Student Essay First Prize, Grades 5 - 6

Diversity in Cultures and Unity in Actions

By Sara Ringling, Claymont School

Teacher: Mrs. Jill Walter

	America is a country made up of all different cultures. Take me for instance. I am American and Egyptian. I am Muslim, and one of my friends, she is part Korean. I also have friends that are Jewish, Presbyterian, Christian, Catholic, Lutheran, and Baptist. We don't care what religion our friends are. We respect them for who they are. 

	After September 11th everyone in our country came together, no matter what their origins, beliefs or races were. The terrorists thought they could bring America down, rip it apart--they didn't, and couldn't ever. We lived up to our name, the United States of America.

	Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr.---all of them were very important to our country's history. Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth both fought to free slaves. Sojourner made very important and meaningful speeches. Harriet Tubman led hundreds of slaves into Canada and the northern states. Abraham Lincoln was president during the Civil War. He fought against slavery and was a very great president. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the rights of all races. He made a very important speech beginning with "I have a dream." Well, he did have a dream. He wanted everyone to be equal. 

	I really don't understand why some people in other countries aren't open to people who have a different origin, belief, race, or religion. It's fun to meet new people who are different. You can learn a lot of new things and get a different view of the world. That is what makes America a great country.