LOS ANGELES – Representative Xavier Becerra (CA – 30) met with 80 juniors and seniors from Woodrow Wilson High School on Monday, November 5th, to discuss the recent terrorist attacks and the resulting military action the United States has undertaken to rid the world of terrorism.
Since September 11th, Rep. Becerra has visited seven high schools located in his district in an effort to gain a better understanding of what the youth of Los Angeles are thinking and feeling during this time of national crisis.
“I want to have clear insight into the thoughts of our young men and women,” Becerra said. “Too often, the opinions of our high school students are overlooked.”
During his high school visits, Rep. Becerra typically turns the audience into a mock congress and then facilitates an open debate on issues. Upon completion of the debate, Rep. Becerra brings the issues to a vote. On Monday, the “Woodrow Wilson High School Congress” discussed a myriad of topics ranging from the bombing of Afghanistan to the reinstitution of the draft. There was near unanimous support for the current bombing effort in Afghanistan, but this consent waned when Rep. Becerra asked the students if the United States should bomb other countries. A large majority of the “Congress” did not support the reinstitution of the draft, but the students were split 50-50 when asked whether the United States should go into deficit spending to further fund the war on terrorism.
Monica Perez, a Woodrow Wilson High School senior, admitted that the current bombing effort was not the right course of action that the United States should be taking.
“The bombings are killing too many innocent people,” Perez said.
Aside from the mock congress, Rep. Becerra also led a discussion on hate crimes, airline security and economic stimulus. He ended his time with the students by focusing on the importance of education and encouraged all the students to go to college in order to become “the leaders of tomorrow.”
Marcella Contreras, principal of Woodrow Wilson High School, was delighted to have Rep. Becerra speak to her students.
“This event was excellent,” Contreras said. “Our students need role models and for someone as prestigious as Xavier Becerra to take the time out of his schedule to come here and speak is so important and goes way beyond words.”
“The students at Woodrow Wilson did a terrific job,” Becerra said. “I was impressed with their questions and their insightful remarks. Admittedly, it is quite refreshing for these students, and the countless other students that I have met, to show such passion and intellectual acumen.”