In place of our usual speaker, Ashton Fairchild, our 2021-22 Patriot’s Pen award winner presented his essay:
“How Can I Be A Good American?”
How can you be a good American, you may ask? Well, there are several ways you can, ranging from simple tasks to complex events. For starters, you can comply with basic laws, regardless of if they are enforced commonly or not. Simple things you can do to be a good American include staying to the speed limit to keep others safe and complying with COPPA and other data laws to keep our children safe. Though it may be hard to follow certain laws sometimes, especially at a young age where many data laws apply, it is wise to comply with as many of those as possible. As well as that, you can comply with more complex laws.
You can also be a good American by respecting our veterans and those who fought for our country in long, tiring wars. They should be remembered for everything they have done to keep America free, for all. Even though we already have days like Veterans Day to honor those who fought, that does not mean we should not respect them on days other than those. They deserve attention for their efforts in battle to keep other countries from colonizing our land.
Yet another way to be a good American is to respect others for who they are. One unique thing about the U.S.A. is the fact that you can be whatever you would like to be in terms of religion, interests, attraction, and hobbies, and nobody is there to prevent you, unless, of course, there are legal concerns involved. Especially since it is perfectly fine for people to be who they want to be, and even though the United States has freedom of speech, you should not abuse them for it. Respect others for who they are, not for who you want them to be. (Ashton, a 7th grade student at Harbor Point Middle School in Mukilteo, is the grandson of our own Jim Traner)
Ashton Fairchild