1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

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

Teachers: George Wenner and John Shoemaker

Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

   1st Jordn Whitacre        2nd Missi Thompson   3rd Adam Maliszewski

"My father explained a case to me, in which a burglar broke into a family's house and the owner sent his dog after the thief. The dog attacked and injured the burglar. The burglar then sued the owner of the dog for being attacked and hurt."
Kent Krech, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"Another act of irresponsible behavior took place in the parking lot of a McDonald's in Westchester, Pennsylvania. A woman was walking to her car and fell. The lot was not covered with snow, ice, water, or anything else that could have caused the fall. McDonald's is now being sued because this woman could not walk."
Michele Paulick, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"We cannot make ourselves into victims to escape responsibility, or we will never be able to stand on our own two feet, to be independent, to be free."
Kara Wayman, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"For example, a local newscast explained a story of a truck owner who sued the manufacturer for faulty information. This man had recently purchased a new Blazer type four by four, which was equipped with cruise control. Apparently not familiar with cruise control, this man set the speed then jumped into the back seat. The vehicle then, of course, went off the road and hit the telephone pole. The cruise control system was thought to be an automatic pilot, and the man sued the manufacturer for not specifically explaining to him that cruise did not mean auto-pilot. He won the case!"
Vincent Oddo, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"A generic example can be used to explain the lack of accountability that is becoming increasingly evident in our nation. Thirty years ago, if a crime was committed a burglary for exampleÑsociety was considered the victim. The case seems logical. Property, possibly irreplaceable, was taken and perhaps injuries were sustained. It would seem obvious that 'society' was the victim. That was then, this is now. Today, views have become so twisted and skewed that the burglar can be considered victimized: by his underprivileged upbringing, by the school that did not teach him to read, by the church that failed to reach him with moral guidance, by the parents who did not provide a stable home."
Mark Rossney, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"Why work when welfare is always available, and society or someone else is to blame for all of the mishaps that occur in one's life? We become a society of endless excuses, where no one accepts responsibility for themselves."
Melissa Shepanski, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"There should be a higher risk in making fraudulent claims. The nation has gone crazy with suing. Our nation needs stricter penalties for bringing false cases before a judge, like in England. Lawyers are in great demand due to this new craze. The lawyers should be held partially accountable for the cases that they agree to take. If they know that their client has no real claim it should be strongly recommended not to take the case."
Michele Paulick, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"People tend to act first and think later. Possible outcomes are not considered until the act is over. People in modern times do not think rationally, they base their actions on pure feelings and on a moment to moment basis. This lifestyle is extremely dangerous. Many bad situations can come out of living this way."
Jon Greskiewicz, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"I think responsibility is the burden one puts on one's self for the goodness or the negativity of outcomes related to one's behavior. Each person must choose for himself how and if he will accept this responsibility. Taking responsibility stems from one's pride in one's self. If someone is proud of himself, his work, or his family he will take the responsibility to maintain the things or people he is proud of. Over the years, it seems to me, there has been a deterioration of self-worth and pride, which inevitably leads to a society taking less responsibility for themselves and for their actions."
Kara Wayman, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"Responsibility can be defined as the ability to respond."
Valerie Amoss, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

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