FORUM TEACHES TEENS TO APPRECIATE FREEDOMS

Do we take freedom for granted? This will be one of the topics explored by 140 high school students as they gather in Cape Girardeau today for the Missouri Freedom Forum. What better place to nurture America's precious freedoms than with our young.

Freedom Forum brings together professional speakers, business leaders and legislators to share their knowledge of America's economic and governmental systems. The mission is to foster teen-agers' appreciation of the uniqueness of our systems.

Cape Girardeau is host to one of two annual forums in Missouri. These other is held in Mexico, Mo. Both are sponsored by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau. Other local sponsors include the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and Southeast Missouri State University. The Mexico forum dates back to 1961, with the Cape Girardeau program beginning in 1986. More than 7,000 high school students have participated in both programs.

Participants are some of the best and brightest from high schools throughout the state. They are nominated by their superintendents or principals. The program won't be limited to talk. A half-day computer simulation program called "Congressional Insight" will be part of the learning. Participants will make decisions like a freshman member of Congress, and then must stand for re-election. Forum organizers call the exercise "a real eye-opener" in the reality of politics.

Organizers hope that these teen-agers walk away with the feeling that they can make a difference, through politics or as an entrepreneur. One of the speakers began a pizza business while a sophomore in college. Today, his five stores in Kansas City gross more than $1 million in sales. These kinds of success stories shows students that even in today's tough times, people can still start their own businesses and succeed. It's a message not always taught in traditional educational settings.

On a more basic level, Freedom Forum is designed to help participants appreciate their own talents. Programs such as "Making the most of what you've got" help to motivate and build confidence. This year's program began Tuesday and continues through Thursday on the university campus.

The forum helps bring philosophical debates into focus for these young people. Hopefully this forum can help build appreciation by our young people. After all, they will carry the torch in future years.