The Sidney herald., 1957-04-04
Prize Winners
OF WV ESSAY
Contest Named
FIRST
AMERICAS CRUSADE FOR
FREE MEMS RIGHTS
BY Jane Petersen


Tic ana the edTth and ]
was perfect. He created all tn
creatures of the earth and of tn
heavens and they, too, were per
feet. At last, God created man t
live on this perfect earth of His
He nodded man from the dus
Of the earth and in His own i'm
age. From man was created man
companion, woman. Through thi
man and woman began the man,
generations that followed; tn,
good generations and the bad
the progressive generations ane
the backward. All of these gen.
erations have had a part in the
changing world.
An outstanding characteristic
of these former generations ha:
been the desire for independence
AS time passed and man became
more learned, this desire increas-
ed. AS a result, man ventured
forth into Gods perfect world
Each time he gained a new in
dependence for a length of time,
free from the tyrannical ruler
ships of the "old country" Thus,
secondly, because man craved ad-
venture; the world slowly grew
smaller. New and distant lands
were found and people were sat-
isfied again, until once more they
could not have their freedom or
because they yielded to that
yearning for adventure. On thru
the years this was repeated over
and over until at long last an
ideal land was founded. AS be-
fore, those seeking independence
and adventure raced to its shores.
1t was found to be like all others
in many ways, but after some
time had passed, more and more
people sought this land of liberty,
which proved to be different. II
vas long before a permanent
settlement could be made, but
eventually the dream of these
people came true. After it was
proven that a colony could sur
vive, a steady stream of immi-
grants flocked to the shores of
the new land. Time passed and
it became evident that these
people would have to choose eth
er to be loyal to their mother
country or to form an entirely
new and experimental type of
government which would offer
the freedoms that so many desir-
ed. Many trying years passed be-
fore this question was answered.
Many battles were fought and
many meetings and conferences
were held. Finally it was agreed
to break away from the mother
country. Still, many were against
this act but the step was taken
and the revolution was on. Dur
ing the years of the revolution,
declaration was made. Within
its doctrines these words were
stated: I'VE hold these truths to
be self evident: That all men are
created equal; that they r en-
dowed by their Creator with GER
tan unalienable rights; that
among these are life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness" Thru
this and other documents, men of
the new land, America, acquired
a knowledge of their new rights
and freedoms. Few ever before
had such liberty, and they were
grateful for having been given
this opportunity.
Down through the years history
has repeated itself many times.
A number of civil, international,
and world wars have taken place
and America has taken part in
these wars for the preservation
If the rights of man and for
world peace. The wars have not
been those of guns and
oloodshed. Many times they have
been wars Of words or
thoughts.
Today we are fighting for the
lights of the colored person. We
know God created us as equals
md all should be treated as such,
)ut some insist the colored per-
ION is slave to the white. AS
Abraham Lincoln stated, "We
,annot stand half slave and half
rec" and so cannot a world
.tand in this way half slave and
lalf free.
In America, the rights of man
re daily being preserved by
hose fighting in each part of
iur government for the protection
# them. Many Americans have
lad to fight to keep these rights;
ome have lost their lives in
var. Others protect them by
constant reminding us thru
,apers and magazine articles.
till, many of us take our rights
or granted. We feel these free
will always be at our fin
Just for the asking. Perhaps
hey will, but if some day we
ind that they are not, we can I
MY blame ourselves if we have {
lot fought in every way pos l
ible to keep them. {
No one can prohpesy what lies
head, but it is evident that {
new devices will be invent ,
d and that discoveries will be
ust as frequent as in the past.
/ completely new world may be {
ound where it would be neces- |
airy to lead an entirely different |
ype of life than we are now /
wing. Then what would become I
9 uan,c rights? Would they al