Watertown High School - Annual Yearbook (Watertown, MA)

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C0 the 61455 of 1946 . . . You are the first class to graduate from the Watertown High School since peace has been restored to the world. Your generation has now the tremendous responsibility of seeking ways and means and finding the solution for a lasting peace through world unity. Science has progressed at a rate that is almost beyond human comprehension. New and rapid means of comnmnication, transportation, and production have caused nations to become infinitely more dependent upon and responsible to each other for their actions. The science of human relationships has not kept paceg man has not become adequately mentally or morally pre- pared for coping with his scientifically changed world. Because of these developments the friction which may arise between nations is of concern to all nations whether they are involved in the im- mediate misunderstanding or not. It is your problem to lend your influence in bringing about world unity so that these tremendously important tech- nological developments may be used for the advantage of mankind rather than for bringing about its destruction. War must cease to be a determining factor in the future of any nation. In order to avoid war you must think not only of material and economic gain but also of understanding the problems of other people, their needs and desires. Support the ideals that tend to influence people into dealing ethically and understandingly with one another. National as well as individual security in the future rests upon the ability of the individual to think in terms of world problems. You as individualslmay never sit at the conference table where international affairs are arbitrated even though you may have the privilege as citizens of interpreting properly the results of such meetings. But you as individuals are important. As you and your neighbors live and think and bear your share of voting and office-holding responsibility, so will the town and state and nation reflect your individual life and philosophy. As graduates you must meet your responsibilities as intelligent citizens, and you can do this best by trying to realize that the peace and dignity of your country can and must be main- tained through a real understanding of the value of world unity. y

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ls , Uzeme Throughout the ages global unity has been the goal of sages and idealists as the only means of maintaining lasting peace. From the days of Dante and Grotius to the time of Smuts and Wilson, organizations binding the nations of the world have been attempted. Always there has been the stumbl- ing-block of so harmonizing two great interests of the state, international peace and national sovereignty, that peace will be permanent and sovereignty inviolate. Mere negative renunciation has never proven suliicient to abolish war. The setting up of a practicable alternative has proven far more diliicult. Many plans, among them the ill-fated League of Nations, proposed with full sincerity have failed due to selfishness, greed, and suspicion among countries. The creation of a workable machinery for international co-opera- tion is only part of the solution of securing global unity. By far the bigger problem is the task of establishing a world-wide good-neighbor policy. Nations, like individuals, must establish relations that are friendly, candid, and co-operative. Co-operation among nations in business, the sciences, art, and sports will play a large role in establishing mutual understanding. Any plan to succeed must have the support not only of the governments but also of the peoples of the world. Citizens of different nations must better acquaint themselves with one another. Then, through the compelling power of an enlightened popular mind, may world harmony be promoted. Our brothers and sisters have fought to win peace. With the advent of the atomic era every common-sense citizen of the world realizes that no nation can survive without international good will, that, without global unity, this peace for which so many have sacrificed can never be a lasting peace. History shows that the United States has been a leader in the international peace movement. World power involves world responsibilities and The World, now in the midst of a gigantic reconstruction period, looks to America for leadership. At our command is a country rich in rights and liberties, knowledge and materials. In the near future the task of promoting global unity will fall on us, the present generation. We shall accept that responsibility!

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