Martha P. King students weigh in on current events following Tucson tragedy

By Dylan Scott

Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 | 1 p.m.

RELATED STORY: Local students weigh in on current events following Tucson tragedy

It's been a month since the horrific shooting in Tucson that left six people dead and 13 wounded. Among the injured was Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head but is recovering.

The shooting's youngest victim was 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green. In a speech, President Barack Obama called for national harmony and eulogized Christina along with the other shooting victims.

Christina "showed an appreciation for life uncommon for a girl her age," Obama said. "I want to live up to her expectations, I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it, I want America to be as good as Christina imagined it."

As the nation continues to reflect on what happened, the Sun wanted to know what young people in our community are thinking about the future of America.

Their responses to the Sun's questions are condensed and edited for clarity.

Responses from students at King Elementary are below. To read responses from other students around the valley, click here.

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Aubrey Stubbs is a fifth-grader and member of the student-service club Cobras Making a Difference and student council at King Elementary School in Boulder City.

Why is it important for young people to be active in the community?

We do a different project every month with Cobras Making a Difference. One might be going around the community and picking up trash or writing letters to residents at the Homestead, a local senior center, because they get kind of lonely there. Participating allows me to reach my goal of helping others and making the difference that I want to make.

Adam Wozniak is a fifth-grader and member of the student-service club Cobras Making a Difference and student council at King Elementary School in Boulder City.

Why should people care about getting involved in their community or taking an interest in politics?

You want to make a difference because if you want to have a good life -- and you want your children to have a good life -- then you need to be ready for whatever there is in store for you. Make the best of what God gives you. When I get a job, I plan to donate the money to the homeless or to another worthwhile cause.