1996-1997 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Responsibility: Who Has It And Who Doesn't
And What That Means For The Nation

Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

      1st Heather Weingarten        2nd Garrett Benson      3rd Jillian Davenport 

"Whether it be patriotic or personal, every working man is subject to a responsibility of some kind. Most of us think of responsibility as being able to care for oneself and loved ones, hold down a job, and just basically do what needs to be done. Not many consider other forms of responsibility, however, such as being liable to be called upon to answer for one's actions or decisions, or being trustworthy, or even being able to choose between what is right and what is wrong. These latter forms are the most often neglected. It seems to be some kind of national tradition to blame anyone but oneself, and to take advantage of the fact that we do have someone-or something-else to blame. therefore, our country is a society of accusers and scapegoats, the former dominating over whatever kinds of morals we may have set for ourselves long ago.

Maybe if it wasn't so easy to blame the other guy…but it's not just certain individuals that are taking that extra load of responsibility anymore. Law, psychiatry, nutrition, biology, and pop psychology all help explain why almost nobody can really be held accountable for harmful behavior now. We are becoming a nation of victims, and we are running out of victimizers.

Law plus nutrition gives us many variations of the 'Twinkie defense': sugar-made-him-kill. Law plus unreliable psychiatry gives us the anabolic steroid defense: a bodybuilder broke into six Maryland homes, set fire to three of them and stole cash and jewelry. A judge ruled him not criminally responsible because his frenzied use of anabolic steroids for weight-lifting left him suffering from organic personality syndrome. No jail time.

Pop Psychology joined the circus by making up new addictions, which have been used successfully to reduce quilt and get offenders seemingly off the hook. In Los Angeles, a computer hacker tried to cop a plea after being accused of breaking into a corporate software system and stealing an expensive security system. The judge viewed him not only as one more computer nerd with no conscience, but as the victim of an ailment one social worker called 'computer addiction.' The judge sentenced him to a year's jail term, plus six months of treatment for what was called this 'new and growing' impulse disorder.

The Steve Howe case shows how an imaginative defense made a mess of Major League Baseball's drug-control regulations. Howe was banned from professional baseball life in 1992 for a long series of cocaine violations. He beat the rap in arbitration: the players' union argued that Howe was a victim of 'attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).' The novelty here was the use of ADHD (a diagnosis usually referring to hyperactive children) to excuse drug behavior in a 34-year-old. But it helped Howe's case.

Not all of us are out to get away with irresponsible behavior, however. Some have even found ways to help prevent the inevitable. For instance, a school begins a recycling program. Not only is this the all-perfect example of 'saving the planet,' it also teaches students a kind of caring responsibility: recycling equals cleaner streets, a healthier environment, and less waste in already over-populated landfills. It also earns money for the school, which can then be used to purchase educational supplies.

Another example of preventive responsibility is the actions of the same school's PTO committee. The members have gone out of their way to collect donations and plans for post-prom activities. Their goal is to provide a fun yet safe alternative for prom-goers, more or less to help prevent the risk of dangerous and possibly fatal behavior among the teens. This action ensures not only a good time for the rambunctious youth but also a virtually worry-free night for skeptical parents, and a certainty that prom activities won't have to be entirely eliminated in the future.

A 21-year-old male was on drugs for eight years. He admitted that he would take anything, to 'have fun with my friends. It was a blast. I just liked it.' But today he is drug-free. He had realized that he had long-range goals, and that they just weren't happening. He had tried changing jobs, friends, love relationships, and still wasn't gaining any ground. He admits, 'Then I realized that I was the constant in the equation, and the constant was hat I was using drugs.' He finally decided to confront a bad habit and kick it. He wasn't diseased. He wasn't a victim (Schlessinger 166).

Believe it or not, even some television stations show good examples of taking responsibility for their programs. HBO, for instance, helps parents use discretion in what they allow their children to watch by presenting an outline of the film's contents. This way the parents can protect their children from violence, nudity , and adult language.

Immunizations are an important part of health care. Once people have had the proper shots, it is impossible for an epidemic to take hold. Parents and the government work together to mandate immunizations for babies and small children. This prevents the risk of youth contracting diseases during their lives, such as mumps, measles, polio, smallpox, tetanus, and hepatitis. This act of responsibility is important in saving the lives of children and adults.

