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What Makes the U.S. Unique as a Nation? What makes the USA unique By Gerry Olsen Red Bluff Years ago, I was stunned when I picked up the Daily News and turned to Sydney Lindauer’s column, The Farmer’s Wife. The column was about volunteerism. Sydney was a noted world traveler. That day’s column stated that volun- teerism did not exist in other countries. I had a hard time taking her comments seri- ously. Since I had not traveled outside the USA I asked other people that traveled extensively their opinion. They all said the same thing, that it was true. Americans’ generosity is like a beacon to the world. We help one another. The citizens of Red Bluff built our magnificent clock tower. Now it stands as our com- munity’s beacon, a symbol of united effort. Look at all the organiza- tions that are made up of volunteers — service clubs, advisory boards, pink ladies, nonprofit second hand stores, PATH, Salva- tion Army, Red Cross, churches, etc. The list is endless. In the USA we care. I have been inspired by the many I have known that have given tirelessly of themselves. We reach out to other countries during times of natural disasters. The Page 2 Peace Corps is one of America’s most successful volunteer foreign aid pro- grams. During this 50th anniversary year they have had 200,000 volunteers serve in 139 foreign coun- tries. Do you ever hear of other countries helping us? The USA is unique because we volunteer will- ingly to help one another whether at home or abroad. Proud To Be An American By Veronica Zavala- Nunez Fifth-grader Rancho Tehama Elemen- tary I'm proud to be an Ameri- can because we all have freedom to choose our gov- ernment ourselves, not kings and queens, freedom to choose our education without slavery. Best of all, we have the freedom to live and worship as we please, such as picking your own religion, not the king's or queen's. We are free here in this country of America, living and choosing our own ways. Why are we free in this country, you ask? We are free because people have given their own lives to fight for this free country. Although many have died, we have a way to honor them, and that is a day of remembering how we are a free country. That day is Memorial Day. Friday, July 1, 2011 USA unique By Carol O’Connell Red Bluff AMERICA: THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH: Where distinctions are destroyed and the world’s most prominent symbol of freedom, LADY LIBERTY, beckons: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free . . ." Down through the corri- dors of time, millions of refugees from around the world have passed under her watchful eyes, through Ellis Island, and into this unique country where they could realize the freedoms not found in their home- lands. AMERICA: Arepublic ‘Of the people, by the peo- ple and for the people’ - so unique its citizens have the freedom, the power and the right to remove any elected representative from any office, including the presi- dency, if they perceive that s/he is arrogantly, blatantly, or incompetently (mis)rep- resenting the will of the con- stituents. We, therefore, will always have hope for a bet- ter tomorrow. AMERICA: (Where) We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, estab- lish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of lib- erty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. AMERICA THE BEAUTI- FUL: Our beloved song that tells our unique story so well! Oh beau- tiful for spa- cious skies – A nation graced by God with the innova- tion, fore- sight and means to put the first man on the moon; For amber waves of grain – A nation blessed by God with a rich, fertile heartland to produce food so plentiful, there is surplus to share with our neighbors; For purple mountains’ majesty – Breathtaking panoramic vistas, from the Appalachians, Catskills and Blue Mountains in the east to the Rockies, Grand Tetons, Sierra Nevadas and Cascades to the west; Above the fruited plains — A plethora of enticement, from apples to oranges to plump, juicy olives. America, America, God shed His grace on Thee— Land of the free; home of the brave; God has and continues to bless us richly; we are able to worship freely and fly our flag proud- ly. Winning essays from the Daily News annual Patriotic Essay Contest What makes the And crown thy good – A land where our citizens can vote and be heard accord- ing to our Constitution and even prisoners have rights; the resilient spirit of a nation that stands together to not only endure tragedies such as 9/11, Katrina, and Joplin, but to reach out from all cor- ners of this great land to extend aid and prayer to help pull our broth- ers and sisters through any catastrophe. With brotherhood – The collective conscience of a nation willing to send its youth to fight so others would be freed from the oppression and despair of tyranny and hopelessness; From sea to shining sea — The East coast replete with history along the Atlantic: Plymouth, Mys- tic, Misquamicut, Lexington, Philadelphia and the liberty bell; rugged coastlines, wonderful neighbors to the north and south; a beautiful mosaic tiled by uniquely varied beliefs, colors, hopes, dreams, and cul- tures, across to the Pacific west coast, settled with blood, sweat and the drive for the American dream; the Donner Pass, Sutter’s Mill, the majestic redwoods, and the best city in the entire country, Red Bluff! Red Bluff Daily News