Democracy – Now & Proud
Margaret Barnes
Evangelistic Temple School, Tulsa
Seventh Grade

One day in the land that is now Washington D.C, David Winston and his 6 year old daughter Samantha were riding in their carriage to the election house. It was November 2, 1860, election day. On the way, Samantha asked,

“Daddy, why do people vote? Can’t a leader just decide?”

“It’s called democracy honey”

What’s de-mon – o –cy mean?”

Its de-moc-cra-cy, and you’ll understand when you’re older.”

When they got to the election house, David sad down to vote; Samantha sat next to him and thought of what he had said. She wanted to understand so badly that she asked the man in the next booth over,

“Excuse me, but what is democracy?”

“Shh child! Let me vote!”

She asked many people but no one would tell her.

That night as she sat in bed, she thought…Is democracy a bad thing? Does it harm others? Samantha thought so hard and so long that she put herself to sleep.

It was November 19, 1863. Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860. Three years had passed and she still didn’t understand. She and her father had gone to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to hear Abraham Lincoln give his speech. During his speech of the “Gettysburg Address” she was in her own little world trying to figure out democracy. When it was over, she asked to go to the ladies room. On the way, she ran into the president, causing all of his papers to go flying.

“I’m sorry Sir!! I didn’t mean too!”

“It’s quite okay my dear. May I ask why you look so flustered?”

“Well, it’s just…Mr. President? May I ask you a question?”

“Why yes! Go ahead.”

“What’s democracy?”

“That’s a good question. Democracy is when the people have a say in what the government does.”

“Oh!! I see!! Then, democracy isn’t bad!!” Samantha exclaimed.

“Why No! Democracy isn’t bad. It’s a rather good thing!”