Sometimes life seems an obstacle course, even a bad joke with you as the subject. I don't believe for a minute that everything that happens to you is your doing or your fault. But I do believe the quality of your life and your happiness is determined by your choices and your overall attitude. The more time we spend blaming our circumstances on others, the more time we waste, because while we were blaming, we could have been doing."
Heather Weingartner, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"My parents got a divorce when I was little. Should I let my anger get the best of me? I am responsible enough to let my anger go. At first I was mad, but I don't let it bother me anymore. I had a friend who was on drugs. He was irresponsible enough to take the drugs. I was responsible enough to help him get off the drugs. He is now drug free. The more time we spend blaming our mistakes on others, the more time we waste. While we were blaming, we could have been doing something."
Raymond Bailey, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"In Weslaco, Texas, principal Velda Correa also spends her time bettering the community. Beginning 'Project SATURN,' Correa opened the school up on Saturdays and extended the school day. She then recruited and trained volunteers to give extra attention to kids at risk of failing. Although doubts appeared at first, Rico Elementary now has an attendance rate well above ninety percent and the students are scoring higher on state exams."
Julian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Another area that radiates responsibility is government funded schools, institutes, and help centers for the blind, deaf, mute, and other mentally and physically handicapped people. the individuals involved are teaching 'challenged' people what they need to know to take care of themselves. They are very important. Oklahoma School for the Deaf is a prime example of this form of responsibility. It not only teaches its students academics, but also involves them in sports."
Bill White, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"The people that support organizations such as 'Feed the Children' are acting in a responsible way. These people are donating love and money to needy children across the world who they will probably never see."
Tommy Norman, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"We have a family in our town, that just can't seem to keep their house and yard clean. So some members of our community decided to tighten the slack for this family. About ten people showed up [when] they knew this family would be gone. They mowed, raked, painted, and moved fallen trees. When they were done, the place looked really nice. Now, they though, when people drive by they don't get the impression that the whole town is as dirty as that one house."
Garrett Benson, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"A … commom example of not taking responsibility for one's actions can be found in Cheryl Powell. In 1977, Cheryl had a child named Mike. After Mike's father was murdered by drug dealers in 1986, Cheryl hit to the streets and before long, had three more children. One day, she brought home a man named Marcel who got her hooded on cocaine. At times, they would disappear for weeks and even a year, leaving the children to fend for themselves. During her binges, Cheryl had two more kids making a total of six. She never took the responsibility of being a mother.

Fortunately for the younger kids, Mike stepped up to take his mother's place. At the tender age of 10, Mike scavenged through junk shops and dumpsters to find hairbrushes and other necessities. To make money, he quit elementary school to clean yards, unload trucks, and stock liquor stores. Mike always insisted on keeping the kids in school. Because he kept the children well-groomed, teachers and classmates never saw any signs that they were being raised be a child.

In 1993, after years of struggling, Mike finally broke. At a thanksgiving dinner, he told a church group his complete story. The group immediately began searching for a permanent home for the kids. When Mike had to tell his grandparents the truth, they became the children's legal guardians. After years of being the 'parent', Mike could finally be a kid again."
Julian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Two of my friends were driving in [a] totally restored 1967 Mercury Cougar [belonging to one of them.] [The Cougar] had a dangerously souped up the engine. they were driving 95 mph on a gravel road and the driver got the bright idea to floor the car. [That action] sent the car spinning sideways across the road; [it] slammed into a ditch, ran over 1/8 of a mile of fence post and drove through an old barn, finally stopping in the middle of the barn. Neither [friend was] hurt, luckily, by this stupid event.…After explaining what had happened, they offered to pay for and even help rebuild all damaged property. The man was so happy that they came clean and confessed, he didn't even get mad and never even yelled at the boys."
Garrett Benson, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"While researching for this essay, I interviewed and discussed both responsibility and irresponsibility with several people. One of my most prominent subjects, in reply to the questions 'Give me some specific examples of responsibility in society, and what are some irresponsible acts that are occurring in America?' answered, 'People are credited with many good things like sacrificing for their children, enduring trials and tribulations because they know what they are doing is right, showing up to work or school on time, holding true to one's own values and morals, and not weakening standards in the face of adversity. 'However', he added, 'individuals make many irresponsible decisions everyday such as littering, allowing someone else to take the blame for something that they did, living for the moment without thinking of the consequences, destroying other's personal property and not admitting to it, driving recklessly, drinking and driving, playing with firearms, cheating, and knowingly giving false information and/or advice.' He continued to say that, 'The justice system all to often assigns inadequate punishment to criminals, and the government is giving foreign aid when people here in America are homeless and starving,' to answer the questions respectively.

