Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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Page 14 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN PRIZE ESSAY, 1956 ' Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land? This quotation from Sir Walter Scott ' s ' ' Lay of the Last Minstrel appears to be a very noble thought indeed when first read, but upon closer examination I believe that its merits may be challenged. Scott ' s idea was one of fierce patriotism for one ' s native land but let us consider, what is patriotism ? Is it a good or evil power in the minds of men ? Is it necessary in the growth and survival of a nation or is it an instrument towards destruction ? Before contemplating the merits of patriotism one must go back a little to the beginning of civilization as we know it to-day. At first, humanity consisted of man and his family who did not associate with others, but lived solitary, nomadic lives. Within this group existed a form of patriotism in which each family kept together, jealously guarding its meagre belongings and often fighting viciously to protect the family integrity. The next step was in the formation of the community, and, after many centuries, the isolated families merged to bring the village into existence. During this change a great lesson was learned by humanity — to live peaceably with others and not to trespass on other people ' s rights and privileges. Although each person has a certain pride and love in his own community, he rarely tried to force his ideas upon his fellow men. In time, larger communities called nations were formed and so civilization took on a shape not unlike our present day world. Now that the background of the development of countries and its natural result, patriotism, has been established, let us liken civilization to a vast army. An army marching together towards the unknown. Each nation is represented by a battalion, each community by a platoon and so on to the very last man, everyone having a position in the march of humanity. With this arrangement of everyone working as a unit towards a common goal, lasting peace. Life is a fairly simple matter of planning and executing that plan. However, matters do not remain in this state for very long; one of the nations or battalions soon becomes so full of its own greatness and has such a feeling of love or patriotism for itself that it wants to subjugate the rest of the army. Patriotism moves it to aggression. Hitler drew a picture in blood to illustrate to us the terrible results of this type of intense patriotism. He was a colonel leading the German battalion against the world, against the rest of the army of humanity. Being filled with patriotic feelings for, and pride in, Germany, he wished

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YEAR BOOK, 1957 Page 13 BRANKSOME EVENTS 1956-1957 September 6th — Opening Day. 14th — Gathering of the Clans. 14th— Old Girl ' s Basketball Game. October 2nd— ' Macbeth . 5th — Installation of Prefects. 5th — Long Week-end. 10th — Junior Sports Day. 12th — Senior Sports Day. 15th — Royal Danish Ballet. 18th— Basketball— St. Clement ' s. 22nd-26th — Ramabai Week. 23rd— Basketball— St. Mildred ' s. 25th— Basketball— B.S.S. 26th— Form V Picnic. 26th— Form IV Plays. 30th— Basketball— B.S.S. November 1st — Basketball — Havergal. 8th— Basketball— St. Clement ' s. 9th — House Dance. 9th— Short Week-end. 13th— Basketball— St. Clement ' s. 13th— Royal Winter Fair. 15th — Basketball — Havergal. 16th— Rev. Mr. John Stott. 19th — Examinations Begin. 27th — Examinations End. 27th— Earle Grey Players. December 7th— Fourth and Fifth Form Dance. 12th — Christmas Dinner. 16th — Carol Service. 19th — Holidays Begin. January 10th — Opening Day. 18th-19th— Third Model Assembly of the United Nations. 18th — National Ballet Company 21st — Second Installation of Prefects. 25th — Miss Read ' s Dance. February lst-2nd — Visit from the Buffalo Seminary. 8th — Long Week-end. 15th — Open House. 20th — Kiwanis Festival. 28th— Inter-School Swim Meet. March 6th — Inter-School Badminton and Bowling Meet. 8th — World Day of Prayer. 8th — Long Week-end. 15th— Form II Plays. 22nd— Form I Plays. 29th— Talent Night. April 5th — Form III Plays. 9th — School Badminton and Bowling Meet. 11th — Holidays Begin. 24th — Opening Day. 27th — Alumnae Dinner. May 9th — Examinations Begin. 11th — Inter-School Tennis and Baseball Meet. 17th — Examinations End. 17th — Long Week-end. 24th — Strawberry Festival. 24th — Graduation Dance. June 3rd — School Swim Meet. 5th — Closing Church Service. 6th— Junior Graduation. 7th — Senior Prizegiving. 7th — Garden Party, Readacres. r

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YEAR BOOK, 1957 Pac e 15 to bring his ideals to others even if force, destruction and war were necessary. The awful result of this extreme patriotism was seen in the terrible holocaust of World War II. Hitler ' s patriotism took that easy step to nationalism. Let me now answer the questions which I first posed. Is patriotism necessary in the growth and survival of a nation or is it an instrument towards destruction ? For the growth of a nation there must be a feeling of patriotism among its builders. For survival, once the nation is built, there is a need for love of one ' s country ; but eventually that love becomes too strong and leads the country to nationalism and its inevitable conse- quence, war. Destruction follows. What is patriotism? It is a sense of pride in the minds of men which prompts them to fight for their country and to support its ideals. However, consider this, if there were no patriots there would be no war. We mmst, in the face of the destruction brought on by misguided patriotism and consequent wars, conclude that this nationalism must become internationalism. Man learned the lesson of intercommunal life many centuries ago when he merged to form the village, but, as yet, he has not learned how to live peaceably in the larger international community. Until such time, patriotism can only lead to disaster. When and if this lesson is learned, there will be no need for love of one ' s country because, at that time, humanity will share a common love for the entire army of civilization. The world will be as God intended, a whole.