Staff Photo by Lois Davidson. McPherson High School students (Left to right) Bridget Fowler, Rane Baldwin and Amy Sents listen attentively to Congressman Jerry Moran during their A.P. Government class on Friday afternoon.

MHS class welcomes Rep. Moran

Published: Saturday, September 16, 2006 10:25 AM CDT
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The Hays resident focuses mainly on rural issues, such as agriculture and health, but is concerned with what is occurring within schools and students. A direct pathway to that issue is through communication with the students.

By visiting local high schools, Moran is opening the door of politics to students and letting them know that political issues do affect them, whether now or in the future.

“My concern of politics is different from yours,” Moran said. “I was worried about Watergate and Vietnam War. So I appreciate when you discuss your concerns.”

It's a different world from when Moran grew up with different issues, problems and situations. The students today have a whole other way of looking at the world than Moran did.

So step-by-step he is finding out those differences and reaching to understand these future generations.

“What are the big issues that Congress is debating at this time?” Robb Krehbiel asked.

Moran stated that first, congressmen reflect what the people want and right now the main focus is on the Iraq war and gas prices. He would like to see more emphasis on local economies. Many farmers are needing disaster relief due to the shortage of rainfall.

The smaller towns are concerned with economic development such as local grocery stores competing with larger stores.

According to Moran, Washington does not know what small communities need, but having a representative who can relate can help local voices be heard.

Moran said Washington is more focused on elections for Republicans and Democrats.

“Politics should not be about winning or losing, it should be about moving forward,” Moran said.

One student made the comment that the most politics they see is on television shows or comedy routines. This statement had approval from most all the students. Politics are something students don't get involved in. Moran used this to state that Social Security and the national debt are two major issues that will affect these students in the future.

Moran brought up the issue of college and how to receive the means in order to attend. His family had little money, but they worked hard and he was the first in his family to ever go to college. He strives for the time when anyone wanting a college degree may have the opportunity.

Heather Peterson stepped up to ask Moran what issue has influenced him the most.

?-11,” Moran said.

He was at a gym in Washington D.C. when he watched in disbelief the newscast of the planes hitting the towers.

A few moments later, he felt the vibrations of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. A few weeks later, he visited Ground Zero. It resembled a construction site with lots of smoke, but it didn't hit him then. It was when he was reading a memorial that was left behind at Ground Zero. On a plain piece of notebook paper with zagged edges read a message from a 12-year old girl stating how much she missed her father, but assured him it would be ok.

This impacted Moran. Questions began to spring from his mind.

“Why do we have terrorists? Why war? How do you protect yourself from people who are willing to die?” he thought.

He realized then that he needed to broaden his life.

Moran took two trips to Afghanistan to talk to Kansas soldiers and see how they were doing. With a new outlook and drive, he continually works to keep the American way of life moving forward.

Moran's speech left the students with the idea of voicing their opinion and the need to increase their knowledge of politics. He asked them to think about their choices and reasserted the fact that that their actions do indeed have reactions.