Warren High School - Hilltop Yearbook (Warren, MA)

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Perhaps the most important source of reliable news is through the foreign radio. lt is illegal in Germany to listen to Moscow broadcasts, and anyone caught doing so risks being sent to a concentration camp. Some very brave people, however, in the secrecy of their rooms, turn on the radio very low, always cautious to prevent the broadcast from being heard in the next apartment. In Germany, Dr. joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, has set up Chambers dealing with each aspect of cultural life-literature, press, broadcasting, theater, music, art, films. Membership in one of these Chambers is compulsory. Thus, l5,000 German journalists have become virtually official propagandists, and a deadly uniformity has settled over the press. Quite recently, a journalist on the Borsen-Leitung was jailed for life because he showed foreigners the type of instructions received from the Ministry of Propaganda by editors, the plea being that it was against the State interest to tell outsiders how strictly the German Press is controlled. Goebbels even attempts to control the foreign Press. Since he came into power, he has expelled from Germany sixteen members of the Foreign Press Association, the majority of them for criticisms which would evoke no notice in most countries. As a result of such censorship, the mass of Germans has absolutely no idea of what is happening in the outside world. l shall conclude this topic by quoting William F. Russell, dean of Teachers College, Columbia Uni- versity. Nothing pleases the Communists more, nothing advertises them so much, nothing wins them more converts, than violation of the democratic principles of free speech, free assembly, and free press. We Americans find it hard to believe that accused citizens lif they can be called citizensj under dic- tatorships are denied the privilege of immediate trial by jury. This thought takes me back to the days of the reign of the guillotine in France. At that time there was wholesale execution, without trial by jury, of the common people. We tried to excuse their behavior by using the age-old expression, They weren't civilized. This expression could just as easily be applied to the Fascist and Communist governments, for men are killed, or else thrown into concentration camps without so much as a reason for this action. Day after day we hear of examples of denial of trial by jury. In Germany, the jews and Catholics are thrown into prison by the hundred, without even the thought of a trialg in Russia, those who still cling to democratic ideas and ideals are either thrown into prison-or secretly killed without a trial. The right of a trial by jury makes a person feel that he can defend himself if he is unjustly accused. This privilege is one of the greatest factors in determining whether or not a country is democratic. l doubt if any European can realize until he has been in America how much difference it makes to the happiness of any one to feel that all around him, in all classes of society, and in all parts of the country, there exist in such ample measure so many of the external conditions of happiness, guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. To whom does this denial of the civil liberties of citizens by Fascism and Communism offer a challenge? Throughout my essay l have made reference to the fact that the Fascist and Communist rulers appeal to the youth of their countries. We must fight the dictators with their own methods, The denial of the Bill of Rights offers a direct challenge to the youth of America. Are we going to accept this challenge? Are we going to preserve our Democracy? Are we going to heed the words, Build thee more stately mansions? Or, are we going to succumb to the rule of a despot? That is our challenge! At this point I quote Dr. William H. johnson, Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools. As l came down to my office, yesterday, l paused for a few moments to watch some workmen as they labored in the erection of a new and beautiful building. Great cranes swung the giant beams into place high over my head. Tiny creatures, seeming no bigger than ants, placed brick on brick against a background of floating cloud. At my feet, other workmen sweated as they mixed the mortar that held those distant bricks in place. A hundred other people paused as I did to watch the magic with which a great and good idea unfolded itself into a creation of nobility and grandeur. ln direct contrast to this scene, let us imagine that we are in another section of this same city. l see a building, not a very old one. Several years ago this building was the home of a large and wealthy family. l am told by a passer-by that that family had mingled with an unsatisfactory class of people. The inferior drove out the blue blood. My new acquaintance further assures me that with the taking over of the property by the inferior family, the value of the property has decreased until today the real estate being worthless, it is being torn down for scrap wood. Let us come back to reality. ls the youth of America going to build up, or is it going to tear down? The house that l referred to in my imaginary picture was, in its day, very concrete. lf the building had had proper care, it still would have its mighty strength. Similarly, our United States has been built of fine strong materials-built to remain standing. lt is the duty of the youth of America to do the patch-work when repairs are necessary to keep our mighty building standing, straight and strong.

