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[Congressional Record: June 18, 2003 (Senate)] [Page S8118-S8119] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:cr18jn03-146] WRITING CONTEST ON IMMIGRATION Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, each year fifth graders across the United States compete in a writing contest on immigration sponsored by the American Immigrant Law Foundation and the American Immigration Layers Association. Thousands of students participated in this year's competition, responding to the question, ``Why I'm Glad America is a Nation of Immigrants.'' In 1958, President Kennedy, who was then completing his first term as a Senator, published a book with the title, ``A Nation of Immigrants,'' and I had the privilege of serving as one of the judges for this year's contest. It was impressive to see how the students responded. Their essays illustrate the wealth of diverse cultures that immigrants share with our Nation. The students' writings radiate with pride for our diversity and our immigrant heritage. Many students told personal stories of their families and friends and their immigration to the United States. The winner of this year's contest is Miranda Santucci of Pittsburgh. In her essay, ``An American Patchwork Quilt,'' Miranda explores the value of her friends' cultures and how their diversity has enhanced her life. She compares the United States to a colorful patchwork quilt where ``every fabric piece tells an immigrant's story about overcoming hardship, seeking opportunities, and reaching for dreams,'' and where ``threads of different languages, customs, foods, cultures, religions and skills hold these pieces together.'' Miranda's eloquent essay reaches to the heart of what makes us all uniquely American. Other students honored for their exceptional writing were Rachel Adams of Houston, Melissa Cheng of Atlanta, Jessica Du of Alameda, and Elias Reisman of Indianapolis. I congratulate these students on their outstanding achievement, and I know my brother would be proud of them too. These award-winning essays will be of interest to all of us in the Senate, and I ask unanimous consent that they be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, so ordered. There being no objection, the essays were printed in the Record, as follows: [From the Winchester Thurston School, Pittsburgh, PA] An American Patchwork Quilt (By Miranda Santucci) America reminds me of a beautiful patchwork quilt that covers our nation with a diversity of immigrants. Each quilt square is made up of different colors and textures with a unique design and pattern. Every fabric piece tells an immigrant's story about overcoming hardships, seeking opportunities, and reaching for dreams. Threads of different languages, customs, foods, cultures, religions, and skills hold all these pieces together. I'm glad America is a nation of immigrants because these individual patchwork pieces make the whole American quilt more beautiful. The quilt covers my home, school, neighborhood, and city. It warms me when I celebrate the feast of fishes on Christmas Eve like my father's Italian ancestors did, when I play with my Greek friend Katarina Konstantinos after school, or when I share the basket blessing tradition at Easter with my neighbor, Peter Muszalski, in his church on Polish Hill. I see many colors in the fabric at my school when I look around at all the different skin tones. I feel how enormous the quilt is when I go through the Strip District and read the storefront signs like Sam-Bok, Stamboolis, Benkovitz, and Sunseri. I cherish each piece of our country's quilt. All the immigrant patches are still unique, even though they are sewn together as one. They make our country rich, full and strong. America's patchwork quilt is a precious heirloom that should be handled with pride, and handed down through the generations of American history. ____ [From the Mayde Creek Elementary, Houston, TX] America--My New Home (By Rachel Adams) America, America [[Page S8119]] lovely and bright, so full of bluebonnets and coyotes at night. Free as a bird, that soars in the sky, oh, how I love the way your flag waves far and wide. Immigrant, immigrant, traveling from afar, warmly welcomed in America, are those who are scarred. That's what I am, and I want to be free, I want to have value, and I want to be me. I set out on a journey and far will I roam until I reach my new country, a place I'll call home. In this country of immigrants, I want to have meaning to have a life of peace and freedom of being. I travel to America where opportunity awaits, the land of the free and the home of the brave. ____ [From the Montgomery Elementary School, Atlanta, GA] Why I am Glad America is a Nation of Immigrants (By Melissa Cheng) The Dutch Butcher, the German Baker, The Chinese who created paper, to this great land gathers great skill, and we all contribute, so do I, and make America greater still. From some lands people flee, To America the place of democracy, For where they originated they had no freedom or rights for they had a dictator who didn't treat them right. I am glad I have hearts of hope, dreams of freedom to be and practice who and what I want to be. For freedom there is a price. We all must stand together willing to fight. We all must stand together and earn this right. Without these cultures from near and far, today we wouldn't be who we are. Pasta from Italy, bread from Germany, and piniatas that come from Mexico, are what makes America unique. All these things put together strengthen our unity and create one big community. America the land of opportunity is a place where everybody has an equal chance including me!!! That is why I am glad America is a nation of immigrants. ____ [From the Amelia Earhart School, Alameda, CA] I am Glad America is a Nation of Immigrants (By Jessica Du) America is a nation of immigrants As you can plainly see Someone in your history Made a change in your family tree. Everyone must have a time When they moved from place to place To live a better life And challenge it face to face People come to America For freedom and for rights To speak freely and be educated And explore new heights My parents are from Vietnam Dad escaped by boat If someone was lucky, they'd make it to shore If not, in the ocean they'd have to float My parents changed my whole life If they hadn't moved here I would be in a different country Living in a land of fear My classmates are from here and there We are all different races We speak many languages And smile with different faces America is a nation of immigrants We don't care what race you are The poor and rich should know You're welcome from near or far. ____ [From the International School of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN] Open to Differences (By Elias Reisman) My grandma was from Russia Her dad had a different belief. The army came and seized him Which caused her family grief. She made it to the United States, Fell in love with a Russian man, War was looming, he signed up. ``Let's marry while we can.'' They had three kids All three were raised as Jews. My dad met mom, a Christian girl And they had two little new. Our self portrait is not crystal clear. When asked, what do we tell? There is no single label That tells our story well. We go to an international school There are kids of every kind. Every race and faith and country Makes it even a better time. When we seek out those who differ, Respect all points of view, We are happier, wiser, stronger, And our country's safer too. We do not care Whether yellow, black, or white, Immigrant or native-- IT IS ALL RIGHT! ____________________ Share this page | Bookmark this page The leading immigration law publisher - over 50000 pages of free information!
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