Evaluate the speech 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.

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.