University Daily Kansan
Page 6
Friday, Dec. 15, 1961
Dictatorship Aids ShelterAnswerby1984
Dictatorship Aids Cuban Reforms, States Student
A student's statement that Castro-type dictatorship is necessary in Latin America to achieve social and economic reform led to an argument on the comparative merits of dictatorship and democracy in Latin America.
The argument occurred in the World Crisis Day discussion group on "The Challenge of Castroism in Latin America," led by Robert T. Tomasek, assistant professor of political science, and Seymour Menton, associate professor of Romance Languages.
"ISN'T THE REAL problem that our type of political democracy won't work in Latin America? Democracy as we know it can't exist there, for one good reason, that the people are largely illiterate."
Prof. Tomasek asked him if the same situation was not true in the United States in the early 1900's. Prof. Menton added that a dictatorship may be the starting point for reform, but that political democracy must not be sacrificed in the long-run.
The student said:
"The question is whether dictatorship will evolve into democracy after the reforms are achieved," he said.
Prof. Menton pointed out that almost all the "absolute dictators" have been thrown out of Latin American countries since 1955.
"THESE COUNTRIES are now practicing an imperfect political democracy," he said. "Our hope is that progress will be made and that economic reforms will be introduced.
"If not, some type of revolution similar to Castro's will probably occur." he added.
The student asked if all dictatorships are necessarily evil, and repeated his earlier remark that dictatorships are the only systems which can achieve reform in Latin America.
Prof. Menton said there is a difference between "imperfect democracy" and absolute dictatorships, and said absolute dictators are not necessary.
"AUTOCRATIC RULE is bad because it allows no opposition," he said.
The student replied:
"Then you wouldn't call Batista a dictator; he allowed opposition. I saw the posters myself when I was there."
Prof. Menton pointed out that all dictatorships go through the "farce of elections," but that no actual opposition is allowed in dictatorships.
Earlier, Prof. Tomasek said the principal threat of Castro is the symbol he provides for Latin Americans.
Prof. Says 'No Morality in War'
Richard DeGeorge, assistant professor of philosophy, told a Crisis Day seminar yesterday there is no moral justification for all-out nuclear war.
Prof. DeGeorge said the moral war is one fought in defense either against physical destruction or the threat of the loss of values held as important to a society.
Such wars, he said, when fought with conventional weapons, can be justified because after the fighting civilization is able to go on.
The moral objection to nuclear war, he said, is that it would be massive. Even though human beings were not wiped from the earth, civilization would be thrown back to an early primitive stage, he said.
He said it was his belief that if only one or two nuclear bombs could settle a war or if the war could be fought with "clean" bombs, a defensive war might be justified.
In effect, he said, if the U.S. were attacked by Soviet nuclear weapons and U.S. retaliation would constitute the destruction of all civilization, the U.S. would be morally obligated not to retaliate.
"By 1984 right may be wrong and wrong may be right."
Thus stated Mr. Thomas Moore, executive secretary for the KU YMCA yesterday in showing the relativeness of the question of whether or not it is moral to build fallout shelters.
Although many situations were advanced in the seminar all of the voices seemed to agree that morality is a relative thing.
The basis of the discussion and the decision adopted by the seminar was that morality, as is commonly interpreted by the current mores of our society, would be breached if the U.S. were to use the presence of fallout shelters as an excuse to be more free with threats of nuclear attack and, possibly, the use of nuclear weapons.
David Wuson, Salina junior, said, "I think fallout shelters will allow an excuse for the U.S. to use nuclear power as a weapon. Shelters would make an acceptance of a war and therefore make it easier to use nuclear power."
Jack Klauson, Kansas City freshman, said that morality is not the question and that it has been passed up long ago. Practicality outweighs the moral issue, he said, and shelters are a necessity in all practical senses.
Commenting on a question as to whether or not the U.S. might grow lax in their peace efforts, Klauson said, "I wonder if the people who
built thick walls in their log cabins forgot the Indians."
"It (shelters) may be thought of as a problem of practicality if, and only if, it does not eliminate the fear of war," concluded Mr. Moore. "Here there is no moral question. It acts as an insurance policy to individuals."
Hashinger Hall Will Open Fall '62
itshinger Hall — KU's new dormitory in the "Daisy Field" area along Iowa Street — is about 50 per cent completed, J. J. Wilson, dormitory director, said today.
He said construction workers are now doing roofing work and are putting in window frames. A small amount of brickwork still remains, he said.
The dormitory, which will be similar to Lewis and Templin Halls in floor plan, will house 456 students. It is expected to be ready for occupancy in September, 1962.
Mr. Wilson said the cold weather and snow had slowed up work somewhat.
"The building isn't completely closed yet, and the permanent heating isn't in, but work is still progressing," he said. "Men were on the job each day this week."
Kansan Want Ads Get Results
"Tareyton's Dual Filter in duas partes divisa est!" says Lucius (Dead-eye) Claudius, crack marksman of the XVI Cohort catapult team. "People come from Nero and far for Tareyton," says Dead-eye."Vero, Tareyton's one filter cigarette that really delivers de gustibus. Try a pack and see why the whole gang in the cohort is forum."