A Corrosive Agent
Political campaigns can bring out the best, but more often the worst in men.
The campaign oratory of Adlai Stevenson provided an example of political utterance in its most refined form.
It is, of course, too much to ask that our political personalities possess the eloquence and refined sensitivity of a Stevenson. But the stresses and strains of the current campaign, designed to win control of the Congress for the Republican party, have again focused attention upon the rhetoric of Spiro Agnew, who seems to cultivate the limelight of controversy.
With his sparkling alliteration, Agnew (who is reputed to learn at least one new word every week) has recently lashed out against "troglodytic leftists" (dangerous political cave dwellers), "nattering nabobs of negativism" (babbling men of great wealth or prominence), "pusillanimous pussyfooting" (cowardly namby-pambies), "whimpering isolationism" (self-explanatory), "mulish constructionism" (also self-explanatory), and last and most despicable of all, the "hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history."
The newly-named chief adversaries for Agnew are the "radiclibs." This rare group includes most all Democrats, but especially those up for re-election. Membership in this category is restricted to those guilty of isolationism, permissiveness, obstructionism and the advocating of inflationary government spending for domestic programs.
The central theme, if there is one, in Agnew's speeches is not a thoughtful or probing discussion of the critical issues facing us. He is concerned with what he calls the "paralyzing permissive philosophy" prevalent in America today.
Agnew's current effort to indict the philosophy of Dr. Spock for all that is troubling America today is not only inadequate but contributes to his reputation as one of the most corrosive agents on the political scene today. Agnew has become so enthralled with this role that he reportedly is finding less and less time to perform his Constitutionally appointed role, that of presiding over the Senate.
But his vast popular appeal obviously stems from his essential theme. The easy allure of a national "get tough" policy pleases many Americans, who want to substitute such a policy for genuine solutions to the serious problems facing us today.
—Bob Womack
The limitless platform that America provides for its vice president could be a focus for serious discussions and in-depth analyses of the causes and solutions of American crises. Instead this platform is being used to develop the cult of namecalling to new zeniths of eloquence and style.
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Getting Straight Military Style
Emill A. Schaeffer, Army medic and Vietnam veteran, now knows the price of non-conformity—at least the Army's version.
Schaeffer was fined $100 last Thursday for refusing to remove a peace medal given to him in Vietnam by another soldier, who was killed shortly afterward. The officer who presided at the Schaeffer's court-martial said that the only ground for the trial was Schaeffer's refusal to obey an order.
In a subsequent statement, the officer perhaps revealed the actual reason for the trial.
"Men from diverse backgrounds in the Army must somehow be molded into one functioning body," he said.
Non-conformity is one luxury that the Army can't tolerate; it breeds individuals, not the traditional automatons. Individuality has little validity in an institution that purposely tries to subdue the affectations of "diverse backgrounds."
The charge against Schaeffer originated from a dress code, established last May by Schaeffer's commanding officer, that prohibited the visible wearing or displaying of any "dog tags, jewelry, or religious medals" by soldiers in uniform.
I had the distinct impression from the 6 p.m. news and the movies, that dog tags were a part of the military uniform. Perhaps, they too are now affectations of a "diverse background."
John Wayne, where are you?
1970 in America.
We've been to the moon and back, test-tube babies are just around the biological corner and in Ft. Riley, Kan. (in the very bowels of the most free nation in the world, as the President is quick to add). Spec. 4 Emill A. Schaeffer was fined $100 for wearing a trinket. Ab freedom!
Perhaps the spectre of anonymity and irrational conformity appeals to some, but to many, I think, they can make life a terrifying sojourn in an Orwellian world of unintelligible faces and things.
Many are willing to take the trip though, because when they do pull the trigger or drop the bomb, it's really the Army—the institution—that is responsible for the maiming and killing, not Emi Schaeffer or Tom Slaughter, the individual. Ask Adolph Eichmann.
Emill, take heart. The Army is just looking out for your sanity.
—Tom Slaughter
'Best man with a brush since I was vice president.'
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