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After seeing these heart-rending conditions, Reynolds cries, lf you can remain dispassionate and objective to their problem you are made of stone. Likewise, in Soviet Russia where Communism, under the noble rule of Stalin, is supreme, religious free- dom is practically non-existent. Stalin not only controls industry, but also controls the minds and the beliefs of his subjects, Stalin, like Hitler and Mussolini, focuses his attention on youth. All the despots realize that a nation is as its youth is. So, on Sunday, instead of going to catechism classes, the youth of Russia is called to national meetings-similar to the Boy Scouts of America-where he is hypnotised into believing that Communism is his God. When the dictators try to eliminate religion, they are dealing with a sensitive subject, for religion is the soul of man, the lack of which causes him to lose faith in himself and his associates. To have happiness, man must have religion. The next article, freedom of speech, l now shall discuss. Unless people are free to talk as they please, saying what they really think about governmental problems, even when they disagree with the ruling group, the citizens will have no basis for forming intelligent opinions about such problems, and will be unable to exert any real influence on their government. What does man have a mind for, but to tell others what his thoughts are? Of what value is an un- spoken thought? A man may have a wonderful idea of how some problem should be taken care of, but unless he acquaints people with his idea, the plan is practically worthless. ln the United States, through the Bill of Rights, we are urged to speak just what we think about any problem before the nation at large. However, conditions are iust the opposite in the Fascist and Communist governments. People are afraid to speak con- fidentially to their next-door neighbors, for fear that they might be pseudo-friends. Probably the most striking example of how reserved one must be, is the fact that one of Hitler's closest friends was put to death be- cause he had taken the privilege of calling Der Fuehrer by his first name. You may think this is absurd, but it is only one of the many similar cases that occur under dictatorship rule. ln Russia working conditions are very hard on the poor laborer, nevertheless, he has no complaint to make, for he would rather continue under these conditions than risk his life to take a different position. Because freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly are so closely related, l shall consider this article next. Let the right of assembly be abridged, and Communism has a foothold. The freedom to discuss, to disapprove, and to criticize a government's actions is the very thing which free people consider most important. Most of the charges that Fascist governments make against democracy are based on the failure of democracy to display national unity. The dictators believe that freedom of peaceful assembly gives too many diverse opinions. On the surface, the nations living under dictatorships are strong and unified, but is is my opinion that the dictatorships are like false faces on Hallowe'eng the Fascist nations are not built upon unity, but upon fear of the power of the government, No one dares stand in front of an assembly and denounce the government. He would be immediately arrested on the pretext of insanity. lust think of all the societies we, as citizens of the United States, belong to. Each individual society has its own purpose and its own ideas on current problems. ln Germany, even labor unions are outlawed. The citizens have no way to protest against the treatment they receive. The workers are obliged to accept the conditions imposed by the dictatorships or else run the risk of landing in a concentration camp. ln the United States, when the presidential campaigns start, members of the leading parties spread propaganda every possible way. Speech after speech is delivered. Certain individuals believe in one man's plat- form, others believe in his opponent's platform. Everyone has a right to his own opinion, everyone has a right to voice his own opinion. Of course, this is not true in Germany, ltaly, Russia, and japan. You probably notice when the figures on the elections are published, that Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and Hiranuma are elected by a decision of ninety- nine and a fraction per cent in favor, to a small per cent opposed. What happens to the small fraction who have courage enough to vote against the dictator? Your guess is as good as mine! I maintain that if an idea is so subversive that it cannot be talked about openly, it is not worthy of consideration. Probably the freedom most denied by Fascist and Communist governments is freedom of the press. l might start this paragraph by telling of a rather humorous situation in Italy, Mussolini does not like Mickey Mouse. He says that our beloved screen and comic character is a softy, and Mussolini, doesn't want his young Fascist followers to admire softies. l think in some cases that Mickey Mouse could influence the young Italians along better lines that does ll Duce. . So rigid is the censorship of the press in Germany, Russia, ltaly, and other totalitarian states, that the public is kept in complete darkness about things the government does not care to have them know.

