Freedom Academy - Echo Yearbook (Freedom, ME)

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17 May 31, 1953 June 5, 1953 Graduation Theme Class Motto Class Colors Class Flower Janette Cole Robert Gray Marlene Hall Darrold Mitchell Nancy Abbott Louise Emerson Kenneth Hall Maxine Downer Robert Goodale Paul McFarland June Bowman Bernard Wentworth BACCALAUREATE Freedom Congregational Church GRADUATION Freedom Academy Gymnasium Better Schools for Tomorrows Citizens Upward Thru the Stars Navy Blue and White Red Carnation GRADUATION PARTS Valedictory Salutatory lst. Honor Essay 2nd. Honor Essay 3rd. Honor Essay History Address to the Undergraduates Prophesy Will Gifts

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DEMOCRACY versus COMMUNISM How many of us know what the terms Democracy and Communism really mean? Let us look for a moment at a few privileges we have under our democratic form of government. Under the Bill of Rights, we have four great freedoms-freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, and freedom from fear. In Russia the people have no freedoms: although their claims are that they are doing everything for the best interest of the common man. In fact, rulers there are doing everything they can to wipe out all kinds of religion. VVe had an ex- ample of that just recently. At Stalin's funeral there was no prayer! Imagine living in a country that does not believe in God! Not too long ago, Russian leaders drew up a constitution in which every citizen over 18 years of age had the right to vote. What good did that do? They are forced to vote, they have no right to choose their own candidates. They must vote as the government directs. So we realize that in communistic countries there are no real elections. In America there are 150,000,000 rulers. Why? Because practically every citizen of voting age has the right and opportunity to vote as he pleases, and you know, most think- ing Americans take advantage of this great privilege- In our land of freedoms, we can have assemblies unlimitedg but the Russian people know none of these pleasures. In America you can advance as a farmer and buy landg but in com- munistic territory the amount of land an individual may own is limited. Their theme is No man shall be rich. Ours is No man shall be poor. VVe as young people, do not realize what a free nation this isg but we should think seriously about it. That thinking should make us more determined to fight Commu- nism. In Russia, young people can get an education, but only with government consent and direction and that is entirely different from our public education. Democracy is not only a form of governmentg it is a way of life. The Jamestown settlers and many other communities here tried social- ism and its way of lifeg but soon all of them starved and fell. Free en- terprise cannot ilourish under such restrictions, and we believe in free enterprise. Are we then going to let Com- munism come into this free country? Let's join the crusade for freedom and help keep Democracy safe for America. Charlene Smith '53 MY TRIP TO AFRICA I shall now proceed to tell you about my hunting trip to Africa.