Warren High School - Hilltop Yearbook (Warren, MA)

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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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LITERARY F R E E D O M I THE OBIECTIVE OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS My country 'tis of thee Sweet Land of liberty . . . . Let freedom ring. These words by Samuel Francis Smith instill patriotism in the hearts of every true American citizen. The freedom and liberty that Samuel Francis Smith refers to are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution. A discussion of the Bill of Rights has never been more timely than at present when so many countries are denied the freedom given under this document. To understand this question fully, it is necessary to know a brief history of the adoption of the Constitution and the first ten amendments to that great body of laws. Before the Constitution was adopted, the several states were governed by the Articles of Confedera- tion. This loosely-knit body of laws had no power over the states. The nation was chaotic. lt was impossible for the country to prosper under those conditions, thus, the Constitutional Convention was called. As a result of the cooperation of the ablest men of the day--Washington, Hamilton, Madison, Franklin, Morris, Randolph-we now enjoy the liberties guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States of America. When the different state conventions discussed the Constitution, many fears were expressed lest it should make the government too powerful. Some thought that the people were in danger of losing their liberties. Patrick Henry, the greatest American orator, in thunderous voice denounced the Constitution be- cause it lacked a Bill of Rights. I james Madison pledged his word that at the earliest opportunity he would use his energy toward placing into the Federal Constitution the requisite amendments guaranteeing the citizens' rights and privileges. Congress, therefore, as soon as it convened, submitted twelve amendments drawn up by james Madi- son. Ten of these articles were ratified by the States and are known as the Bill of Rights. This Bill of Rights was intended to guard the freedom of the people against the perils which had beset them just before the War of Independence. The Bill of Rights is the very core of the constitution. I might say the core itself is the first article which guarantees us four fundamental freedoms-freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of peaceful assembly. Without these freedoms democracy cannot exist. In my opinion, Article I plus Article VI, trial by jury, constitute the most important articles in the Bill of Rights. I, therefore, shall confine myself to discuss only these two articles. Although the other civil liberties are tremendously important, religious freedom is outstanding be- cause lt 2 Opens the soul of a man to the inspiration of faith. Without faith in God and, therefore, in himself, man is inevitably enslaved to the dark and poisonous forces of despair and selfishness. There is a universal recognition of the fact that Cod is the father of many different children and that each of His children worships, loves, adores, calls to Him in a different manner-each according to his own conscience. No one can deny this fact, and yet, years ago, man was told by his superior that he had to worship God as his superior worshiped Him. Today conditions are even more tragic. It is not a particular church or a particular religion that the despots hate. It is all religion, for faith in God forbids making a god out of the ruler. For this reason, the dictators of the world have organized a campaign against religion. Probably the saddest example of the denial of religious right is the persecution of the jewish race in Germany. We hear many people say, Conditions in Germany can't be so bad as we hear. To refute this state- ment, I shall quote Quentin Reynolds, who was sent to Europe to get first-hand information. He talked with German officials, jewish refugees, English benefactors alike. Reynolds recounted a few authentic incidents. 3 ln Dortmund a jew was forced to crawl three miles on his hands and knees. In Leipzig forty jews were forced to stand in a sewer up to their armpits in filth. On the Lehninstrasse, the working quarter of Berlin, a jew of seventy-five was knocked down and trampled to death. ln Nuremberg a jew, trying to defend himself, produced a passport with an American visa. He was accused of going to America only to spread propaganda. His throat was cut. I. The Story of the Constitution -Senator Ashurst-pg. 45. 2. Liberty Apr. 23, l938, How Long Will We Have Religious Liberty? pg. 6 3. CoIlicr's, Feb. ll, l939, Unwanted pg. 28

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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.