In Recognition of Richard Hopkins

Floor Speech

SPEECH OF
HON. MIKE ROGERS
OF ALABAMA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2004

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, on Sept. 11, 2004, teens from around the Third District gathered on the campus of Jacksonville State University to remember the events of 9/11, and to reflect on the impact of those events on their life today.

One of the speakers that day was Richard Hopkins, an eleventh grade student at the Donoho School in Anniston. In honor of his words and in recognition of his gift for writing, I am placing his entire speech in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD so that others may have the opportunity to hear his thoughts about that fateful day.
The text of his speech is as follows. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's attention to this important matter.

"BEYOND THE SHEER LOSS OF LIFE, WHY WAS THIS SO IMPORTANT?"
(By Richard Hopkins)

"This portion of our program will focus on the importance, beyond the sheer loss of life, of the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath. There were a number of significant shifts in policy and attitude in several major areas of American life in response to the September 11th attacks. One of those areas concerns the American populace as a whole, and I will briefly talk about the changes and reactions amongst American citizens. I will begin by focusing first on the general population of Americans, and then moving on specifically to teenagers.

"In the wake of the September 11th attacks, America's emotional spectrum was a kaleidoscope of mixed and contrasting feelings. People were confused, angry, hurt, sad, lonely, shocked, and grim. At the same time, feelings like hope, brotherhood, community unity, and national pride began to come to the fore. Since the closing of the Cold War, a sort of Pax Americana had come into existence. Americans more or less felt safe and secure within their own borders, and unaware of any problems around the world. This is not saying that Americans were indifferent to what was happening abroad, merely that these events did not fully emerge into the everyday public consciousness. Instead, Americans began to focus inward in facing their own dilemmas and social issues. Foreign policy and the issues that stem from it became abstract considerations to the average American citizen. They would occasionally read something in the newspaper, watch something in the news, or hear something on the radio that briefly aroused their interest, but only in a displaced and quickly passing manner. Even when events directly involved the United States, Americans could not bring themselves to become too concerned, because they couldn't quite grasp how these happenings directly linked to themselves, their livelihoods, and impacted upon their everyday lives. They had no conscious awareness of why it should matter to them. This is not intended as an attack upon the American people, merely, it is an observation of how to them, everything might as well have been placed in a white and murky fog, because they had nothing tangible with which they could relate their lives to.

"What happened on September 11th changed all of that. No longer were Americans dealing with distant facts, of attacks and kidnappings happening elsewhere, far away. No longer did they have to consider something that they couldn't relate to their lives. No longer were the problems to be faced abroad, but instead, they were to be faced within our very own national borders. Instead, they were forced to confront ugly facts that affected their lives in every way. Not since the attack on Peal Harbor during World War II, or more recently, the Cuban Missile Crisis, has there been such a clear cut and direct threat to American lives and properties at home. Air travel has become increasingly restricted. Security at public and federal locations has been stepped up. New laws and regulations have been passed, while new organizations with new responsibilities have been created. The economy has fluctuated, and the prices of everyday goods and services have gone with it. Wherever one looks, one can see the direct impacts of what happened on September 11th. This is what caused the incredible turmoil in the post 9/11 environment. Individuals could clearly see the consequences of an action, and realize how it affected them, and therefore they were able to become passionate and care about it. It has given the average citizen a reason to become concerned and active in today's political environment.

"Now, let us consider teenagers specifically within this post 9/11 America. In many ways, a significant number of teens remain unaffected by what transpired three years ago today. This is because, unlike adults, many have not been greatly inconvenienced or exposed to the results of the attacks. Their parents handle travel arrangements, buy groceries, and generally manage all of the details of life that go unnoticed by teenagers, leaving the teens to their own, smaller worlds that still remain detached from the reality that everyone else experiences. However, a great many teenagers have been just as affected, if not more so, as their adult counterparts.

"Immediately after 9/11, news coverage showed grief and fear evidenced across the spectrum of American citizenry, including teenagers. Afterwards, however, once fear and grief were reined in, and determination and strength were in control, focus shifted to older subjects and viewers. This meant that teenagers were left behind, with the final images of their reactions displaying a time of vulnerability, with none of the strength and determination that followed for them. Teens have last been portrayed as afraid, or mourning, and have yet been given a chance to truly speak again and show how they have adjusted and thrived like adults have.

"9/11 has stirred passions on both ends of the political scale amongst teenagers. Because of the terrible events of that day, teens have put significant thought into what happened, why, how they feel about it, and what should be done. Teens have powerful feelings on a number of political issues, be it the new measures and laws that have been passed in the interest of Homeland Security, to the war on Iraq, and to the United States' Un-relations. Unfortunately, teens have not been given an opportunity to express these feelings and vent this pressure that builds up inside of them. As a result, it is easy for them to become resentful towards adults, who tell the teenagers how the world is and give little thought to asking them if they disagree, or if they would like to respond.

"As a result of these pent up emotions and the uncertain environment that was created, many teenagers, especially those that are already troubled, have had increasing emotional problems. Heightened aggression, changing lifestyle and habits, depression, paranoia, increasing isolation, anxiety, and more are symptoms of these problems.

"This is why it is so important for Americans to turn to the younger members of our society and ask them "How do you feel about this? What do you suggest? What would you like me to do?" This action will increase trust between teenagers and adults, as well as recognize the validity of teen opinions, and help them to express their inner feelings and feel like they are valued members of society. This is crucial, because many of those teenagers who witnessed the events of September 11th are now able to vote, and many more will soon be able to. It is important that they become recognized members of the political population, and not be devalued because they were never given a chance to express themselves or give voice to their beliefs. This attitude cannot be allowed to stand, because it would hamper the ability of future voters from fully forming their political identity, and fulfilling America's dream of a democratic government."

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