West Seattle High School - Kimtah Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

Page 13 text:

For uncounted generations, in fields and forests and factories, in mines and on the sea, our common ancestors have toiled to bring to pass the high scale of living it is our present fortune to enjoy. ln endless hours of labor, under frightful stresses of discomfort and disease, dirt and weariness, these men and women built the institu- tions and won the freedoms that are our present evidences of civilization. lt has remained for this generation to reap the finest fruit of such sacri- fices in a freedom and control of the forces of nature never before avail- able to mankind. Now our generation finds that the work of its forebears didn't go far enough, that all that was won may yet be lost because of lack of accord and sympathy and cooperation among those who share the gains. ln l945 it is evident that much work and sacrifice is called for to offset the threat to progress involved in World War ll. That still more will be required before freedom from want and fear, freedom of speech t and religion be- come the common act. West Seattle l-ligh School is making its contri- bution in the ages- old warfare. ln the present struggle more than l6UU of h e r s o n s a n d daughters are car- rying on the tradi- tion of, Blood and 5 I ,M I 1 f 1 H., ,lull L l . .N lf ' 4 Y :ink 'X , A sweat and tears and strife, price- less ferments in the wine of life. Forty and more have sacrificed the happy years in store for them that the rest of us might have a fuller measure of the freedom and joy which they forego. To make freedom of worship, free- dom to express ideas, freedom from want and fear, the lot of all people everywhere, calls for toleration and enlightenment it will take a long struggle to bring about. West Seattleites have done a great deal. West Seattleites are doing much. West Seattleites have reason and capacity for doing a great deal more to bring on a hap- pier day for all mankind. -A. LYLE KAYE 7

Page 12 text:

Let's get this war over with as soon as possible. We've got a job to do but we want to get back home as soon as we can. ln those two guotations, we catch the feeling of G. l. loe. l-le has dedi- cated himself to PEACE. He is ready to surrender his personal liberty and his life, if needed, to secure peace. loe has done for us a lot more than we shall ever realize. At the least, we need to ask the guestion, What can we do to make the proper home- coming for foe? Rather pitiful, isn't it, to think of G. l. loe dying or being maimed, in order that Bill or Mary, here at home, may flunk courses, skip classes, or waste opportunity? For- tunately, most of us here in West 6 Seattle High realize that our first obligation to G. l. Ioe is to do our best on the school job. We know also that loe isn't giving up comfort and life for us as individuals. l-le's mak- ing his sacrifice for society-for democratic society. ln repayment, we must prepare our minds to pre- serve and improve that same demo- cratic society. The trouble is that too often we put that responsibility off on some- one else. ln a vague way, we know we have an obligation, but we think that it won't matter too much if we fall down on the job. Someone else will meet the need. And there is a tremendous mistake. No one can pay your debt to G. l. Ioe-except YGU. As you read these words, some- thing must happen in your thinking or else our effort is lost. Take an honest look at yourself. See what you are capable of doing. Make yourself do more than your share. Make many sacrifices for the sake of the American way of life. Are your grades the best you can make them? Are you fair and honest? lf everyone of us will delicate himself Bi to the task of making ,W ' ,Q the most of himself, gl we shall be repay- ing our debt to G. l. l oe and we shall be 3141? laying the finest 'EW foundations for the lf?-'Q qv' days of peace. What TQ, l are you doing about A I the matter? R -REED r'ULroN. 4 if l 1 t

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As the purple shadows of twilight pass over the land of the quiet waters, and young Indians with the dew of high school education still upon their untarnished brows leave the friendly lodge of West Seattle to break new trails in the unknown forests ahead, they arm themselves, not with the flesh searing arrow of their fore- bearers, but with strong minds instead. F or, as if willed by the gods, education and the fearless men and women of our tribe who have brought us from the depths of ignorance into the sunshine of enlighten- ment have championed our ultimate goal -peace. Here, amid the subtle strength of their guidance, we've learned the ways of our fellow braves and respect for the achieve- ments of other tribesmen, as the hands of our clan have helped mold our minds, characters and bodies that we may have the tools with which to become artisans of peace. 'ir