SPEAKER STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM

Sanford McDonnell thinks Americans take too many things for granted -- and freedom is among them.

McDonnell, who retired from McDonnell Douglas Corp. in St. Louis in 1988 after 40 years, spoke to approximately 100 high school students at the Missouri Freedom Forum Wednesday night.

McDonnell, whose uncle founded McDonnell Aircraft, was chairman and chief executive officer of McDonnell Douglas. He currently serves as its chairman emeritus.

"There are far too many people screaming for their rights and ignoring the responsibilities that go with those rights," McDonnell said.

He believes businesses and institutions have slipped in their support and promotion of the values America was founded on.

Too many special-interest groups are putting their interests above the nation's, he said.

To help the nation return to its roots, values should be taught in schools, McDonnell said. Businesses should also develop proactive programs to reinforce ethics.

McDonnell serves as chairman of PREP, the Personal Responsibility Education Program in many St. Louis schools. He also serves on the board of Character Education Partnership Inc. in Washington, D.C.

Two of the most important values students should learn are responsibility and respect, he said. "Respect keeps us from hurting that which we value, and responsibility is the active role," he said.

Purpose of the Missouri Freedom Forum is to pass on basic economic, political and social ideals to young people, said Missouri Chamber of Commerce Vice President David Lankford. "If we don't pass them on, we'll lose them," he said.

The Freedom Forum began in 1962 with that purpose and began in Cape Girardeau about 10 years ago. It also emphasizes the principles of freedom, active citizenship, the American political system and the free enterprise economic system.

During the three-day conference, students will learn about the political system by acting as freshman congressman via a computer program. They also will have the opportunity to start a business and develop a product to sell in their community.

"It makes them more aware of society by seeing where we have been, where we are today, and deciding where to take it tomorrow," Lankford said.

Students attending from Cape Girardeau are: Melanie Beel, Jeffrey Crader, Anne Doner, Malinda Dumey, Kyle Elfrink, Sara Hooper, Rahul Kamath, Alix Lindblom, Ryan Mattes, Amber McCormick, Jeff Mueller, Leticia Patterson, Lance Reinagel, Wade Russell, Nick Watts, Jonathan Welter and Daniel Wittenborn.

The students were selected based on leadership abilities. Each student is sponsored by a business in the area.