Also, while conducting these interviews I encountered an interesting response. When I asked a certain individual for, 'Examples of irresponsibility in society' he responded with the statement, 'Man, I could write a book,' and he continued to list many irresponsible acts. But, when confronted with the question, 'What are a few acts of responsibility individuals make,' he responded, after a minute in thought, 'It's hard to think of any,' and gave up. This at first surprised me, but after thinking about it I decided I should not be surprised. After all we spend so much time talking and complaining about the bad things that we forget the good things around us. That is truly irresponsible.

About a month ago a student who played on the junior high baseball team had money stolen from his wallet during a practice. The coach first confronted the team by asking the one who did it to please 'fess up' to what he had done. No one responded. He then said the whole team would run until someone admitted to his wrong. A student then stepped forward. This anecdote shows, at first, an irresponsible action from the student. However, the student also showed a responsible compensation for his stunt by sparing the whole team from suffering for his wrong doing. This shows that hope still remains."
Bill White, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Not all people pick up other's responsibilities because they have to. Some do it out of the goodness of their hearts. Such people are Officer Barton, Velda Correa, Thelma Sibley, and Rosanne Haggerty. In Florida, Officer Barton goes well beyond the call of duty. In his spare time, he will be found doing what he finds most rewarding - spending time with the kids at the Dixie Manor housing project. He attends spelling bees, church picnics, and other community activities. To encourage good grades, Officer Barton takes the first twenty kids, who have shown improvements in school, to his home to play basketball and computer games."
Jillian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"People have decided themselves that they should relinquish their hold of all responsibility somewhere down the road. they have decided that what happens to them is not their fault. People want to blame somebody for their own actions, but they don't blame themselves like hey should."
Amy Southerland, Paoli High School, Paoli Oklahoma

"Our nation is full of irresponsible voters. We don't watch the debates. We don't do our 'homework' on the candidates. We just don't get involved enough."
Bill White, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

 "Irresponsibility can show up in many forms from acting in lawsuits for more money to not taking the consequences for one's actions."
Jillian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"People's lack of responsibility is amazing. They don't seem to care who gets hurt as long as it's not them. Very few people think about others in today's society. Few people care about these other people no matter how selfish they may be. Not many people consider the consequences of their actions or how they will affect others."
Amy Southerland, Paoli High School, Paoli Oklahoma

"Anywhere you look, you can find people acting in an irresponsible manner. The irresponsibility in today's society is not always in the extreme, although people even today are looking for a 'shortcut' to get what they want, and they see no boundaries as to what they don't do to get it. Suppose that you are a single American female in your twenties. You graduated high school and didn't know where to go from there. You never had a job and do not see a need in having one now. You finally get the nerve to move out on your own where you will need a job. Only you find an easier way to live, you get pregnant and draw a check from the government every month. this is not the responsible thing to do."
Tommy Norman, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Rosanne Haggerty decided to fix up the Manhattan's Time Square hotel after being touched by the sight of children playing in garbage in the hotel's lobby. She assembled a group of powerful business people and a board of advocates for the homeless. Together, they formed the Common Ground Community to buy and renovate the old hotel. A beautiful, buffed, marble floor lies where garbage once lay. The old hotel that use to offer very little now offers in-house medical and social services to its over 175 tenants."
Jillian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"I burned my arm with hot grease a few months ago. The owner of McDonald's thought I might sue him. My response was that I would not sue anybody else for something I did to myself. One of the women I work with cut her hand with a box knife. The cut required five stitches; one beneath the skin and four on the surface. Her boss was concerned that she would sue him. Of course, she told him that she would not sue for something she did to herself. She told him that it was her fault for not being more careful and that it was not his fault in any way."
Amy Southerland, Paoli High School, Paoli Oklahoma

"A mother, father, and two sons got hit by a semi-truck on their way home. Everyone was thrown out because seatbelts weren't used. During the trial, the mother claimed to have whip-lash. She wore a neck brace out in public, but went about her daily routine at home."
Julian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Since the year 1962, the rate of divorce has increased 117 percent. Unwed-mother birth rates have increased 200 percent. Unmarried couples living together has increased an amazing 536 percent."
Amy Southerland, Paoli High School, Paoli Oklahoma

