Westborough – Each year, the John Patrick Howard Memorial Scholarship Committee invites Westborough High School seniors to submit an essay describing how the Bill of Rights serves as a motivating force in their lives. ?The committee recently announced that the 2012 winners were Ryan Kinnard and Elizabeth Anderson, who also each received a $1,000 scholarship.
According to the committee, John Patrick Howard was a Westborough resident for more than two decades. ?With an abiding interest in education and American history, the father of three also was a committed public servant. ?He volunteered hundreds of hours on the renovation, expansion and building of the towns” schools. ?The scholarship was created to honor this legacy.
(Photos/submitted)
Here are the two winning essays –
The Beauty of the Bill of Rights
By Elizabeth Anderson
The great beauty of the Bill of Rights is that it is just as pertinent in the lives of United States residents now as it was when it was ratified over two hundred years ago.? If anything, it has become more important now than ever.? It has shaped our country into a nation where ideas can be spread and supported freely and used to create change in our government.
Having lived in the United States my whole life, I sometimes forget that what I consider basic rights are almost infallibly upheld in the law.? Every Saturday night, my friends and I gather downtown to play ultimate Frisbee and afterwards we – a group composed of people from many ethnicities and backgrounds – discuss current events and politics.? It is a tribute to the integrity of the Bill of Rights that this assembly can take place.? We'se a group of people who are allowed to be individuals through the freedoms of speech and religion, and free speech allows us to discuss our opinions, however controversial they may be.? We'se even gotten visited by the police in the past, but we'se never gotten so much as a warning because the Constitution protects our right to peaceably gather.
The fact that the police respect the rights granted by the First Amendment speaks to the priorities of the United States government.? The Bill of Rights ensures that the government works for the people instead of the people being at the mercy of the government.? Law-abiding citizens do not need to fear their own government because of the protections that are at the basis of all the laws of the country.? It also speaks to the priorities of the people of the United States, who value their freedoms and do not allow them to be abridged.
As a citizen of the United States, I enjoy the right to ensure that the government of my nation is indeed working in a way that I see as fair to myself and others.? I have signed online petitions supporting my opinions, which allows me to show lawmakers and fellow citizens that I am not alone in my views.? In just a few days I will be eligible to vote and I will use my voice to? select candidates who will support the rights of residents of the United States.? But perhaps most importantly, because I value the Bill of Rights and realize its importance in everyday life, I hold my representatives and myself to its support.?? I will not allow my rights or the rights of anyone else to be infringed upon, and the effectiveness of the Bill of Rights lies in my ability to speak out if I ever feel that these rights are in danger.
The Bill of Rights:? A Unique Document
By Ryan Kinnard
The Bill of Rights is a unique document that grants citizens of the United States freedoms that people in many nations do not have.? Knowing that not every country has the freedoms that we enjoy is a motivating factor in my life.? The Bill of Rights, specifically the first right (speech), allow certain freedoms that greatly improve my quality of life.
The first right allows us to have freedoms that many countries simply do not have.? For example, the first right allows us to do whatever we want, within reason.? This includes not having restrictions on websites.? In China, the government prohibits the use of some websites.? Popular websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are all banned in China.? These websites allow people to express their thoughts and ideas in creative ways.? For instance, the use of social media was key during the uprising in Egypt.? It allowed organization of the movement without government interference.? In China people cannot do that as they do not have access to these websites.? Another country that restricts certain freedoms is North Korea.? In North Korea, the government doesn's allow any freedoms at all.? There is no freedom of speech or freedom of press.? Similar to China, the internet in North Korea is severely limited and only certain websites are available for access.? Another important aspect of the United States is that you are able to petition the government for changes.? In other countries if a citizen questioned the government they may be thrown in jail.? These foreign restrictions are in? stark? contrast to the United States” freedoms set by the Bill of Rights.
In my life I take advantage of the freedoms that I am granted.? For example, I choose what sports I play and what websites I visit.? This makes my quality of life that much better because I choose what I want to do.? The countries mentioned above don's have these freedoms.? I know I must take advantage of all the opportunities I get because citizens of other countries do not have these freedoms or opportunities.? For example, I run high school track and I like fishing and hockey.? When I attend college next year, I will be able to choose courses taught by professors who have freedom to construct the individual course curriculum.? I am able to do these things because of the Bill of Rights.? In other countries I might be forced into something that I don's want to do.? The Bill of Rights allows me to live a life full of freedom.
