Flemington High School - Memories Yearbook (Flemington, WV)

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k. I ■ broadening horizons in the competitive battle of life. Time was when a high school education was a respected accomplishment; now it provides nothing more than the bare minimum educational requirement of everyone. However, the value of the benefits obtained in our past four years of schooling will largely determine the basis human precepts; our heritage has instilled us with democratic ideals; and finally we have been equipped with the funda- mental educational means by which we may grasp hands with the more than ever unpredictable future. Will we be able to compete successfully for jobs in this very specialized age? With thousand of ex- servicemen returning to college campuses it will be necessary for us to continue our education extensively; otherwise there will be no basis for competition. Among the innumerable questions posed before us tonight as we leave these premises— the rank and fild as well as the potential leaders of tomorrow—is the highly important controversial subject of perserving the peace. V ill we be able to meet this challenge? The postwar wonder world of electronics, television, plastics and atomic power will be an idle dream unless the people of the world can learn to live together peacefully. The United States emerged from the war the most powerful nation on earth. It will be up to us to set an example for the rest of the world. This calls for a sound and firm foreign policy on our part. Only by an intel- ligent and enlightened public can America’s future leadership among the family of nations be assured. The price of victory for us is not only measured in dollars and cents, which alone was enough to s stager the imagination, but also in the moral and economic responsibility which we must accept. We were born during an age of constant mecha- nical progress which caused us to develop the delusion that the world automatically improves Vifc- -A-—3k—v r

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v ith the passage of time. Wc mistook mechanical triumphs for the essence of world progress. Even if the assumption was natural, it was never- theless desasterous. Progress in civilization, ororress in freedom and justice, and respect for ones neighbor cannot be produced by pieces of machinery. The machinery can make it easier for manto raise his standard of living, but it also can be a superb tool for the destruction of civilization. Certhinly, with tho invention of the atomic bomb, civilization could be destroyed unless we take steps to prevent this from occurring; With so potent a weanon in our hands we cannot afford going on doing nothing. We must learn to live peacefully through our cooperation with the UNO. As we leave these oortals, our utmost thought should be directed to the furthering of our educa- tion. Then will these problems be met and solved intelligently, and a more lasting peace in the world to be '’ttained. John Trocino