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Today this building is greatly in need of repairs. Fascism and Communism appear to be gaining a foothold in the world, When we realize that the personal freedoms our forefathers worked so hard to get are being denied under Fascist and Communist rule, we assure ourselves that we never want to be ruled by either of these two types of government. Very soon, we, the youth of America, will be the leaders of our government. We must prepare our- selves now for our future lives. We must not allow ourselves to become lazy about our duties as citizens, for when the people give up their duties and privileges, the dictator has the opportunity to step in and take over control of the government. Another duty of the youth is to keep well informed on current eventsg for to carry out our ideals we must have a complete knowledge of the political, social, and economic problems of our country and the world. We must build ourselves, as well as our mansion, to be stately and strong. The strength of a nation depends on the strength of its people. This is our problem. No one else can solve it for us. Are we going to build up, or are we going to tear down? After discussing the demerits of the Fascist and Communist countries in connection with the Bill of Rights, l can think of no better way to conclude my essay than to quote the famous words of Henry Van Dyke, So it's home again, and home again, America for me! My heart is turning home again, And there l long to be, In the land of youth and freedom Beyond the ocean bars, Where the air is full of sunlight And the flag is full of stars. r BIBLIOGRAPHY Weekly News Review Vol XVII No. l4, l2fl2f38 pg. 3 lbid lbid No. l9, lf3Of39 pg. 3 lbid lbid No. l7, lfl6f39 pg. 3 lbid lbid No. 9, ll! 7138 pg. 6 The Popular Educator No. 4 Design for a Modern Democracy pp. 298, 299 Scudder, Horace: A New History of the U. S. Butler, Sheldon Er Co., l884 pp. 246-250 Scudder, Horace: Scudder's History of the U. S. Butler, Sheldon G Co. l897 pp. l9l, 205 Sokalsky, G. E. How Long Will We Have Religious Freedom? Liberty Vol. I5 No. l7, 4f23f38 pp. 5, 6 Reynolds, Q. Unwanted ColIier's 2111139 pp. l2, l3, 28, 30 Bloom, Sol: The Story of the Constiuttion 7f28f37 pp.44-46 johnson, W. H. Build Thee More Stately Mansions World Horizons Vol. 2 No. 4 l2f38 pp. I6-l7-49 Bill of Rights Scholastic H7139 Wunderlich, F. 'lt's A Man's World In Germany Reader's Digest 2138 pp. 92-93 Mann, T. The Coming Victory of Democracy Reader's Digest lOf38 pp. 7l-74 Adams, F. P. The Freedom of the Press Reader's Digest 5f38 pp. lO9, llO Roberts, Stephen H. The House That Hitler Built Reader's Digest 5f38 pp. ll2-l28 ' ANNE NELLIGAN '39 WAS FLANDERS FIELD IN VAlN? Another Armistice has rolled around, and with it the eternal round of memories, some bitter and some sweet. Was Flanders Field in vain? To those who say No , What good did it do? , This havoc merely plunged the world into chaos, out of which it hasn't crawled yet , Flanders Field was in vain! In l9l7, three hundred out of the seven hundred enrolled students of Notre Dame volunteered. I wonder how many are alive-and happy. In l9l7, many others volunteered. Brave, weren't they? But they did not realize the true horror of war, nor did they realize what the outcome might beg if they had, one-half of them would not have volunteered. There was the idealistic group who went for patriotism, there was the romantic group who volunteered for the glory of war, but this is medieval. There is no glory in modern warfare! On the Western Front many geniuses died, men who could be put to good advantage now: scientists, great doctors, mathematicians, psychologists, and statesmen. My aunt's sweetheart, a professor at Durham at the age of twenty, a graduate of four colleges lwithout high school educationl, a genius of mathematics and sciences-he was one of all those Dluckv marines pulverized to bits in the Meuse-Argonne. ln l9l7, lthe Americans were already established in Francel the American hospitals had erected bases on the front lines, the Red Cross on the roof of a building was sacred, or they thought so. One