Classical High School - Classic Myths Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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America: Her lletenses ffffzbziey, Claim The innumerable horrors of warfare as we see it today make us think seriously about the defenses of our United States. It is true that our material defenses are good as far as they go, but we need more in both the army and the navy. The President, in a recent speech, pointed out that our army and navy and their respective air corps do not compare in size or quality with the corresponding defenses of the principal belligerents, and that, even though they are sufficient for use as a police patrol, they are not adequate for defense in war. Responsible men in the army and navy have realized this need for a long time, and now the American people also see its im- portance. A stepping stone between material defenses and those less tangible is our Federal Bureau of Investigation. Clever agents uncover and thwart plans against our im- portant plants and our government by discovering foreign spies and investigating their plans. During the last World War United States munitions plants were blown up by spies, but we know that more serious dangers would have developed if we had had no Secret Service agents. How little the general public knows of the activities of this department is revealed in a series of articles appearing in May in the Saturday Evening Post, but the need for secrecy means that often the most important work never is known outside a small group. The exposing of such plots as it is wise to have made known helps to mold public opinion, always a powerful inHuence, against enemies. But a nation needs defenses less obvious, though perhaps not less powerful, than its army and navy, or even its Secret Service. Public opinion, which can be molded by able leadership, by radio, by newspapers, by books, and by magazines, is only one of these. Europe recognizes and, to a degree, respects American public opinion. An excellent foundation for the sound thinking which should govern public opinion is laid by education in our public schools. We are taught that the individual is important, that if each person does the right thing, the nation will. We are shown that a country's interests are furthered more by peace than by war. Repeated ex- amples in history demonstrate that war is expensive and destructive and never leads to security. Future generations have to pay the debts which are incurred by war, re- build the morale which is destroyed by war, and regain the national security which is undermined by war. But they can never restore the lives which are sacrificed in Twenty-four

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Q assi c Cynyfhs which in time will probably increase, thus benefiting, either directly or indirectly, the whole nation, although the benefits will probably not be lasting. lVlost important, perhaps, it has given the United States an opportunity to consolidate her relations with South America and to prove to the other American republics that the United States is no giant of the North, out to Fill her purse at the expense of others, but rather a big sister, ready to help as a big sister should. These advantages and disadvantages carry with them certain duties, duties which America must perform if she is to be accorded her rightful recognition after the war. First, we have a duty to ourselves. We must not allow ourselves to be dragged into this War without making sure that our intervention, if it comes, will not turn out to be as meaningless as it was in 1917. We must also strive to oust all bitterness from our minds, that we may not give way to that rancor which has done its share in pre- cipitating this crisis. Second, we have a duty to the belligerents, both those we favor and those we do not. lt is up to us to treat both alike, having due regard, however, to the manner in which they treat us. Third, we have a duty to the other neutrals. Since we are the largest and most powerful neutral nation in the world, the smaller coun- tries will look to us for an example and for protection, in so far as is possible, of the few rights of neutrals. Most especially we shall have the Western Hemisphere to look after, coming, as it does, under the Monroe Doctrine. Finally, we have a duty to the world at large. The United States will have to act as the repository of all culture and as the guardian of all those liberties which have been lost in Europe and in Asia, so that after the war is over civilization will have a tangible foundation upon which to rebuild. Twenty-thief

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f assw Offflyfhs war. We are loath to see the United States waste energy, money, and lives in futile ways, and are therefore determined to keep her out of unnecessary warfare. Whenever we could do so during our history, we have substituted arbitration for war. Peaceful settlements of disputes with sister republics in the western hemisphere have cultivated good-will and a spirit of co-operation. lf an important matter needs consideration, a conference attended by delegates from all countries concerned is called. The results have been so successful that the United States has found that during recent years it has not had to continue the policy of intervention which it up- held until 1934. We also try to stimulate international co-operation by conducting good-will tours to all parts of the world. Some of them have been made by lesser government officials and peace-loving citizens, but lately presidents and cabinet members have found that on such tours, they become better acquainted with conditions in different countries, and so are helped in making agreements with them. We have formed treaties with many foreign nations to further and protect Amer- ican interestsg but other countries realize that we are not seeking more land or power. We are content with what we have. We are not likely to begin or enter a war unless our present status is interfered with. The fact that nations both of the Old and the New World' realize this constitutes our real defense. ln conclusion, we are not slow to accord due recognition to our army and navy for such security as they can afford us, and We know only too well the necessity for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the importance of its workg but, in the last analysis, whether in times of war or of peace, we realize that the defense which should be steadily developed is an awakened and sound public opinion governed by an alert and educated intelligence. Twenty-fue