Xpress, the Coolest Section of the St. Petersburg Times, is the home for features, news and views of interest to young readers. Most of the work in Xpress, which appears on Mondays in Floridian, is produced by the Times' X-Team. The team of journalists ages 9-17 from around the Tampa Bay area is selected every year at the end of the school year to serve during the following school term. The current team of 12 was chosen out of 150 applicants. Watch for X-Team application forms in Xpress during the month of May.
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If bay area students could vote in the election, President Bush and Sen. John Kerry might not be the candidates of choice. The largest number of votes probably would go to historical figures, such as Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. In this month's Xpressions theme, students were asked which politicians they most admire, and they selected some from the present, some from the past and some who ran for office in their own schools. See if your favorite political figure is represented. And if you would like to see your best work published in these pages, check out the rules.
Abraham Lincoln, Anne Shaughnessy, 13, eighth grade, Westlake Christian School, Palm Harbor
George Washington, Olivia Wilkinson, 11, sixth grade, St. Paul Catholic School, St. Petersburg
John Kerry, Maria Nicoletta Lahiff, 13, eighth grade, St. Paul Catholic School, St. Petersburg
John F. Kennedy, Lindsey Humburg, 13, eighth grade, St. Paul Catholic School, St. Petersburg
President George W. Bush, Brad Carver, 13, eighth grade, St. Paul Catholic School, St. Petersburg
Thomas Jefferson, Ellie Unger, 13, eighth grade, St. Paul Catholic School, St. Petersburg
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A politician is someone who is elected to represent an area's opinions on various topics. Normally they seem to be caught up in political issues such as taxes, without actually taking a glimpse of their area to see what truly needs improvement. Lawton Chiles was different. In order to see Florida's real beauty and discover issues that needed attention, Chiles embarked on a 91-day, 1,003-mile walk across the state. He actually took time to see with his own eyes the things that needed improvement.
I admire Colin Powell because he thinks that fighting the war on terrorism is not just a military task but also a diplomatic one. He is devoted to confronting the global and regional security challenges of the 21st century. I also admire that he is helping in the fight against AIDS.
- Tyson Adams, 13, sixth grade, Highland Christian Academy, Clearwater
Eleanor Roosevelt was a wonderful woman. She was the wife of the 32nd U.S. president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She had an active public career, which continued after FDR's death. She had regular news conferences, wrote a daily newspaper column, represented the nation and the president on foreign and domestic trips, and spoke out on a wide range of social issues. She also was the nation's most prominent white opponent of racial discrimination in her time. President Harry S. Truman called her the "First Lady of the World."
- Taylor Jensen, 12, seventh grade, Carwise Middle, Palm Harbor
I idolize (California Gov.) Arnold Schwarzenegger! When he makes a mistake he will always recognize it and deal with it. He has the largest amount of charisma that I have ever seen on Earth.
- Daniel Halverson, 13, eighth grade, Largo Middle School
Jimmy Carter was a peanut farmer in Georgia. As a boy, he was raised with strict ethics and heavy discipline. When he became president, he often stood alone on many issues because of his strong ethics and beliefs. One of Jimmy Carter's greatest achievements was when he received a Nobel Peace Prize for his negotiations in the Middle East. I admire this because 20 years after his term as president he still accomplishes great things for the United States and the world.
I admire President George W. Bush for his leadership of the country after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. He promised us that those responsible for this attack would be punished. His leadership made us feel better - like one people, proud to be Americans.
I admire John Kerry for his loyalty to the people of this nation and his concern for their well-being. He has shown his loyalty by serving in the armed forces and by serving in the U.S. Senate. Because he fought in Vietnam, he knows how our soldiers and their families feel. He speaks of preventing war, but understands that we now have to finish what we started. Kerry wants to make health care available to all Americans by lowering the cost of medications and health care overall. Kerry shows a lot of integrity and a real sense of caring for the common people of America. These are the reasons I really look up to Kerry and hope he becomes president.
- Scott Moran, 13, seventh grade, Carwise Middle, Palm Harbor
I admire our 40th president, Ronald Reagan, for many reasons. At the end of his two terms, he felt that he had fulfilled his campaign pledge from 1980, which was to restore "the great, confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism." In 1981, he nominated Sandra Day O'Connor to be the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. When he was shot on March 20, 1981, and went into the operating room, he said to the surgeons, "Please tell me you're all Republicans."
One president I admire is Bill Clinton. Even though my family supports Republicans, we all thought Clinton was one of the best. The things I admire about this great president are his legislation to upgrade education, protecting the jobs of parents who must care for their sick children, and restricting handgun sales.
Betty Castor is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. She has been a strong female role model since her early days of teaching in East Africa. According to her Web site, she led two dozen young women from three continents to the summit of Kilimanjaro to teach them that life is a journey of challenges and that she knew they could do anything they set out to do. In return, their efforts would someday enable them to help others to achieve their their goals and dreams.
I admire Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin. He boosted the Canadian armed forces, promised a continued commitment to peace efforts in Haiti, and expanded Canada's role in Afghanistan. He also arranged for a $1-billion aid package to help Canada's agriculture sector and those hit hard by mad cow disease. - James Chulla, 11, sixth grade, Highland Christian Academy, Clearwater
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took the chance of changing the whole world and he did. He took the challenge to change conditions in America and to win equal protection under the law for citizens of all races. It is hard to believe that less than 40 years ago the South had separate drinking fountains for whites and blacks. Dr. King's policy of nonviolence was the dominant force in the civil rights movement. He had a short life, but he did so much in it.