"Responsibility is actually anything that one person thinks another person should do, should have done, or has to do. If we would think, 'What can I do,' not 'what has someone else not done,' we would be a lot happier."
Garrett Benson, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Thelma Sibley is another extraordinary example but she is special because she exhibits self-control. On January 4, 1994 Sibley's daughter went out to play on her elementary-school playground. when she slid down the spiral slide, the drawstring on her coat caught and choked her. She immediately went into a coma and later died. Sibley had the perfect chance to sue the clothing maker. Instead, she persistently wrote letters to manufacturers, agencies, and organizations. She eventually caught the Consumer Product Safety Commission's attention. Together, they persuaded thirty-two major clothing manufacturers to remove drawstrings from children's clothing."
Jillian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Responsibility means the state or quality of being responsible. Responsibility is when you say you are going to do something and you do it. If you are going to watch a house for a neighbor for a whole week, you are responsible for what ever happens to the house."
Raymond Bailey, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"While researching for this essay, I interviewed and discussed both responsibility and irresponsibility with several people. One of my most prominent subjects, in reply to the questions 'Give me some specific examples of responsibility in society, and what are some irresponsible acts that are occurring in America?' answered, 'People are credited with many good things like sacrificing for their children, enduring trials and tribulations because they know what they are doing is right, showing up to work or school on time, holding true to one's own values and morals, and not weakening standards in the face of adversity. 'However', he added, 'individuals make many irresponsible decisions everyday such as littering, allowing someone else to take the blame for something that they did, living for the moment without thinking of the consequences, destroying other's personal property and not admitting to it, driving recklessly, drinking and driving, playing with firearms, cheating, and knowingly giving false information and/or advice.' He continued to say that, 'The justice system all to often assigns inadequate punishment to criminals, and the government is giving foreign aid when people here in America are homeless and starving,' to answer the questions respectively.

Also, while conducting these interviews I encountered an interesting response. When I asked a certain individual for, 'Examples of irresponsibility in society' he responded with the statement, 'Man, I could write a book,' and he continued to list many irresponsible acts. But, when confronted with the question, 'What are a few acts of responsibility individuals make,' he responded, after a minute in thought, 'It's hard to think of any,' and gave up. This at first surprised me, but after thinking about it I decided I should not be surprised. After all we spend so much time talking and complaining about the bad things that we forget the good things around us. That is truly ir-responsible.

About a month ago a student who played on the junior high baseball team had money stolen from his wallet during a practice. The coach first confronted the team by asking the one who did it to please 'fess up' to what he had done. No one responded. He then said the whole team would run until someone admitted to his wrong. A student then stepped forward. This anecdote shows, at first, an irresponsible action from the student. However, the student also showed a responsible compensation for his stunt by sparing the whole team from suffering for his wrong doing. This shows that hope still remains."
Bill White, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"I had a friend who made a mistake and got pregnant because of it. Her peers said that she was too young and needed to have an abortion. The father of the child and my friend decided to give life, not take it. Yes, they made a mistake, but they were responsible enough to take to responsibility for it. Now they have a cute little baby boy, who they wouldn't give up for the world."
Garrett Benson, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Webster defines responsibility as being liable to answer for one's conduct and obligations (Webster's Dictionary). Many people in today's society do not take responsibility for heir own faults. Others, however, take responsibility for themselves and the irresponsible ones."
Jillian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Mrs. White, a librarian's assistant, believes that responsibility is putting things in order of importance. Her children come first.They count on her responsibility to make them stable. People must learn to take responsibility for mistakes, family, and job related things."
Raymond Bailey, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Rosanne Haggerty decided to fix up the Manhattan's Time Square hotel after being touched by the sight of children playing in garbage in the hotel's lobby. She assembled a group of powerful business people and a board of advocates for the homeless. Together, they formed the Common Ground Community to buy and renovate the old hotel. A beautiful, buffed, marble floor lies where garbage once lay. The old hotel that use to offer very little now offers in-house medical and social services to its over 175 tenants."
Jillian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Stress can hold you back from what you want to do. High school students have stress and responsibility. At home they have chores, they have homework form school, and responsibility for their parents who care for them. When you take responsibility it makes you feel better about yourself. Knowing that you're a responsible adult leaves you with a sense of pride. Whenever you use responsible judgment, there is usually a good outcome.

Parents need to make kids be responsible at a very young age. It gives them self-confidence. When you feel bad about something, it is usually because you did not use responsibility. Parents usually punish their kids to teach them responsibility. Responsibility has to do with doing what you are suppose to."
Raymond Bailey, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"I dated a young man for two weeks when I found out he wanted a lover instead of a girlfriend. I spent three weeks away from him and realized that was all he really intended while we dated. The next time I heard from him, I told him I did not want to see him again and we should just be friends.

In my search for a responsible person, I have found very few that actually are responsible. Many people just want to have a good time in life. They don't care about the consequences to them or any one else. These people need to wake up. Life is not just fun and games. It's full of responsibility.…People need to take responsibility for their actions; They need to count the cost and pay attention to how people react to what's being done."
Amy Southerland, Paoli High School, Paoli Oklahoma

"Responsibility has to be taught, it's not just an instinct. The youth of today should learn this 'responsibility' from authority figures and role models. Responsibility not only has to be taught, but exercised by these people so it can be learned by example.

