North Rose Central High School - Rambler Yearbook (North Rose, NY)

Page 6 text:

In a quiet little village Just below Ontario’s blue. Stands our honored Alma Mater, Steadfast, staunch, and true. Chorus: Let us extol her glorious name, Raise her praises to the sky; Thou, indeed, art well beloved. Dear old North Rose High! We are loyal sons and daughters Seeking wisdom one by one; Learning lessons that shall aid u: In the years to come. When our parting days are over, And we tread life’s rugged way Memories of thee shall linger, In our hearts for aye.

Page 8 text:

WHY DEMOCRACY WORKS A speaker was standing on a street corner, giving his opinion of a candidate running for the presidency. He criticized the candidate severely for the kind of policy in which he believed. He gave the candidate’s good and bud points. The people who were interested in what the speaker was saying listened attentively, but others went by and paid the speaker no attention. Police- men walked by, but said nothing. The speaker was doing nothing to disturb the peace. 1 his speaker was enjoying freedom of speech. Here in America, it is one of the freedoms granted us by the Bill of Mights. I his is one main reason why democracy works. It was a warm sunny Sunday morning. 'I he birds were singing in the trees and everyone in the Johnson family was cheerful. “Hurry up or we’ll be late, ’ said Mr. Johnson to his wife and family. When eveiyone was ready, they were seated in the car and after a ten minute drive, they arrived at their church. 1 his family, and many other families like them, was enjoying the free- dom to assemble together and the freedom to worship as thev pleased. A newsboy stood on a busy corner yelling, “Extra, extra, read all about it.” There was an editorial in the paper which stated the editor’s opinion of another person. In this country, an editor thinks notning of writing an editorial, hreedom of the press is guaranteed us under the Bill of Rights. These four freedoms; speech, assembly, religion, and the press are the foundations of our democracy, and they are the main reasons why democracy works. The Constitution is the su- preme law of the land. The word “constitution” means “framework,” and that is exactly what our constitution is. It is the framework of our democracy. Because the system of government known as a democracy was set up, a pattern of life has developed which has meant for the great majority of the American people greater freedom, more satisfactions and a higher living standard than any other nation in the world has ever enjoyed. I he fundamental idea has given practical form in a free economic system in which a man has a right to decide for himself now he is going to make a living and what he does with the money he makes. In the United States, a person can marry whomever he wishes. “All men are created equal.” A person has the right to vote for whomever he wishes out of a large number of candidates from several political parties. If a person is arrested, he is given a fair trial by a jury, and he has the right to know the charges against him. Re have freedom from fear. Re are independent, that is, we have freedom from interference. The agriculture in the United States is carried on by in- dependent farmers. The government is ruled by the people. It is “of the people, by the people and for the peo- ple.” If a person opposes a political party, it is considered no injustice. The Constitution may be amended whenever it is deemed necessary and proper. There is a cabinet to advise the Pres- ident when he needs advice. Other democratic nations have g ne part of the way, but only Amer- icans are willing to grant to one another not only political, but social, cultural, economic and religious freedom, in the belief that only thus can the capacities of man and soul be released for new achievements. This belief in personality constitutes the foundations upon which the American way of life has been built. If a democracy is to survive, it must be backed up by all the people. Every man, woman and child must accept a share of responsibility for getting the work done. Rhen everyone does his job, to the best of his ability, we have a democracy working at its best. “CONGRATUIATIONS - Everett Briggs, Class of 1950.” (This essay won first prize S50 in the County Contest, sponsored by the Clks Lodge). 4