Joliet Central High School
Joliet, Illinois
Teacher:Michael Reilly
Get Up and Do Something
by Kellen Bosma
Grade 11
Everyone in this country needs to wake up and see the direction we’re headed and try to change it. Our marriages are in ruins. The kids in this country are often ignored or abandoned by their parents. God has been basically kicked out of our society. And each one of us in this country is personally responsible for what is happening. Therefore, we need to change it ourselves.
First of all, the foundation for improving our communities is to restore to marriage the respect and validity it once had. There are many ways to do this. The first way is to rely on people individually to stay in their marriages and fulfill the vows they spoke.(But this will not likely happen because marriage is not as important these days). Another way to restore marriage is to seek the government for help. If the government is truly concerned they will do something about it. And I propose this, as radical as it may seem: When you get married, it is a permanent commitment that you are bound to keep. The government should back this up by imprisoning those who disobey it, like it is a federal crime. The only way to break the bond of marriage is to show evidence of constant physical or emotional abuse, which will be decided by the courts. This will make people take marriage more seriously. I know imprisonment is harsh, but it would set as a good example for those who would not take marriage for the extremely important thing that it is. It would make people think, why they were getting married, and were they serious about it. It would also force them to decide whether or not they could live with the person they want to marry for the rest of their life. Marriage would no longer be an excuse to have sex and a child. It would be a solid foundation for starting a family. The children would feel reassured that their parents were going to stay together. It is much easier to raise children with two loving parents together than it is to raise children with two parents separated from one another.
Secondly, once a solid marriage is in place, then we can do something about raising our children. The first thing parents need to do is spend more quality time with their kids. Parents are too worried about making enough money. We, as children, do not care if our parents make a large amount of money. We would rather have good relationships with our parents. This in turn will make us better individuals which will contribute to improving the quality of life in our communities. We can also influence the government to help us better raise our children. My mother stayed at home with me and my brother and sister. I think that the government should give families that have a stay at home mom a tax break. This would encourage families to consider mothers staying at home. It would also make it easier financially for moms to stay at home and raise their children. This will give kids more of the attention that they need. I think I turned out better because my mom stayed at home. I am at the top of my class academically, a member of class committee and student council, and I play varsity basketball and volleyball. I give my parents most of the credit for what I have done. They have always encouraged me to do my best in everything and be a responsible person. Our country needs more people like my parents. The responsibility of raising children is the biggest and most important task a person has in his or her life. We need to treat it like it is.
Finally, our country needs God. Yes, I said it. We think we do not need anyone but ourselves or each other, but where has that gotten us? It has gotten us in a big mess. The reason people do not want God in their lives is because they do not want to be responsible for what they have done wrong. And we have all done wrong. The reason we should be responsible to God is because he knows and wants what is best for us. He created us, so who else knows us better? I know someone could argue, “Well, I don’t believe in God, so I don’t have to be responsible to Him.” But how did you get here? Did you form out of thin air or a small particle that evolved over billions of years? If so, then where did that thin air or small particle come from? Someone had to create something and I believe God is that Someone. What is there to lose if I am wrong? Why not believe in God and that He loves you? He could make each of our lives so much better if we just let Him. So many positive things would result if we just put our lives in God’s hands.
In conclusion, there are three steps to improving the quality of life in our communities. Restoring our families is the first priority. Once that foundation is laid, then we can worry about raising our children. The main ingredient that ties these things all together is God. In order for our country to pull itself out of the pit we have fallen into, we need an equal balance of each one of these three things. Doing this may seem like an impossible task, but all it takes is one person to get up and do something and start being responsible for each one of these steps. If everyone in this country at least tries to do this, then we as a country will be on the road to recovery.
ANSWERS TO REQUIRED READING
1.
We don’t invest in marriage in the U.S. Marriage isn’t viewed as an agreement that both people are bounded to for the rest of their lives. In Manus, society respects marriage, and the people invest in marriage.
2.
One marriage- 56 years-”Learn what kind of space is important to the other, and if reasonable, give it. Do not pounce immediately on husband the minute he comes home from work. Don’t argue about small items. Learn what’s important to spouse and try to meet that requirement; we are all unique. We belong to Christ as unique personalities; as we honor our commitments to each other, may we recognize the other as not strictly ours.”
One marriage-13and 1/2 years- “Primarily, we maintain our relationship by making time to spend together. Regular, deep conversation and alone help us keep our relationship strong.”
One marriage-6 and 1/2 years- “Always look first at what you can and need to do to improve your relationship, rather than always trying to change your mate. Be gracious and forgiving toward your mate. Don’t use sarcasm.”
One marriage- 6 and 1/2 years- “Try to rediscover your mate and appreciate why you chose to marry them. By having as many deep conversations about your shared values, beliefs, dreams, hopes, and desires. Realize that your mate is a gift from God and treat them accordingly by loving, nurturing and protecting them so they can fulfill their potential and purpose in life.”
One marriage- 9 years- “Remember that your spouse is not your enemy.”
One marriage- 44 years- “Perseverance and tolerance of each others differences.”
One marriage- 10 years- “Our one and only marriage advice is to pray to God together every single day!”
One marriage- 10 years- “Recognize that the relationship that draws us to the Lord will also draw us to each other. Maintain a soft heart and spend time away from distractions that separate us (like TV). Most important, pray together daily.”
One marriage- 18 years- “ I would not be able to have a successful marriage without God. He is the One who has taught me about everlasting love and unconditional love. My best practical advice would be to focus on your mates strengths and enjoy being committed to one person.”
One marriage- 18 years- “Put Jesus Christ at the center of your marriage. Follow His example of sacrificial love in relation to the way I treat my wife and family.”
3.
To change the world for future generations for the better and to become with ourselves.
4.
Our community needs many goals. One is to clean up our town. Our city would look much more beautiful if people would just stop littering and make an effort to keep it clean. Another goal I foresee for our community would be to work harder at getting drugs off the streets. This would lead to less crime and gang activity.
5.
Toys can never replace real mothers. And why is it so important for the socioeconomic gap to get smaller. Does he (Eckersly) think that more money will improve the condition of life? I don’t think so. Money doesn’t make people happy and behave better.
6.
The lawyers help keep our country a democracy because they protect everyone from being put into a specific social class. Lawyers help bring order to such a diverse world by making compromises. Lawyers also help us with problems that wealth brings, such as worrying about the environment. Since we are such a large country, with many different business transactions taking place, lawyers help by solving single problems with these transactions instead of making an entire change in a company.
7.
Bad practices should be mended before something bad occurs that brings a lawsuit. It will save money and lives. Regulations can only prevent so much. There are always going to be some kinds of punitive damages awarded, but it’s better to regulate what you can first.
8.
The baby boomers would start up businesses with other retirees that would create good competition. young teens could also become nannies for the older boomers. Companies may also start providing employees with elder care facilities for their aging parents.
9.
I don’t think President Clinton’s anti-poverty program will work. First, it has been tried many times before, and it has failed each time. Second, the poor are just too uneducated and unskilled to be valuable workers that companies will want to invest in. Thirdly, it is not a lucrative enough of an offer to make corporations want to invest in these poor areas.
10.
Both have started programs that have make an impact in the community. Both programs target kids. Both care deeply about the children in their community and try to give them a better life.