Our nation is caught between two mighty forces: these forces are made of people who have conflicting ideas about responsibility. One group either sees no need for responsibility at all or is confused about the idea in general. The other has gone beyond the basic ideas of responsibility and started taking large steps towards making our nation a better place."
Tommy Norman, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"A long time ago, their was a man who was very responsible, the most responsible guy in all the land. People would travel many miles just to hear him talk. The leaders of these people were jealous of the wise man, so they had his killed. this man's name was Jesus. This man not only took responsibility for himself, but took on the responsibility of all the sins, of all the people, of every nation."
Garrett Benson, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"People who volunteer time on the holidays to feed the needy are definitely acting responsibly. They not only give their time to help these people in need but set an example for the people of their family who notice their absence."
Tommy Norman, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Responsibility means the state or quality of being responsible. Responsibility is when you say you are going to do something and you do it. If you are going to watch a house for a neighbor for a whole week, you are responsible for what ever happens to the house."
Raymond Bailey, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"The younger generations watch the older and become convinced it's okay to be irresponsible. What they don't know is that it's not okay. The only major problem they have is not having anyone around to teach them responsibility. Somebody needs to stand up and take on this responsibility."
Amy Southerland, Paoli High School, Paoli Oklahoma

"If people would just leave others alone, and let them do what their going to do, and worry about what they themselves haven't done, and what they need to do, then those people would be a to more happy."
Garrett Benson, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"A woman claimed to have gotten carpal tunnel syndrome from scrubbing floors at a restaurant. She went to many different doctors and got treatments ranging from pain pills to wrist braces. She decided to sue the restaurant for long-term suffering, only she didn't suffer. In fact, she only wore the braces when she was in court or her lawyers were present.…In the carpal tunnel lawsuit, the woman found a way to get more money by acting hurt. More and more people are getting away with this kind of fraud, causing insurance rates to sky rocket. To stop insurance fraud, several steps need to be taken. First, if it is suspected that a person isn't hurt, he or she should be under constant supervision. Since a brace of any kind isn't comfortable, no one would want to wear one if it wasn't absolutely necessary. Therefore, the impostor would eventually give in. Second, a caseworker should be assigned to each case to periodically check in on the 'hurt' individual and record his or her progress. The threat of being subject to monitoring would lessen the number of fraudulent cases. Finally, the court system needs to be changed. Laws need to be passed making it harder to prove carpal tunnel, whip-lash, and other similar ailments.

Our problems with insurance fraud won't go away on their own. Until something is done, it will continue and the good will still pay for the bad."
Jillian Davenport, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"If everyone would take responsibility, care [for] himself and keep his nose out of everyone else's business, things could be a lot better."
Raymond Bailey, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Though irresponsible behavior will come from everyone at one point or another, I think the problem can be lessened by educating people of the responsible ways to act. This must start young, but must not be limited to youth. Merely making laws and hoping that people will follow them is not enough. We must include responsibility lessons in all levels of education."
Bill White, PaoliHigh School, Paoli Oklahoma

"Many more examples of responsible and irresponsible things are going on, but I think we need to stop complaining about these people who are not being responsible and start doing something about it. As for these people who are driving down the road and throwing trash out their vehicles as they go along, this could be limited. The way that I propose we limit the trash thrown from vehicles is to put garbage cans every few miles along the side of the highways. If this does not stop the careless littering we could form volunteer groups to pick the trash up. when these people that throw trash out their windows see this they might think twice before they do it again."
Tommy Norman, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Mrs. Alfred is the very best English teacher. She helps you and is there for you whenever you need it. She puts you in your place when you need it."
Raymond Bailey, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"People need to wake up and take a long look at what has been going on around them. The world has become a scary place to live the past 4 decades. It's really scary when realizing AIDS became the leading cause of death in the year 1995 …343 thousand people have died of AIDS since 1980. If that's not an eye opener, I don't know what is."
Amy Southerland, Paoli High School, Paoli Oklahoma

"Although sometimes it is mandatory to tell others of their irresponsibilities, most of the time, given time, people will see what they have done, and will understand not to do something, or dto do something about it."
Garrett Benson, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma

"Acknowledging that you are responsible for messing up your own life gives you power to change things. Nobody is acknowledging free will or responsibility anymore. We have a nation of excuses and victims. Victimization is today's promised land from personal responsibility."
Raymond Bailey, Paoli High School, Paoli, Oklahoma                                                         Back