Los Angeles High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

Page 30 text:

M MARSHALL PAXTON, Student Body president What has been America's contribution to world progress? What has our country done to further the advancement of civilization? No more challenging questions than these could be asked of us as young Americans. America ,as a nation among nations is youngg but with this newness comes a freshness of idea, method, and policy. Yes, our part in the advance- of civilization has been great, for we have contributed much in the fields of art, music, agriculture, natural resources, transportation, and invention. However, if we would but stop to think, we should discover that these are but minor steps toward our really momen- tous contributions to the progress of the world. Our first truly great contribution came with the landing of the first Pilgrim on our shores because he brought with him the ideal of two qualities almost unheard of in those times, namely, justice and liberty. He helped give the people of the world an example of a land where rich and poor were judged alike, and where every man was his own dictator. As a nation, we have given the world a feeling of peace and security, and set an example of a country governed by the rule of the greatest good for the greatest number. Our country is founded on the policy of union in a common defense for the general welfare of allg it is governed by and for the people in it. These conceptions of government are the reasons people in other lands work most of their lives to be able to seek the security offered by America. These policies become even more important when we realize that they are the backbone of our existenceg they are set up in the preamble of our constitution. They are the fundamentals by which we are ruled. Truly then, it can be said that the real contributions of America to world progress are our high ideals and our form of government, which is for the good of all. Let us as future citiz.ens and as loyal Americans fervently pray that ours will always be a land of the free and home of the brave. Sincerely, MARSHALL PAXTON thirty

Page 29 text:

S T D E N T i

Page 31 text:

The destiny of our complex world is controlled by individuals. The progress made in various countries has been in accordance with knowledge and education. From this standpoint, America has been the outstanding contributor. Soon after the establish- ment of our government, the leaders realized the necessity of education, and our public school system developed. In our schools, we have no discrimination of persons because of race, color, or creed. It is possible for all to avail themselves of these educational opportunities in our United States. The compulsory attendance at insti- tutions of learning has resulted in a degree of literacy found in no other nation of the world. These educational facilities have influenced our modern life, for never before have people been as cognizant of pertinent issues. The youth of America have, indeed, a rich heritage! We, the graduating class of W'Ll0, appreciate our educational advantagesg and our hands shall now shape new contributions to world progress! Sincerely yours, CONSTANCE KIVARI Today apparently, America has very little to offer other nations. With another World war raging, it appears that our contributions in the fields of peace and World friendship have failed completely. But I believe that before us lies a great chance to contribute to the world many of our traditions and ideals. While the rest of the world is fighting, we can be teaching and learningg while others are forming hatreds, we can be forming friendships: and while Europe is tearing down its civilizations, we can be creating a finer culture, dedicated to the betterment of mankind. Americas contributions to world progress will be to observe our great ideals of equality and freedom of speech, press and religion, and above all our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When peace comes again to the world, we must be prepared to teach peace through democracyg for democracy is not just a form of government but a philosophy of life. The obligation will devolve upon us to con- tribute to the suffering nations our ideal of man's living together with man in peace. Sincerely yours, BOB McCLEAN America's contributions to world progress have been important in the fields of art, science, literature, industry, and government. But, today, as war ravages the frontiers of Europe, our thoughts are drawn rather to Americas contributions in the fields of goodwill, friendship, liberty, equality, and justice. America is a splendid example of goodwill, for on our Northern border, not one fortification exists from the Atlantic to the Pacific. She is also a splendid example of liberty, for each individual may speak, write, and worship as he pleases, he is limited only where he endangers the rights of others. Equality is also another of Am.erica's attributes, for, regardless of race, color, or creed, all have the opportunity of educationg and when majority is reached, of suffrage. Justice is found in her tribunals for both, rich and poor, guilty and innocent. These ideals are America's true contributions. Sincerely, LETA-FERN GALENTINE Constance Kirari Lcta-Fern Galentine Bob McCZczm thirty-one