| The price for gasoline this Summer will likely continue to hover at $2/gallon but, being fourteen years old, my main concern about gas is usually the morning after we have chili for dinner. I sympathize with adult drivers performing important duties but, let's face it, America's obesity epidemic is in the News almost everyday. In the middle of these high gas prices adults should remember some of the joys of being a teenanger. Remember what it was like to be part of the general public? When we walk to school everyday we have time to see important things, like the birth of Spring and the colors of Autumn. When we take public transportation (I even took the subway for two years) my brother, my friends and I all talk about important things, like popular music and sports. Did you even hear of the group OutKast? Do you know how many games out of first place your city's teams are? To relax sometimes I walk to the Mall, or sometimes I ride my bike to the playground. When was the last time you threw a snowball, or got caught in a Summer rain? With gas prices so high maybe adults should return to that simpler time and become more physically fit in the process. Exercise would be a lot better than driving away from the pump without paying for your gas. Exercise is even better than hybrid cars for the environment, and there's no waiting list! ~ Jude Keenan |
| As the summer of 2003 came to a close I had to write a one page hand-written essay as part of my applications to High School. The essay is below on the left (in the red box), but there was so much more that I wanted to include. I wanted to write more about September 11th, and more about the places my family visits, especially Valley Forge. I wanted to quote what Judge Young said during his sentencing of the shoe bomber: "You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist.... And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice." But, even though I wrote small, there just wasn't enough room on one page. During the summer of 2004 I wrote a handful of short essays on current events. The most recent is on the right (in the white box), and earlier essays from the summer are below in the blue boxes. |
| Do You Have Gas? Friday, June 18, 2004 ~ an essay on rising gasoline prices ~ |
On September 11, 2001 I was sitting at my desk in my 5th grade class in Middle School. We watched the devastation on our class television, and soon we were all sent home. My younger brothers and sister were already home, and even my Mom was sent home from her office. My family often visits historical places in and around Philadelphia, such as Independence Hall, Betsy Ross' House, and Fort Washington State Park. This Summer we visited Valley Forge National Historic Park and experienced some of the hardships of the Continental Army. I felt the soldiers were preparing to sacrifice their lives to uphold Liberty and Freedom for all. Sometimes the terrorists call themselves soldiers. They are not like the brave soldiers I know. They are sneaky cowards who target the innocent. I can only call them terrorists, and hope they are caught and brought to Justice. The World Trade Center is being rebuilt to a design by architect Daniel Liebskind. When it is finished in about five years I would like to visit. Perhaps, if I study hard, I may even work there and watch a "Wedge of Light" fall unblocked every September 11th. I want to stand on the top floor and gaze defiantly into the blue sky, that once held death and fear for America and the civilized world, and say, "Long live Liberty and Freedom! God Bless the United States of America!" ~ Jude Keenan |
| Jude's Essays |
| Where I Will Stand Summer, 2003 |
| You may responsibly review, agree or disagree through |
In November, due to the Technical Revolution, Americans will most likely know the results of our presidential election before starting their jobs the following morning. This is probably a good thing, but Abraham Lincoln gave most of his campaign speeches from the back of a train car and it recently took well over three weeks to count the ballots to re-elect President Gloria Arroyo in the Philippines. Integrity does not seem to be ruled by time, and it scares me when someone feels that a vote against President Bush is a vote for peace - neither candidate is clearly against our military presence in the Middle East. The United States' presidential election is still four months away but in all the campaign commercials I've seen none warn of a predetermined price tag for democracy in Iraq. I hope and pray that June 28th's turnover of power to the Iraqi people will help bring peace and stabilty. So many Americans have sacrificed their lives already that world leaders must feel like the Kings who led the crusades centuries ago. In the next presidential election of 2008 I will be able to use the most powerful tool to change politics - I will be able to vote! In this year's election I can only be an observer, but have a question for Americans who already hold the precious right to vote: How can a presidential candidate be truly concerned about the victims of September 11th and our casualties in Iraq while feeling that unborn Americans have no rights at all, and supports their daily slaughter? If I could vote in this election I would tend to believe the sincerity of the candidate who defends every American's right to life! ~ Jude Keenan |
| Changing Politics Friday, July 9, 2004 |
During this summer I watched the News more often to be able to write these essays, and I really just have one question: Where is all the good news? I was told how many soldiers died in Iraq each day, about shootings and fires, and how big accidents stranded hundreds, but very little about awards, promotions, or achievements. It must be a case of "no news is good news", but if we are expected to assume that our world is functioning normally, why can't we also assume that all the criminals are being caught, all the fires were extinguished, and all car accidents were cleared from the roads? Why can't we see more good news? Every year many people recieve a Nobel Prize for their outstanding work, but they're lucky to even be mentioned on the evening News! I was told more about a wealthy home crafts woman going to jail than about man's conquest of space! Our country has two rovers on Mars, a spacecraft orbiting the rings of Saturn, a probe on its' way to Mercury, and a manned space station orbiting our own planet Earth, but the News gave much more time to mud-slinging politicians, corrupt business executives, and warped pop singers and priests. I've even heard people remark that the News is too depressing for them to watch. My Summer Essays are finished, and I thank my readers for their support. I will continue to pay attention to current events, and maybe write an occasional, additional essay. More importantly, I will always look for the elusive good news, and hope that maybe today it is in the headlines. ~Jude Keenan |
| Where's the Good News? Tuesday, August 24, 2004 |