Wesleyan University - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Middletown, CT)

Page 5 text:

1942 OLLA. PODRIDA

Page 7 text:

Tl lE Cl-llEF DUTY of a liberal arts education is to give the student :1 sense of lwoportion, At first consideration, this might seem it somewhat trivial goal, not worth the expense, nor the time involved in reaching it. Most seniors usually vole tltat their diplomats anti their degrees arc the highest honors 11 college can bestow; only :1 few of them ICull7C, at the some time, that the diploma and degree they i'eeeive is merely a symbol oil the sense of proportion they have gained, and that insofar as they have l'ailetl to gain that sense, the symbol is :1 hollow one. For :1 sense of proportion is the only true road to Wristlom. It is the philosophy ol- knt'nrledge as truly as love is the philosophy of Christianitnyet l- tf'isclom, m-tti with all thy getting, get Understanding. It is L1nFortunntely true that any people who pride tl1emselt-es on their realism helieve that there is only one object in going to college! and that object is to in- crease their earning potential. It is also true that very often these people are sue- eessliul in a linttneial way. But even then they are to he pitietl. They are the lawyers who understand law but know nothing of Justice; the doctors who can heal, but are never touehetl by the tenderness of their healing; the preachers who are eloquent upon their pulpits, but have never sat a-tlone in :1 room with God. ThtwI are men who are only half alive, for locking the means to Wlisdom, thet-r :1re unaware of the eternal truths and the real accomplishments of human en- tlezwor which have raised men to at state of dignity. In these times, it is doubly important that the youth oF our country gain this sense of proPortion. It is more important to the life of our democracy than 21 two- oeean navy, or a huge army. Vile must not forget that until Germany lost this priceless essential, she too was :1 democracy. The policy of guns instead of butter, of social hatred, and of state slavery is a perversion of natural law. IF we lose sight, or fail to catch sight of what are eternal values, we could become its totalitarian as either Germany or japan. Our Constitution would not save us CGermany had omQ nor would the collection of Inetlioerities that we place in the legislative branches of our government. 0111' salvation is in ourselves, and 21:; certain only as we are strong in our VK-lisdom. Today, when war for America has become a reality, and when at any moment we. may be. 'alletl upon to saetil'iee our lives. would it not be well to really attain XViSLlOI'n? Then. knowing the worth of what we are lighting llor, having humanity and democracy mean more than words, we would not be so llCilrlllll of our sacri- hce.-Cct l-l-listiom, umi with all this vettinv, let Umiersttimli-n 1. , en a E. :3 JACK OEBRIEN Jt