohol for a story on teenage drinking. É A reporter for USA Today was suspended for fixing up a photo of gang-members. The reporter had actually sent the young men home to get their guns to pose for the picture."
Mara Bergeron, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota

"With the freedom that our country gives us comes more responsibility."
Erika Grossell, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota

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