University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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A Forum for World Affairs by HORACE LADD McIJNDE.X In the civilized world there has always been cooperation between thinkers: it has been conspicuous in the most brilliant j eriods of history. Never has such cooperation required as much assistance and organization as at the present time. It is, therefore, the aim of the International Relations Club to set up an exchange for intelligent opinion. Through unbiased consideration of world affairs we try to discover new | erspectives, for we feel that a clearer understanding will bring about a more personal meaning in the news. We feel sure that the future of knowledge and peace depend in a large measure on a collective effort. Specialized centers are required for the collection of information; such centers alone can keep up with tin-changes made in the various fields of study. They must constitute living organs of information. In a not too small measure, the I.R.C. is equipped to do this work on the campus; to carry out this task we maintain a growing library as well as an active membership. We are a group that has become future-conscious. Without false ambitions we today acknowledge that it will he individuals like ourselves who will be tomorrow's leaders. We have only to look about us to discover the serious-minded individual leading in society. Perhaps these remarks have seemed a far cry from any real description of the organization. Hut I cannot Ik too emphatic in stressing the individual as lieing the most important factor; the group is a vital element in the University because of the individual. In other words, the | eople in the club are students endowed with the intellectual curiosity necessary for the achievement of personal and group culture. . . . tries to discover new perspective. The International Relations Club analyses the importance of world events. In our international world, this past academic year has lx»en more than significant. We have watched more stark drama recorded than in any like | eriod since the World War. Wc have scanned the Oriental and European stage with real concern. We have seen the cancerous plague of intolerance sweep civilized nations into retrogression. We have lx cn alarmed at the power of propaganda in all countries. Wc have discussed events that compel us to question the future of democracy. In these post-Munich days we feel that intelligent research and discussion is necessary if we are to continue to lx free men. There have been many times when we have disagreed among ourselves—and to disagree is but one cherished right which every member of the I.R.C. feels he can and must take when he believes in his opinion. Wc put the highest of all values upon the luxury of protest, upon the right of any minority. It is that small but vigorous voice which can keep our nation and campus democratic. The members of the I.R.C. have had an active year. They were students who were not content to lx merely consumers of culture at the University, but producers as well. By their experience they have become more articulate: and by so doing have realized that their own perspectives have broadened. The result has been a sharper consciousness of news and the desire to analyze its effect. This is the reason for the I.R.C. (CONTIM'KI) ON PAGB W.i [30] I.R.C President Ilud McLInden addressing Ihe Club

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bors. On the whole. Dr. Hippy is optimistic although he admits that the Fascist countries. Germany. Italy, and Japan are making tremendous cultural and commercial drives in Latin America. He stated that the commercial gains of the totalitarian nations were at the expense of England rather than of the United States: but the greatest safeguard we have is the individualistic character of the Latin Americans themselves with their devotion to personal liberty, peace and justice, democracy, nationalism, and their proven capability of effective resistance to foreign control. Dr. Ralph S. Hoggs, folklorist of the University of North Carolina, brought an entirely new concept of international understanding with the knowledge of the folklore of differing people as a basis. Folklore has always been a force in cultural life, that of time honored tradition divorced from science, with qualities of sincerity and unadornment: it reflects the truest form of the fundamentals of life. It fluctuates and yet is stable, since it preserves the Ixtsic values and nothing is more typical of a people than their folklore, which shows the race genealogy the cultural family tree. When one realizes that it develops fairly the same throughout the world it readily becomes valuable as a medium of international understanding, which must always precede international relationships. Dr. Boggs pointed out that although folklore is a science in that it is a comparison and identification of the revival of archaic beliefs and a study of the unrecorded traditions of a people, it has until very recently l ecn accorded only the interest of the nursery. It now awaits the conquistadores. those who will carry on in the field, living careful in the methods of bringing the folklore of one country to another, in that it should be impartial, not on the basis of one's own standards. It is bound to grow as a science and lake its place in universities, libraries, archives, and governments; then a firm basis of international understanding may lie formed with folklore as the common denominator of all peoples. To have a comprehensive understanding of the Latin Americans, their background in Spain is an essential prerequisite: the Directors of the Hispanic-American Institute afforded the opportunity of hearing Dr. Homero Seris, of Spain, known for his work in the field of literary criticism. Dr. Sens gave a discussion of the Literature of Spain not only in the first Golden Age of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but also the claims for recognition of a second Golden Age in the nineteenth century. The fourth speaker. Dr. John Tate banning of Duke University, is the recognized authority on Swinish American colonial universities: in his lectures he [29] clearly brought home the fact that there is absolutely no basis on which we may place our customary attitude of arrogance and condescension toward our southern neighbors; for