Camden High School - Megunticook Yearbook (Camden, ME)

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4 THE MEGUNT1COOK A partial peace is not to be scoffed at, for the world is sorely in need of even such a facsimile. Democracy actually isn’t flaw free. Upon searching into its ancestry, one realizes how Democracy has developed from a germ- like idea in the minds of men who had great concern over the injustices of man to his brothers. Yet in the modern era of enlightenment and justice the machinery of Democracy becomes clogged because its wielders are but men, and no man is blessed with perfection. Communism strives to attain equality which is Democracy’s platform, but Communism has committed the folly of teaming with Atheism and thereby bringing its own downfall. When this peace-threatening faction is defeated, do not lean back with a sigh of relief because there will be more wars. Why will there be more wars? There will be man, and man has never taken to heart the almost-too- simple phrase, “Love thy neighbor.” Never fear, the earth will not cease its revolution tomorrow, for the words of the prophets are yet to be fulfilled. But as you go about tomorrow’s business and pursue your quest for happiness, break off an infinite particle of precious time to bring some peace, be it peace of mind or peace to quell anger. For each great mission has an embryonic stage and who has greater right to help introduce ideals than we, the future citizens of the world? —Barbara Haynes ’52 VENGEANCE In mankind there is the instinct to avenge a hurt—to inflict suffering upon the one who formerly caused it. This punishment seems most effectual if it is invested in like manner and to the same degree. The hurt may be physically inflicted causing a flesh wound or bodily struggle. This is prob- ably the kinder and less sustaining of two types because though it strikes violently and painfully, it heals and with it some or all of the resentment. Mental conflict involving love, hatred, cruelty,, and torture of the mind is lasting and not easily forgiven. Nor is it always easy to avenge. It takes unscrupulous planning and maneuvering to shift circumstance to aid the defendant. If vengeance is achieved, what gain has been made? It is doubtful that the anger of the objector is appeased. He, if possessing a good intellect and a relatively high standard of character, will suffer degradation and attacks of conscience for his infamous act. He may even find it a burden in the future when he realizes the futility of the act, regrets it, and wishes he might have rendered his efforts to something beneficial. Efforts to repay wrong for wrong are not so vigorous as those to repay right for right. Vengeance might be termed an animal instinct. An animal when struck will strike back at its aggressor. If a fight ensues, it will return blow for blow until it has avenged itself or is forced to retreat until another time. Its mind cannot reason that it would be wiser to suffer the blow in silence or flee to avoid more hurt. Petty pride and false honor have caused whole countries to go to war. In the midst of the hardships and bloodshed of war the cause of revenge for shaken pride seems frail indeed. There was an era when revenge was in vogue and highly esteemed. Brave knights were sent to battle to avenge with death the matter of discourtesy to a fair lady. Duels were always a popular means of revenge. A gentleman was held by honor to jeopardize his life in such situations as would arise.

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THE MEGUNTICOOK 3 citizen, our own disregard of world affairs, our own loir moral standards, and our own lack of interest in governmental affairs and functions. I have underscored the last two items because I think they would be two of the most prominent reasons for failure of our democracy. Aside from low morals in the home today we have had an alarming amount of it in high places. What are the reasons for this we ask ourselves? Who’s to blame? Look in the mirror; you will see whom to blame. Ourselves! Why not? Didn’t we elect our public officials to these high offices, or at least those of us who voted. Statistics show that in Japan last year 70% of the people voted, 82% in Britain, 89% in Italy, and 51% in America. Is this any way to show our love for our country? How do you expect it to fight against Communism unless we show some interest in electing the people who represent us? In a way you can say that low morals lead to disinterest in government. We can base this decision on conclusions reached by studying the early Greeks who had one of the world’s first beginnings of a democracy, and from whom many of our philosophical ideas of democracy are derived. When their morals became too low, interest in government lessened and this in turn resulted in their ultimate failure. Are we also to end in such a way after so many great men have given their time, money, intellect, and. above all, lives, for its success? We have just about reached the crossroads, Americans. It is now up to us whether our page in history will be written the same as that of the Greeks and others before us. What will it be? DEMOCRACY OR DICTATORSHIP? —Ellen L. Donovan ’52 SOLUTION UNOBTAINABLE Here today, here tomorrow? But hold! There are missions to be ac- complished, goals to be obtained, more riches to be acquired, and there are a few persons who wish to set the world right before tomorrow ceases. Yet some day our pattern of life will be rudely stopped, and we shall shake our heads and say we aren’t through with the world, or in horror we shall protest that we weren’t warned of the end; so we are not prepared to be torn from Mother Earth. A Great Book was written centuries ago which told us of our destiny. Upon its gilded pages still are recorded the prophecies which are constantly being fulfilled. One would conclude that with such a book to guide us in our daily lives we would be in preparation for the coming events, and that with this book our lives in a community or in a nation would be implicitly in order. An Elysium might exist instead of an man-conceived Hades, but in this present day we persist in puzzling over our newly self-created prob- lems and wonder what each arriving year holds as the future rumbles darkly into the horizon. We are tangled in our petty complexes, phobias, and various neurotic conditions and seek to relieve ourselves of them on a psychiatrist’s couch although such simple remedies are to be secured in the Book of Celestial Truth. On distant parts of the globe rise impressive peace palaces which enclose galleries of conferring representatives of every nation. Regardless of name—league or union—these councils have one sole aim—“Peace . . . or a reasonable facsimile.”

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THE MEGUNT1COOK 5 Whether vengeance be sought for pride, jealousy, or hatred, it is strong in human nature and cannot be compromised. It must be reasoned with and conquered. If man is to be better than animals, he must conquer his animal instincts. He must cultivate patience to remedy his ills and seek intelligence and culture to offset his passions. —Domenica Tranquillo ’52 MEGUNTICOOK BOARD First Row: Minnie Tranquillo, Gail Wiley, Ellen Donovan, Ronald Banks, Ruth Sims. Second Row: John Giffin, John Heald, Barbara Haynes, Victor Richards, Alfred Darrow, Margaret Crabtree, Montford Pease.