Indiana State Winner

Antigone Fleck
Carmel, IN
Brownstone Academy
Home School
12th Grade

In most countries nationality is derived from being born in the land, enjoying the native food and speaking the language. What it means to be an American goes far beyond these outward signs. Americanism is heeding the admonishments of our founding fathers. Our country is the only nation in the world where the voices of the founders are treasured as significant for the present. Their teachings concerning self government, sacredness of conscience and individuality have to be rooted in the heart, mind and soul. These foundational concepts are the building materials of a true American. Listen to the articulation of these principles through some of the voices that have heeded the founding fathers' doctrines, thus becoming true Americans.

The first voice comes out of deep ruts carved by the wagon wheels of the pioneers into limestone rock on the Oregon trial. It is the voice of self-government. This voice calls man to rule himself internally with his heart in order to have true liberty, and not to be ruled by external forces. These grooves reveal the self discipline and order of the lives of those that created them. The makers of the ruts had to control their time and take care of daily responsibilities by themselves. The voice of self-government is not easy to obey, but cannot be suppressed if true liberty is to reign.

The next voice is heard in the dark, bloody trenches in France during World War I. This voice is the sacredness of conscience. It is the valuing of convictions and ethics above all possessions, including life. At the age of seventeen, my great-grandfather, Adam Pevas, decided to illegally leave his native land. He chose to immigrate to the United States rather than to be forced against his conscience to join the Russians invading his country. Fighting in the ditches on the frontlines with the Americans, he almost lost his life twice: once to a gas attack, and once to the mumps. The trenches unrestrainedly state that a free conscience is never priced too high. It is always bought with sacrifice and it is sacred.

The third voice, the voice of individuality, is able to be expressed in my life. This voice begs mankind to see that each person is a unique individual designed to have a special spot and task in life among society. This principle speaks with great authority to me because I am only 4'7" and feel insignificant, as well as overlooked at times. I have come to realize that no one in the world is useless. Through my small statue, this voice proclaims the worth and dignity of every individual.

Americanism is not citizenship, taking pleasure in the country's cookery, such as apple pie or knowing the tongue, as important as each of those might be. It is a much deeper issue of the heart. Being an American requires first of all being able to govern self internally, hold one's conscience inviolate, and live in the truth of individuality. As these characteristics grow in a heart, the voice of one's life becomes louder and clearer. What it means to be an American is to have a voice. To have a voice, one must first hear a voice.