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

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America: Sanctuar of Ideal , gm nge Every person, whether he realizes it or not, has ideals. They are a necessity. They may be either high or low, depending on the individualg but, whatever they are, they do exist in our minds and influence our lives. What a man is is determined largely by his ideals. Ideals are of no less importance to a nation than to an individual. The standards of a nation coincide with those of the majority of its citizens. In the United States we have definite conceptions of right and wrong governed by our inherited beliefs and our consciences. But these conceptions are not narrow. People of many races have brought their spiritual and cultural elements to America. Our endeavors to preserve such national ideals as fair play, integrity, and honor have resulted in such a trust and understanding with Canada, our neighbor to the north, that we need no fortified boundary. Our relations with our southern neighbors, though less perfect, are con- stantly being improved by various means, of which tours of good will and frequent conferences are only two expressions. In fact civilization implies confidence and belief in one's fellow man. All business., all government is based upon the co-operation that this belief involves. But the loss of what one may term the things of the spirit is even greater than the loss of merely cultural elements. Shall we see fit to throw away these as many European nations have done? That they have cast them aside we know by repeated statements which they have made. Dr. Hans Frank, head of the Academy for German Law, told his fellow jurists recently Right is whatever profits a nation, wrong is whatever harms it. Pale phantoms of objective justice do not exist for us any morefn Twenty-eiglz I

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CQ assi c Qfyzyflts ally the youthful hosts began to realize their own good fortune in living in the United States. The experiment was so successful that from it came a proposal by Dorothy Canfield Fisher for the uChildren,s Crusade, a program whereby, during April of 1940, the children of America were given an opportunity to contribute through their schools as many pennies as they were years old for the sole benefit of the exiled boys and girls of Europe. But relief agencies, either here or abroad, can not alone solve all the problems. We must realize that it is our responsibility to extend to them both our moral and financial support. We must maintain a friendly and hospitable attitude towards those who come to us seeking refuge, whatever their race or creed. Often these are men and women whom we may be proud to have, men like Professor Albert Einstein and ex- President Benes of Czeeho-Slovakia, who can give us more than we can give them. The ability and Wide experience of some of our refugees means a rich addition to America's intellectual life. Shall We not, then, as individuals, guarantee our support to the various. relief agencies, in thought, time, and money, and continue to play the part of friend and neighbor to those who so sorely need a friend? Twenty-seven

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Cd assfc Cmyfhs To Americans, such ideas as these are abhorrent. When old beliefs and old standards are tottering in the countries. at war, what are we to do? We must cherish these long accepted ideals until the rest of the world again realizes their importance. The present ethical standards in the totalitarian states are so contrary to the commandments of God that both cannot exist. Accordingly, leaders have attempted to crush religion and replace it by the worship of the state. What will happen lo these people? Can man long live without a belief in some power greater than himself? Our forefathers came here for religious. freedomg our whole government has been built on that principle. We in America believe that religion and democracy go hand in hand, that one cannot stand without the other. Protestants, Catholics, and Jews have joined forces to pre- serve those ethical foundations on which our lives must be based. We must preserve courage, hope, tolerance, and faith in man and God not only for ourselves and our nation, but also for the many who have so nearly lost these values in the horror of war. Twenty-nine