1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

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

Teacher: aTom Osting

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Iowa-Grant High School, Livingston, Wisconsin

bd07219_.wmf (14350 bytes)   1st Dawn Eddy  bd07217_.wmf (15136 bytes)2nd Donita Straka bd07220_.wmf (15782 bytes) 3rd Shane Hamilton

 

"The only thing that comes to mind as having full responsibility is a plant. The plant does everything it possibly can to survive. They don't screw up like humans do."
Jeremy Cordts, Iowa-Grant High School, Livingston, Wisconsin

 "The 'equal opportunity victim society' is described by Sykes as being a bunch of whiners who claim that no matter what the solution is, they can't take the blame. He writes of the absurdity of our expansion on the definition of a victim and claims that we, as a society, are always finding a way out. As Sykes says in his article, "If you can't blame racism, sexism or the forms of oppression, then you can always blame your mom and dad.' But he's not saying society is 'naturally' like this. With the help of the media and courtrooms, we develop our I'm a victim attitude."
Christi Ashmore, Iowa-Grant High School, Livingston, Wisconsin

"As Sykes said, '...the culture of responsibility starts with you, in your own home and community.' People must remember that we elect our officials. Many times the people complaining most about government are the ones who never vote. We need to take responsibility for our own actions and try to improve our communities without waiting for it to magically be done by the govenrment first."
Rachel Fuerstenberg, Iowa-Grant High School, Livingston, Wisconsin

"The problem of irresponsibility can be corrected. William Bennett suggests that the government help by not helping so much. The welfare progrm, supported by the government, has done a lot of unintentional harm. ...He suggests [that] a more tough-minded criminal justice system, a radical reform of education through national standards and school choice, and a few other programs can help reverse the problem of irresponsibility."
Jeanne Lenzendorf, Iowa-Grant High School, Livingston, Wisconsin

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