Madera Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Madera, CA)

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Nova EXOROIUM a new beginning. For us it represents the gateway to the realization of an ideal, a hope, a dream perhaps, of something new and better for ourselves and mankind. Astrologically we are beginning the age of Aquar- ius, in which events as important as those at the beginning of Pisces (when people like Christ were born) are likely to occur. We hope that in this new age man will at last reach the epitome of civiliza- tion and learn to live in peace, much more diffi- cult than resting in peace, with his fellow man. We, the seniors of Madera High, are facing a new beginning also. We hope that this, our nova exor- dium, will inspire each of us to pursue his individ- ual goals with a new optimism and a new dedi- cation. As members of this generation, we are part of a new attitude toward all aspects of society, includ- ing authority, tradition and morality. This new at- titude is preached vociferously by those of the so- called drug culture, but its scope of influence is much broader. It indicates a general feeling of dis- enchantment characteristic of today’s youth. But possibly there is also a miracle to be found in our somewhat foggy ideas. For in our disregard for the apathy and skepticism of the old generation, we have seized on a new neo-romantic spirit. We have great and far-reaching hopes for improving society. We are questioning, perhaps more than any other generation before us, the validity of worn-out values and antiquated tradition. Our anti-mate- rialistic ideas are perhaps too easily dismissed as being too impractical. We don’t claim to have invented anything new, but we feel we are rejuvenating the somewhat for- gotten subjects of love, amazement, and jubilation. It is said our attitude is a by-product of the af- fluent society we grew up in. (“You don’t know what hard times are. When I was your age. . .”) It is called unhealthy, unrealistic, impractical, immoral, a Communist plot. Some say it will destroy us, some say save us. Some say it will fade away, some say it will rule future lives. Some are thrilled by it, some horrified. And so, youth is, in itself, a controversial issue. You may, dear mothers and fathers, condemn us for what we are. But don’t condemn us for what we aspire to be. Our greatness lies in the future, and this is our nova exordium.