South American culture, civilization. and intellectual pursuits antedates our own by over one hundred years. When we realize the ser-vilism inculcated by the scholasticism of the colonial regime, we can more readily appreciate the profound struggle that must have taken place in every individual to bring about the philosophical revolution in Latin America in the latter part of the 18th century, which of necessity must preceed the | olitical revolution of any country. Beginning the last week of the Institute Dr. Wilfrid Hardy Callcott of the University of South Carolina, spoke on the subject of Mexico, that country of all the Latin American countries with whom we have had the most trouble throughout our respective histories. Dr. Callcott gave a most comprehensive picture of Mexico, politically, economically, and socially, in a manner with such compact comprehensibility that his point is clear: Mexico is pursuing the proper path and will undoubtedly work out her own destiny. Dr. Richard Pattee. Senior Divisional assistant in the Division of Cultural Relations of the Department of State, completed the lecture series. The majority of people in thinking of Latin America, think of it as Spanish America: this is a fallacy with no realization of the fact that one country in South America is larger than the United States and is completely Portuguese in origin and |M licies. Too many have neglected the study of the Portuguese contribution to America. Brazil is a tribute to an advanced stage of civilization and culture in that her jieoples conquered not through fire and sword, but through spiritual means, three great institutional evolutions without war or bloodshed: the separation from Portugal, the abolition of slavery, and the establishment of the Republic. This has meant that Brazil has been a bulwark of peace and tranquility on the American continent and goes far toward explaining our friendly relations with her (CONTIXI'KI) ON PAtilt W.. John Tutr 1-iiiiiimk J. t-'rrJ lUppy

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The Spirit of Youth . . . braces our morale and optimism, helps us grit our teeth and hit things hard; leads to forward-looking not backward-looking plans. by PHILIP FEXIGSOX Miami is a sheltered place: China and Spain struggle against civilized” hordes of planes, tanks, poison gas. heavy artillery, sanguine Moors and bow legged Japs, “superior Germans and scared Italians—but here the sun is a caressing maiden and the air a natural cooling system; millions of men. women, children were cold this winter, and hungry and disillusioned — while we sailed the Hay and became complacent. purring stomachs sleeping on the beach, our eyes closed to the world: tension of death in Europe here the tension of the roulette wheel and the slot machine. Yes, Miami is a tucked-away place, a beautiful magically perfumed balsam-city where even the hurricanes visit on schedule and are awaited with less excitement than the approaching racing season. Miami, too. is a kind place where the IkhkI-clipping old can retreat for bridge and gossip: where the sick can lie healed. Hut what does Miami offer us. the youth? the healthgiving sun. ocean, tennis courts and golf links, the l each: and death to the intellect, the deep spirit within us that must lie stirred and nurtured by thought and social action if it is to In-come human? How can we, the youth, be spared from the balsam that is embalmment, the perfume that is hemlock? For we must In- spared. Complacent youth is duped youth, parasitical and unhealthy. We can be spared by becoming students instead of mere enrollees at the University of Miami. We must get, from the liooks and teachers, all that our inherent ability will permit us to get. And. too. we must attempt to make our education more complete by developing a social awareness. What, you ask, is this thing called social awareness ? Wc might say that it is a genuine objective outlook on things and people; an ethical judgment of a problem after all sides of the question have been studied inductively: and. further, the willingness to do something about the thing. It is a hard thing to get. this social awareness, not only because the tropics are a sort of drug, but because very few of us give a damn about people and things outside of ourselves, our fam- ily. and our friends. We say, We have our own lives to live, we want some enjoyment out of life. And such, rightly, is our privilege. Hut what about duty? Duty to whom?, you ask. And conscience and plain common sense answer: duty to our government (for we are citizens) and duty to the world of men (for. perhaps, we can Ik called men). You will have nothing to do with duty?, you say. Hut wait. Duty is no longer even part of life's bargain of give and take. With the world bloody because our righteous” people are our hv| ocritical jK-ople; with democracy, the young tree of man’s young seed of morality, bending under the force of a storm—duty becomes more than a privilege: it becomes a necessity of free life. Perhaps many of you are snickering by now at ranting, pedantic preacher? If you are. I am sorry, for it is probably my fault. Perhaps the words falling heavily like hammer blows (or do I flatter the writer, in a way?) do sound pedantic: perhaps 1 should have chosen simpler language and a less concentrated style. Hut. whatever the faults are in the writing, what is being said here is not empty preaching that can Ik forgotten like the Sunday sermon is usually forgotten after we have had a big dinner and a warming nap. What is being said here is simply facts about a rapidly changing world; and the purpose of saying it is also a simple one: in this generation the world will either change to a fanatical place of bigotted. quarrelling nationalistic states (for a time, at least) or slowly develop toward a world brotherhood of men. This is not mere guessing: we can see the trends taking shape from what we read in the newspapers. The youth of America can help the world choose its future. In few countries are people as free to think and act morally as we are here in the United States. In Germany and Italy morality is being suffocated because nationalism cannot tolerate the thing we call conscience; but here we can sti’I attempt to solve problems unselfishly. If we will. This is the big thing —this If we will.” For wc can either say. We can't [31] C.ONTINt KI» ON PACE W