Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

Page 31 text:

year the Red Cross spent over $20,000,- 000. Most of this money was used on aid for Britain. True to its neutral principle the American Red Cross cabled to Germany and asked what she needed. Germany answered that she needed nothing and has not since been asked. For most of us, however, it is both a comforting and an inspiring thought to know that whenever there is a disaster we shall find, alleviating the pain of victims and rebuilding that which is destroyed, that “band of mercy” of which Henri Dunant once fondly dreamed, “The Red Cross.” AMERICAN YOUTH IN THE PRESENT WORLD By Barbara Chapman H OW can the young people of Ameri- ca help to preserve their country and the principles of democracy? This is a vital question im the minds of those in the many graduating classes through- out America. Youth’s job has always been to prepare itself for the heritage given over by its elders, aptly to fit itself to assume the responsibility given over by the preceding generation. To maintain self-support, to take over an increasing share in the government of our country, to work for better social conditions, in short to foster and pro- mote the principles and truths of democ- racy, — to learn these is the fundamental duty of every American youth and has been since the country was founded. We trust that American youth will respond to that call as it has always responded. But in these days of crisis and confusion at home and chaos a - broad, are there not added burdens and duties which youth must shoulder? We are told we must help to preserve de- mocracy. The smug days, when we believed that democracy which we learned about from our first history books had proved its worth and that its privileges had been permantly won, are over, for us as well as for those of maturer years. We realize, now, along with you that these privileges can never be won except at the price of eternal vigilance and sacrifice. The question is what can we as young people do about it. In modern times youth is never asked about the sacrifice. That is de- manded as a matter of course. We have got to be assured, however, that the cause for which we lay down our lives, if necessary, is worth the sacrifice. In this regard we need to clarify our ideas about democracy and restate our atti- tudes toward it. America was formed as a Democratic nation, a government in which all people were to have equal rights. How- ever, democracy is much more than a form of government! It is a way of life or, as Brooks Atkinson says, “men living together with mutual respect for a common destiny.” Youth, therefore, has to face the responsibility of preserv- ing a way of life as well as a political system. 29

Page 30 text:

every few years at international confer- ences. There is also an international committee at Geneva that arranges for meetings of the Red Cross organizations of different countries. People who wish to help in Red Cross activities can do various types of work, for today the Red Cross covers a large range of activi- ties. One of the most important depart- ments of the Red Cross is the nursing service. Only the highest trained nurses are allowed to become Red Cross work- ers. If a red cross nurse dies, her rela- tives must return her badge to head- quarters unless the nurse wishes to have it buried with her, for no one except a regular red cross nurse is allowed to possess a red cross badge. If the nurse is physically able, she must promise to serve in times of em ergency. In America, today, ships are arriving con- taining hundreds of refugees, many of whom are ill. These refugee ships are met by red cross nurses and each per- son is examined. Sixty cases of dysen- tery were found on one ship recently docked in New York. Another very necessary part of the Red Cross work is its First Aid Classes. When improper help is given to people injured by accident, more harm is done than good. Realizing this, the Red Cross is trying to instruct people in the correct manner of caring for the injured. Even more important is the effort made by the organization to pre- vent accidents. Every school child to- day is familiar with the Red Cross check list that reminds people of the many hazards to be found at home and on the farm. It is also necessary to send workers trained in First Aid to Britain. There are no anesthetics in many of the improvised hospitals that have been set up, and there are more people ill than can be handled by regular doctors and nurses. Of course caring for disabled veterans is still one of the main purposes of the Red Cross. The Red Cross started its home service during the World War. It cared for the dependents of wounded World War veterans and helped these veterans to make out their claims for disability. Then the Red Cross began transcribing books into braille. New hope was given to blind veterans. Braille, for the most part, is transcribed by hand for it is too expensive to do by machine. Today, all over America, men and women volunteers are copying books into braille to enable blind soldiers to have more extensive reading. There is no question in our minds as to the greatness of names prominent in Red Cross work. The names of Henri Dunant, Florence Nightingale, and Clara Barton are familiar to us all. Sometimes, however, we fail to appre- ciate all that the Red Cross is doing today. A call has recently gone out for more volunteer blood donors to give transfusions so that the blood plasma could be sent to England to save the lives of war victims. During the past 28

Page 32 text:

War wreaks havoc in the battling countries and the effects are far-felt; all nations share the ill effects of war. Higher prices and taxes result in losses in business and unemployment. Living standards sink, poverty becomes ram- pant, and the hope of youth is stifled. Youth is likely to lose its head amid the turbulent conditions and become engulfed in the swirl of uncertainty paramount in America today. Youth’s first duty then is to remain sane and confident. It must not be uncertain! It must be surer than ever of itself. The future and happiness of the American democracy rest on today ' s youth. The way in which we respond to present conditions determines the destiny of the country. There are certain duties for today ' s American youth by which each one must prepare to meet the ever-ris- ing challenging conditions of the world, to defend his country and its principles in which he believes. It almost goes without saying that youth must be physically able to per- form the duties expected of it in carry- ing out the demands of national defense. In case of war it is vitally important that youth be physically strong and de- veloped; otherwise how would a coun- try be able to stand up against the for- eign powers that are so strongly empha- sizing and demanding the physical development of their youth today? Our army camps may be depended upon, in part, to develop our boys physically, but that training is not sufficient. To- talitarian powers make much of physi- cal fitness. American young people have got to exhibit the same willingness to sacrifice and practice the same self- denial if they are going to be able to compete with Nazi youth, who, how- ever much we may condemn them, are unselfish and fired with an almost re- ligious fanaticism toward the State. Mental training, on the other hand, is one field where we can secure the ad- vantage over totalitarian countries be- cause liberal education and training to think will in the long run prove super- ior to blind worship of a leader and obedience to him. Fatalism attendant upon war may make youth regard hu- man life as cheap and lead them to a “What’s the use?” attitude. Why study to develop our minds, they may question, just to the point where we might be useful to society and then have our activities cut short by death and destruction in war? This attitude should be overcome. We must not al- low ourselves to relax in our attempts to broaden our education and develop our minds to the utmost degree, whether it be in college or in the school of life, The world is going to need well-train- ed minds to cope with the problems a- rising out of the war and we can best meet these later demands by close appli- cation to study and education now. American youth can, however, con- tribute most valuably to this war-ridden world by furnishing spiritual impetus to the people. Youth must necessarily have a wider view-point, a clearer abil - 30