I admire President Theodore Roosevelt. His work for conservation during his presidency was a great contribution. According to his biography, from 1901 to 1909 he designated 150 national forests, the first 51 wildlife refuges, five national parks, 18 national monuments, the first four national game preserves, and the first 21 reclamation projects. He also provided federal protection for almost 230-million acres of land.
I admire George Washington because he was a skilled military officer, chairman of the convention that wrote the Constitution, and the first president of the United States. He was so popular that he went on to serve a second term. He firmly guided our nation and established a solid foundation for the new republic at the beginning of its life.
- Cameron Graves, 10, fifth grade, Perkins Elementary, St. Petersburg
I admire Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., because he says he wants us to think of ourselves not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans. He has a long career of public service and is an important man to our country.
As the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was very good at using persuasion and humor to solve problems. He is famous for his work to end slavery in America. I respect Abraham Lincoln and anyone who has the courage to stand up for what they think is right, even when it's not a popular decision.
- Elizabeth Palozzi, 11, fifth grade, Perkins Elementary, St. Petersburg
Rudolph Giuliani was the mayor of New York City when the planes hit the World Trade Center twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001. He spent hours upon hours keeping his city together. He made many quick decisions about security and rescue operations. He even visited hospitals and families of the missing. His comforting words gave hope to people.
I think Benjamin Franklin was an outstanding leader and role model for all ages. Most of his inventions (bifocals, lighting rods, odometers, the heating stove, etc.) are now used in our everyday lives. Together with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other famous leaders, Franklin helped create many of the laws for our country and some are still used today.
Thomas Jefferson once said, "I am a firm believer in luck; the harder I work, the more I have of it." His hard work in 20 years of serving his country is one reason I admire him. I also admire how he fought for freedom of the people. He wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which proclaimed our colonies' freedom from English tyranny. He was a firm believer in religious freedom for all people. I also admire Jefferson's wide range of interests, including philosophy, science, law, history, architecture and foreign languages. He was an advocate of public education. Jefferson was not only a great president, but also a great man.
- Brooke Winner, 10, fifth grade, Perkins Elementary, St. Petersburg
Franklin D. Roosevelt pulled the economy together after the Great Depression. By the end of his time in office, we were the richest and most powerful nation in the world. He got us through World War II. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor, he declared war on two powerful nations, Japan and Germany. I admire him for not backing down. The whole country thought of him as strong physically, when in fact he had polio. The nation loved him so much that he served four terms as president.
I admire Gov. Jeb Bush because of his intelligence and stability during our recent hurricanes. When Frances came, he willingly stayed in Florida instead of joining his brother at the Republican National Convention.
President John F. Kennedy was a clever man with tireless energy. During his presidency, the American economy was in a slump. People were losing jobs and the country was suffering financially. He helped by lowering taxes and increasing the minimum wage. He protected the unemployed; his protection, in turn, helped stimulate the economy. The American public will forever remember his democratic standpoints, his accomplishments and his true spirit.
I admire Nelson Mandela because he fought for the rights of black South Africans and stood up for what he believed in. Because of his beliefs he was sentenced to life in prison. He was released in 1990 after serving 27 years of his sentence. In 1994 he was elected president of South Africa. In 1993, Mandela won a Nobel Peace Prize for his stand against racism.
- Dominique Wilson, 11, fifth grade, Perkins Elementary, St. Petersburg
I admire (U.S. Rep.) Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island. I never knew who he was or what famous family he was born into. I got to meet him when I went to Washington, D.C., in 2003 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I listened to him talk to members of Congress to approve more money for blood cancer research. He was kind and said that I was someone he admired.
We met again in 2004, and he was still campaigning for research money. He doesn't care if I'm a Republican or a Democrat. This time he showed me a picture of his aunt - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who died of lymphoma in 1994. I told him that his aunt would be proud of him. He wants no one else to die like she did. He said I'm his hero. I am a survivor of leukemia and lymphoma. Thank you, Congressman Kennedy, for helping to save my life!
- Jordan Holzmacher, 12, Carwise Middle, Palm Harbor
I admire my grandfather, Judge James H. Jarvis II. In October 1984, President Reagan appointed my grandfather to the U.S. District Court for the eastern district of Tennessee. (He now serves as a senior district judge.) He handles cases on illegal drug sales, terrorism, murder and bank robberies. Recently, a Tennessee chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates voted him the 2004 Trial Judge of the Year. I admire him because he has done an outstanding job of serving our country, upholding the Constitution and protecting citizens from criminals.
- Morgan Jarvis Bare, 12, seventh grade, Westlake Christian School, Palm Harbor
Geraldine Ferraro: strong, bold, a true pioneer, and a hero. Running where no woman has run before, trying for vice president in a man's world. As a true beacon of hope, she showed her light in the sea of the 1984 election. Although she lost, she won by spreading hope for all of us women, old and young, strong and weak. For any true hero must not relate to winning, but to what has changed for the better. That is what Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro worked to do: change society for the better.
