The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-06-11
Prize Winners
Americanism ESSAYS

The prize winning essays which
with high rating in scholarship, ex-
cellence in Americanism active
participation in school organizations
and general good character, were
awarded first prizes follow:
AMERICANISM
(By Arlene Sampson)
They come from France. They
come from England. They come from
Sweden. They come from Norway.
They come from Germany-this hu-
man horde that cuddles into the pro-
tective arms of America, the Land of
Promise.
Through the clouds of fog the
aliens view for the first time the tall
buildings of lower Manhattan-the
Empire State, the Chrysler, the Wool
worth. In awe and wonder they
look, and then, as they wander west
ward, leaving this great city with its
lights and noises, their awe does not
lessen. Beyond the regal majesty of
the skyscrapers they watch the hustle
and hustle of the smaller towns and
villages. They are like the big cities,
but only as the ticking of a tiny
watch is to the ticking of large
clock.
"Mondieu" or probably save Mar
la" how different from the father
land! This is America, that great
land-the land of promise and Of
freedom. Was it not Patrick Henry
who declared "Give me liberty or
give me DEATH" the sentence that
stirred those few colonies to fight and
caused a nation of no mean strength
to grow up? And was it not this
same nation that built it's own Con-
stitution and laws, forming the first
democracy ever to be made?
1t was the love of freedom that
started America on it's flight to hap
piness. AS a proof of Americas
freedom we have at least five kinds
of liberty: first, personal freedom,
that is freedom of word, action and
thought; second, national freedom, Or
freedom from typrannical control;
third, civil freedom, as freedom from
interference by Government with ones
private conduct as long as that con-
duct does not menace the freedom
of other people; fourth, political free
dom or having a share and interest
in ones Government; fifth, but surely
not the least, religious freedom to
worship as one pleases. Liberty is
typical of Americanism.
g 20 nh
or in Americanism today. Not in
abilities nor personal characteristics
are we people of the United States
equal, but in the face of our God and
of the law we are. All races and
types of people in the United States
are regarded as equals in the eyes of
the law as well as in the eyes Of God.
America gives every one a free
chance-a chance to live and be hap
py. But it is necessary that one does
not let that chance slip by into obliv-
ion, but that he takes firm grip of
that opportunity and then strives for
his goal.
America help you and that is: How
can you help America? The best way
is to be a true American citizen.
Learn to love and respect your Flag
of the United States of America. Find
out what the Red, White and Blue
symbolic and you shall never have
cause to be ashamed of your Flag nor
of your country.
1t is easy enough to say that you
are proud of your Country and your
Flag, but have you ever considered
that your Country may have no cause
to be proud of you?
Consider all the richness that has
been entrusted into our hands-the
grandeur of her mountains peace
of her great open plains-the ma
jesty of her rivers-great, beautiful,
rich-Our America. We have inherit
ed great riches from such people as:
the upright American Indian, Column
bus, the Colonists, the men who gave
their lives that this nation might
live" Gettysburg Address). Our
protection, our participation in our
Government, our freedom have all
been bought and paid for in human
blood. That is what makes good
citizenship seem so ideal and neces-
sary to human happiness.
With this in mind let us do our best
to help America so America may
help us. Remember america is an
other name for opportunity" EN-
erson)