Johnson High School - Class Book Yearbook (North Andover, MA)

Page 23 text:

I '11 1936 YEAR BOOK VALEDICTORY Internationalism and Peace HAI perfect st ite of happiness vihere war is exiled and the peoples of the earth live side by side in contentment and peace! Long has this 555555 Utopia been sought throughout the ages, and yet always has it re- ' ' manned out of reach, elusive to the grasp of struggling mankind. Today in our modern age of advanced civilization man is becoming ever more conscious of that ideal, ever more anxious to attain it. XYhenever there is talk of internationalism, most people immediately think of its supposed dangers, its follies, its wickedness. They envision a world with all natural boundaries done away with, all governments made equal, and all those traditions which are the basis of national patriotism abol- ished. But true internationalism is something far different. It is strength- ened by national feeling and pride, but the people instead of showing this patriotism by force and war try to do some service to humanity. In perform- ing this service they are proud because they have made their country more notable, but above all they are glad because they have benefitted the world and their fellovvmen. Peace would be assured by the banishment of national hatreds and jealousies. World peace is extremely important now because we realize the terrible destruction a world war would inflict: world peace has become a necessity because civilized peoples finally realize that if civilization does not conquer war, war will conquer civilization. And yet, since world unity and peace are so clearly an advantage to all, why have they not yet been achieved? It seems a very simple matter to attain them, and the hindrance which has so far prevented them is just as simple. This stumbling-block is human nature. If we should turn back the pages of history to the time of prehistoric man, we should still find human beings struggling against each other. It is their nature and the law of self- preservation to be greedy and grasping for their personal gains. Man has always desired powerg man has always been jealous of someone situated better than himselfg man has always had the desire for revengeg man has al- ways thought that his race. his creed, and his customs were just a little better than all others. These are the conditions which have led to war. They can not be changed. The problem is: Can these natural characteristics be re- strained so that people can live together in toleration of each other? Let us see just how much we have progressed through the centuries .... The first real form of government was the city-state. Athens, Sparta, and Rome belonged in this class. Out of this sprang up the most remarkably su- preme government-the Roman Empire. This rule brought the whole world under one head. Even today we have many evidences of Roman culture, perhaps surpassing that of ours, which shows what this magnificent system accomplished. The Roman Empire was the closest semblance to internation- alism that we have ever known. But this was possible only because all civil disturbances were restrained by the great power at its head. When this cen- tral power fell, the whole structure deteriorated, and the Dark. Ages followed. As this era of ignorance and barbarous invasions passed, nations as we rec- ognize them today were formed. From that time on, Europe was in a state of continual war and turmoil. So we see that when the world became a 21

Page 22 text:

S J0HNs0N HIGH SCHOOL Q-A To another individual patriotism means a whole-hearted loyalty to our government. He considers it his duty as a citizen of the United States to keep himself well informed of the trend of national events,- to select as best he can the proper cause to support in the interest of the general welfare of the country. When he goes to the polls he does his duty as he sees it, con- scientiously, not with any thought of personal benefit or because there may be a friend on the voting list. He votes for the man who, he believes, can do the most to promote the welfare and happiness of the American people, one and all. Still a third idea of patriotism is held by the individual whose pride in our historical heritage is unbounded. He likes to expand upon the bravery of the little band of Pilgrims who formed the nucleus of our great nation,- who suffered untold privations for a cause which they thought right. Often times he boasts of his Pilgrim Ancestry. Various events seem outstanding in the growth of our nation from that time to the present and in every crisis of war or peace there were outstanding characters who seem to symbolize patriotism. There is one more appeal that the word patriotism may have for some of us,- the more civic challenge that the average citizen may answer in his daily life. If each of us in his otwn community would serve his fellow neigh- bors,- would dispense his charity with discrimination- would obey abso- lutely the traffic regulations when driving a car- would even, unobserved, pick up stray bits of glass on the highway or help a fellow traveler in dis- tress- if each of us, in short, would think of others, how could this civic spirit fail to combine in making a better nation- for the whole is but the sum: of its various parts? How complete would be our devotion to our country if we could show it in all these phases! We all can try at least to become exemplary citizens in our own small township 5- we can keep informed of economic values and use our influence to make our nation a better one in which to live- and in our love of country, thrill with pardonable pride at the sight of the stars and stripes- feel a tingling in our pulses at the first triumphant strains of the Star Spangled Banner. DORIS A. LEBEL 20

Page 24 text:

- 10H1vs0N HIGH SCHOOL U W group of nations, each greedily seeking its own exclusive welfare, civilization was turned backward. But what of the efforts which have been made to offset this quarrelsome tendency? America has always supported peaceful policies. though she has not adhered strictly to them. VVashington,jefferson. Theodore Roosevelt, all have favored a policy of aloofness and neutrality toward foreign nations. The Monroe Doctrine, issued to guard America from foreign entanglements. has been our guidepost for the last century. Today we are still trying to follow the advice of the great leaders of our country whose warnings still linger in our memory. We are still trying and must continue to try to gain advantages for ourselves, but not greedily to the detriment of others: rather we must hope that by our example we may benefit our fellowmen. XYe must hope that by our policy of friendly aloofness we may further the cause of international- ism and peace. No more fitting or wiser words can be found than those of George Washington as he said in his Farewell Address: Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence LI conjure you to be- lieve me, fellow-citizensj the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake. It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world. Observe good faith and justice toward all na- tions, cultivate peace and harmony with all. i Mr. Hayes: For four years you have been the beloved and respected prin- cipal of Johnson High School. This is the first graduating class which you have guided through its full four years. Because of this and also because in your daily work and cooperation with us you have endeared yourself to every one of us, the class of nineteen hundred and thirty-six hopes, as it bids you farewell, that it has earned a place in your heart, as you have in the heart of. each and every one of us. Teachers of Johnson Hi-gh School: VVithout your patient and cooperat- ive tutelage, our career at johnson would not have culminated so success- fully. We hope that the passing years will prove that your careful guidance has not been wasted. Parents and Friends: VVe know that your influence has been an inspira- tion to us during our high school course to aim for higher achievements. Your encouraging words have kept us striving onward. This is one debt' which we can never forget. VVe thank you from the depths of our hearts. Schoolmates: As we graduate tonight into the higher school of life, we- leave you the heritage of pride in your school. We hope that in your work in the future you will carry on the standards which we have upheld, and improve the results which we have attained. The happy hours of companionship which we have spent with you will long linger in our memory. Classmates: We have reached a milestone in our pathway of life. The thou ht of separation as we go on, each of us in a different direction. strikes a safnote in this happy hour. May we always remember our high school days, happy and carefree, now seeming so short as they pass Heetingly into! history. They are gone forever, never to return. May we cherish the mem- ory of each other's faces and the beautiful associations formed when we yvere. happy-go-lucky classmates together. Goodbye, and carry on! MARY LOUISE GREENLER 22