Speech in Favor of Building a Monument Phoenix. Portland. Salt Lake City. Des Moines. What do all of these cities have in common? They wouldn’t exist today without the bravery and hard work of the Americans who looked out upon the empty lands west of the Mississippi and said, "We can build a new home there."

Some settlers came west for the promise of wealth, while others came to live freely away from the constraints of civilization. All came because they knew a better life awaited them, because they knew America would become a great nation someday.

I, Congressman Smith, ask that you support Proposition 17 to build a bronze statue on the lawn of the state capitol as a monument to these courageous pioneers so that we might never forget how they overcame hardships for our future.

It’s true that some of the voters in my district oppose Proposition 17. They argue that American Indians suffered as a result of westward expansion. True enough, but I ask you, what great endeavor in American history has ever been achieved without great pain?

We Americans inherently understand that to overcome a challenge, sacrifices must be made. And so, my proposed monument to the pioneers is a much a shrine to the concept of sacrifice as it is to the settlers themselves. Vote yes on Proposition 17.

Speech Opposed to Building a Monument

My fellow Americans, I ask that you say no to Proposition 17. To litter the front lawn on the state capitol with a gaudy and arrogant statue devoted to the conquest of the American West is to turn a blind eye to history.

Did the pioneers accomplish some great things? Of course. Did their accomplishments come at a price? Yes. Too high a price to be worthy of permanent honor.

Hundreds of tribes lived in the West before European settlers ever traveled across the Mississippi River. Thanks to the greed of these so-called “pioneers,” American Indians lost almost all of their lands. Many lost their lives as well. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, tens of thousands of American Indians were killed in warfare with white invaders. Millions more died because of diseases carried by the settlers

The survivors were forced to live on reservations, often the worst territory available — the scraps left over after the ravenous settlers had devoured everything in sight.

What would the monument described in Proposition 17 be a monument to, exactly? Greed? Genocide? Exploitation? Are these values that we want to commemorate on the lawn of the state capitol?

Some voters argue that the pioneers were just ordinary people looking for a better life. Were they?

These voters should consider retaking their high school American history course. These voters should listen to people with a better understanding of the past. These voters should open their eyes and vote no on Proposition 17.

QUESTION:

Evaluate one of the speeches you heard about a plan to erect a statue honoring the pioneers. Choose the speech you disagree with, and write a two- or three-paragraph rebuttal in the form of a letter to the editor.