Towson University - Tower Echoes Yearbook (Towson, MD)

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foe fowez' Lyfzt WL. VIII OCTOBER, 1934 No. 1 Privilege Qlirom Antioch Nolesj RIVILEGE, in its unethical sense, is the taking of any advantage-in power, wealth, or opportunity-which is not justified by essential Worth or by service rendered, and which is to the disadvantage of society as a Whole. Privilege has burdened human society, as fleas have infested dogs, from time immemorial. There are few better measures of real civilization than the degree to which men free themselves from this age-old incubus. THE HISTORY OF PRIVILEGE The little fleas that do us tease Have other fleas to bite 'em, And they in turn have other fleas, And so on, ad infinitumf' Wherever life occurs, other life strives to prey upon it. Freedom from parasites--which word is a good synonym for privilege-is not a return to nature, but a move forward to new and unprecedented freedom. Society always has been burdened with human parasites who demand more than their contributions justify. Such favored position, or privilege, always has intrenched itself in law and custom as vested right. The elimination of privilege is a radical undertaking in human history, and will create a new level of social Well-being. Success is yet far from being achieved. TOOLS OR PRIVILEGE Adequate and necessary equipment for doing one's proper Work may be designated as tools. The carpenter does well not to give away his saw and plane, for they are instruments by which he makes himself effective. For a banker with large operations, a hundred million dollars may be as necessary tools as hammer and saw for the carpenter. What- ever one rightfully possesses and necessarily uses for doing his proper work should be considered as tools, not as privilege. For a carpenter needlessly and ostentatiously to enlarge his own house, while his neighbors sorely need his services, would be turning tools into privilege. For a banker to use vast resources to incur unnecessary 3 1355,s'5 J

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Qu. pt: L if-51311531 JIS i ilwfifzf Q., C o n t e n t s PAGE Privilege . . . 3 Poetry ............... 3. 5 Some Eastern Shore Families. . . . 8 Lycopodium ..........g. . 10 Library and Librarian. . . . 11 Notes on Music ..... . 12 Assemblies . . . . 14 Editorials .......... . 16 The Power of Speech .... . 18 Nicky, My Dog ..... . 19 School News .... . 20 Thumbs Up. . . . 23 Sports Slants .... . 29 Advertisements .... . 3 1

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THE TOWER LIGHT personal expenditures, and to use his financial power to make other men pay him tribute for his personal ends, also would be turning tools into privilege. Clearer ethical discrimination is needed to lead men to refrain from using tools as privilege. This is true under either capitalism or socialism. PRIVILEGE OR STABILITY After all reasonable demands of social and economic efhciency have been met, after the forceful man has insured himself a favorable environ- ment in which to work, with powerful and adequate tools in the form of money, plant, or organization, and with abundant reserves, it still remains that many men in addition demand privilege. They would avoid the common lot. They provide themselves luxury denied to other men. They would use the lives of men to maintain a scale of expenditures not necessary for personal or social well-being, in conspicuous contrast with prevailing- standards. This is privilege. In the usages of some labor unions and in many workmen's customs, there are habits of getting pay for work not done, and habits of holding to preferred positions not justified by services rendered. This also is privilege. Privilege is not a characteristic of any one social class, any more than animal parasitism is characteristic of a single species. Many men would keep the present social order unchanged to preserve the privileges they possess, and they smother with denunciation any person who questions any phase of it. Desire for stability is desire for orderly production and distribution of goods, desire that one may reap what he sows, that labor may have its own reward. Desire for privilege constantly hides behind this desire for security. When attacked, it cries that order and security are attacked. Privilege dares not defend itself openly for it is indefensible. It deliber- ately confuses the issue between privilege and security, and then de- nounces the common man for being confused and for attacking security. Privilege is thus the greatest enemy of order and security, for it draws upon them the attacks of men who resent privilege. The flaunting of privilege embitters men. In so far as men of great power are sincerely guardians of that power for the public good, and are willing to share the common lot, to that extent radicalism and bitterness have no permanent hold. LIFE WITHCUT PRIVILEGE How would life be without privilege? Great men would have great tools: power, money, influence, conveniences. Small men would have small but appropriate tools. Genius would have necessary leisure and freedom. 4