Responsibility is what makes our nation great
Editor’s Note: Bill Lewis, who went on to become an attorney and judge, won the local Voice of Democracy oratory contest in December 1954 with the following commentary. He was selected from a field of seven finalists by the high school staff. Lewis was a senior. We believe his words ring as true today as they did a half century ago.
As citizens in a democratic nation we, as Americans, have uncountable rights and responsibility. We can worship a God our choice as we wish, we can speak of our true thoughts and can actually mold our own individual way of life and influence the patter of living for a nation. To me, more than the many rights we enjoy, it is responsibility which is our greatest blessing in a democracy.
I read once about a wise king who lived in a huge castle. upon this castle the king had built chimes controlled by wires which would create beautiful clear sound equal perhaps to the singing of angels. His court could not understand this wise king for his fine chimes only played when it stormed. After a time, the king decided to explain the reason for his castle being as it was. He said, “My castle, like my people, show their true value and greatest worth when under storm.” I think that, like the king’s castle, we as Americans show our and our democracy’s greatest worth when under storm.
In recent years we know of the great storms through which our nation has passed. Men who hated democracy started World War II and gave the men and women of our land the responsibility of defending America. These people, like the king’s castle when under storm, gave their best. It was these people who fought and died for America who helped keep our beloved America a democracy.
Living provides tests for men.
War is not the only time we face responsibility, every day of life gives us new responsibility. It is the men and women who accept and enjoy their blessing of responsibility who keep America a strong nation. The man who studies hard and objectively and casts a ballot with the ideal of improving America, the man who defends another’s religious rights, even though they differ, the person who defends another’s right to speak even when they oppose each other, and the woman who protects a Negro from racial persecution even when she is white. These are the people who make beautiful results from storms.
I feel that as we accept responsibility more and more, the results no matter what the crisis, will be good and true. It is also my belief that the United States of America in accepting her responsibility in the family of nations can help create a better and free world. For, to me, it is responsibility which makes great men and great nations.
Let us now all use our blessing of responsibility to its greatest purpose for you see it’s not I alone who speak for democracy but it is we who speak in each word and deed.