Here are the First Place and the two Second Place winners of  essay contest, “What Democracy Means to Me,”  sponsored jointly by the Boys and Girls Club and the Democratic Party of Otero County.  This very special laptop was the generous donation of Leslie Singh, former DPOC Chair.

 

First Place winner Hailey Vega, with Leslie Singh. 

Boys and Girls Club Director Tammie Reynolds

is holding the laptop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Place
What Democracy Means to Me

By Hailey Vega

5th Grade

 

The dictionary has a definition of democracy as a government by the people, especially rule of the majority.  Aberham Lincoln said democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

 

When I think of democracy, I think of how a family works.  Like in my house, my Mom is the government.  She makes decisions and law for the citizens (kids) that protect us and gives us rights.

 

Being a citizen means having rights, but you have responsibilities too.  A responsibility is something a person is expected to do, like chores.  If you keep up with your responsibilities, you will be given rights, lik playing outside with friends at night.

 

People have the right to be treated equally and fairly.  They can be heard, and tell their opinions, and to protest.  The people have the right to know what the governmet is doing.

 

And the government always knows what the people are doing.  The government gets to punish the people if they do something wrong.

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Second Place Tie Winner Destiny Delgado with Leslie Singh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Place Tie
Destiny Delgado

2nd Grade

 

Democracy pays for books because if people didn’t have books then they wouldn’t be able to learn how to read at school. 

Democracy pays for buses because if they didn’t pay for it the moms and dads who had to be at work early they wouldn’t be able to take there child to school so that’s why we need buses. 

Democracy pays for the roads because if they didn’t people wouldn’t be able to drive.

Democracy pays for parks because if they didn’t then people wouldn’t be able to go to the parks if thay didn’t have toys.

Democracy makes laws because if thay didn’t people wouldn’t do the write thing also wouldn’t be safe.

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2nd Place Tie (no photo available)

Dominic Stokes II

3rd Grade

 

I love the government because they pay for my school.  If we did not have such s good government we would not get to got to school.  We are lucky we have a good government.  Part of the government is the boys and Girls club, Rec Center, and Tiny tots.  If the government was not good we wood not have electricity, water, or food.  If we did not have a good government we would be tired, weak, and hungry.  We would probally get seprated from are mom’s and dad’s.  I know that the government would never let that happen.  I love the government becaswe they let us make are own choises.  They give us freedom.  I love are government.