Norwood High School - Tiot Yearbook (Norwood, MA)

Page 12 text:

I0 YEAR BOOK affairs there are two aspects to this perpetual social struggle. First, there is the constant conflict within the in- dividual countries, which during the World Depression, was accentuated, and kept all governments locally en- gaged. Then there is the international aspect of the same problem which will always cause much trouble. For clearer definition, the international viewpoint, between the countries, may be divided into the two classes: the haves and the 'ihave-notsn. Regardless of the internal set-up of a country such as Socialism, Commun- ism, Capitalism, and Democracy, the following countries, with regard to social division, will be classified as haves : France, England, Russia, China, United States, and some of the independent countries that are wealthy in raw materials, such as Norway, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. These countries will always have a common interest and protection, for they are the landowners of the world. In this other group, the so called have-notsn, it seems, strangely enough, that the type of government, Fascism , is an element, Fascism has sprung up in the poor , capitalistic countries that are deficient in money. land, and natural resources. The poorer classes in these countries have been made to realize, through the medium of a dictator, that there is nothing to be had by overpowering the wealthy of the land. On the contrary, they have been made to see that the cause of their plight is due to the stifling, oppressive, foreign countries. This par- tially true attitude, when correctly fos- tered, gives the people of the country a strong nationalistic outlook. It tends to unity, militarism, and a powerful, centralized government. Thus we classify the Hhavenotsn. The ruling countries of the world control about nine-tenths of the terri- tory and people, yet the strongly cen- tralized, proletarian nations are almost as powerful. The paradoxical element about the whole situation is that the Fascists hate the Communists, and the Communists likewise abhor the Fas- cistsg yet the two governments are basicly identical. Both forms have the centralized government. Theoretically they differ only in that the Communist fights against a ruling class within the country, and the Fascist plots against the ruling powers outside his country. Hitler, Mussolini, as well as the Japan- ese Emperor, have encouraged national- ism in their respective countries. They have clearly recognized that the only way for race advancement is by ag- gressiveness and militarism, No one can deny that these dictators have ac- complished their aim. Germany has been transformed from a defenseless, bankrupt, demoralized country into an upright, defiant, centralized people. Germany, ltaly, and Japan are lead- ing the remainder of the world into an armaments race that is leaving the latter, short-winded. Already Great Britain has been enticed into spending ponderous sums of money on protec- tion. This will leave England unable to tend to her foreign markets and she will find herself hard pressed to meet all her obligations. ln the mean- time, Germany, Italy, and Japan, with their aggressive, give-and-take policy,

Page 11 text:

CLASS OF 1937 9 Bill now. Do you know him? He's going to ask his girl, and go with us tonight. He paused in amazement as Bill came toward them. Have you seen your girl already? he began, but halted as Bill broke in. Say, what are you doing here? This is my girl! Ann gasped and started to speak but Jim interrupted. Do you mean that this is the girl you told me about? But there must be a misunderstanding some- where! Ann! Did you tell him you loved sports? And you told me you loved astronomy! Poor Ann could do nothing but nod weakly, looking from one to the other. The boys turned to each other, ignor- ing her. Well, Bill? Well, jim? Let's go to the movies together! If the boys had bothered to turn around, they would have seen their ex-girl-friend looking very distressed, but they did not bother. They were too busy discussing their next tennis game, as they walked arm in arm down the walk. IVlarion I... Gallagher '38 Q THE WAR CRISIS IN THE WORLD TODAY Any condition in world affairs that may exist today is certainly the direct result of the World War. The close of the Great War found the nations of the world in a strange and sorrowful situation. Russia had been swept by revolutiong Austria was dismembered and shorn of its l-lapsburgsg the proud Germany was broken and demoral- izedg Italy had had a taste of gloryg japan had become war-consciousg Great Britain, France and the United States were the dubious victors. The four victors of the war who found themselves still intact, decided on a liberal course of action. Herein, lies the cause of the present world crisis. The framers of the Kellogg-Bfriand pact implied in their treaty that those who had world power would keep it, and those who were without power would not seek it, According to this treaty the set-up of territorial division was satisfactory, and therefore no nation should have a war-like ambition to increase its size or influence. It is easy to see that the big three-France, Britain, and the United States-as the dominant and satisfied powers, were willing to make the existence of the present boundaries perpetual. With a condition such as this, no hope for lasting peace could ever be realized. As Walter Lippman has said in his thesis on War in a Collectivist World , There is a struggle for the supremacy of the world which will never cease until one of the belligerents is annihil- ated. Before one can develop further the fight to the finish program that is conspicuous throughout history, one must line up the nations of the earth into two catagories and explain the underlying reason for such a division. There will always be in Mankind the struggle between the haves and the have-notsn. ln relation to world

Page 13 text:

CLASS OF 1937 ll will have captured these foreign mar- kets and left Great Britain in a weak- ened disillusioned state. This would, without doubt, aggravate the stubborn, trusting John Bull to a state of war. It is not correct to say that war is im- pending as never before, because the grip of the depression has not been lifted from trade and commerce. How- ever, as soon as the period of ex- pansion and recovery occurs, some- one's toes will be stepped on, and the war dogs will bark. The war crisis in the world today may be briefly summarized. The ruling countries of the world, France, Russia, Great Britain, and the United States, have the choice of a peaceful land expansion, or war. The powerful, nationalistic countries, Germany, ltaly, Japan, Austria, Hungary, and Turkey, mean to obtain their raw materials and colonies by means, ethical or other- wise, The Manchurian and Ethiopian incidents substantiate this, Already in the Spanish Civil War, we see a slight conflict between the deadly adver- saries, Fascism and Communism. The hounds of war are beginning to bay, and Mars is polishing his sword. The war-prophets are no longer asking . . . Who? The question that now puzzles the world is . . . When? Carroll Woods '38 a NATURE'S LURE Through my barrier of books I catch the sun's entreating looks, Oh how he calls and calls my name, But all his pleadings are in vain. How can l break these prison walls To answer his repeated calls? These bars are strong, stronger by far Than those of stone and iron are. The clouds look like a downy bed Upon which to rest my weary head. My tired eyes look toward the sky And l wish with all my heart to fly Far away from lesson books, To sunny meadows and tinkling brooks. l long for each soothing caress of the breeze, For the birds and the gentle sway of trees. But all this wandering must end And again to the task, my head must bend. While to all those who work, I say, To the ones who resist this call each day, A time will come when you'll be glad, While many others are regretful and sad, For you can say with an open heart l tried my hardest--l did my part. Alma Spearwater, ' 38