PAGE TWO
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
1
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 14, 1943
THE KANSAN COMMENTS Who Fights For Freedom?
Many men in the armed services today are thinking about and discussing the racial situation during this war and in the peace which will follow. The following editorial is written by one such member of the navy, James E. Gunn, who was an editorial associate last year on the Daily Kansan.
The problem had its rebirth in the minds of power-mad men in a Munich beer cellar. To the German people, disunified in poverty, degraded in defeat, they threw a goat responsible for their condition, a whipping boy in expiation of their sins. And, unified in oppression, ego-crazed by blood sacrifice, they once again thought themselves the herrenvolk, the chosen ones, the Arayan supermen of Neitzche's ravings. Their story is history—or soon will be—but only just beginning is the story of the seeds of discord they have strewn about the world. Like Jason's dragon teeth, they wait for a stone
Race Conflict Is Shame of Cities
War is the great stimulant, a shot of adrenalin into the weary sinews of industry, into the quiescent heart of social questions. War stirs the emotions, brings out the best and worst in men. War intensifies conflicts, enlarges issues, destroys standards of value. War, also, is a time of appraisal.
Somnolent, too, was the problem of racial conflict in the United States. More prevalent in the South, more potentially dangerous in the North, the problem was awakened by the clamor of sword on shield, by the chatter of machine guns and the roar of cannon. Flaming in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, even today the conflict begins to assume the proportions of a holocaust. The persecutions, the mob crazes, the bloody race and class battles of Europe could be as nothing before the civil war that faces us today. Who throws the stone?
Racial conflict—it is an old question with a new face. It has never been completely dead, yet never so present in the consciousness of men as today. It is a problem as old as man, as young as his emotions. The wise men of the ages have faced it, the tyrants of history have tried to solve it with sworcs and crucixes; Neltzene preached the supremacy of the superman. Hitler has perverted it to its own uses. Never more virulent, never more vital, never more fraught with danger was the problem than today; for racial conflict varies directly with the square of civilization and inversely with the square of education. One of the greatest sorrows of today is that education has not kept pace with civilization.
One of the most potentially powerful forces of tomorrow is the ten millions or more of ex-service men, the youth of today, the men of to-morrow, trained in the weapons and psychology of war, accustomed to obedience and discipline, indoctrinated by battle to a callousness toward life, ever-minded of their sacrifice and the power of their arms, forgetful of their social and democratic heritages, resolved to mould the world into the shape of their will. Potential?—yes, for evil or for good!
There is a spirit abroad in the land today, a spirit of intolerance, misunderstanding, distrust, and hatred. It is present in a large measure in the service of our country. Speak up for the humanity of the Negro, the Mexican, the Jew, of their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and you will be warned by friends and threatened by strangers about the possibility of violence if you persist in such un-American activities. And, friend or stranger, he will tell you about the marine in Chicago who was asked what the boys were thinking about over there. And his voice will drop to a confidential, conspiratorial whisper as he repeats: "When the boys get back from over there, they're gonna chase every damn nigger and Jew outa the country." And he will warn darkly: "Just you don't be on the wrong side, see?"
He speaks confidently, sure of the justice of his prejudices, certain that this and this alone will insure the security of his home, the happiness of his family, the prosperity of his country, the democracy of his government. And never does it cross his mind that persecution and aggression do not spring like June flowers from the fertile soil and die when their usefulness is ended. No, they breed like noisome toadstools in a dark cellar. They spring up everywhere, irrespectful of person or place. And when they crowd out one thing they do not die but keep on crowding until there is no room for security, happiness, prosperity, or democracy Nothing is left but persecution and aggression until they turn upon themselves and devour each other.
Heil to the New Superman
One cannot have aggression and democracy, persecution and freedom. Let a man appear, a leader who preaches the superman, the herrenvolk! Let those who have prejudice and intolerance in their hearts gather around his banner! Let the free be silent and the democratic dumb! And you shall see democracy shattered, justice overturned, freedom chained, and a dictator in the White House. Speak then softly, Americans, for free speech is no longer yours; worship secretly, for the State is God; gather not together; write nothing but eulogies of the State. And sleep uneasily, Americans, for your life, your liberty, your happiness are in the hands of those who care nothing for life or happiness, who have only chains for the free.
Protest blindly: "But what are we fighting for?" and the answer is ready and bitter. "I'm not fighting for niggers and Jews." No, you're not fighting for the Negro of the cottonfield and the chains, the low spirituals floating on the wings of night. You're not fighting for the Jews who gave us the Bible and Christ. No, you're not fighting for life, for liberty, for the pursuit of happiness. In the midst of this shattered world, torn by discord, intolerance, injustice, persecution, aggression, hatred, greed, envy, stained by the blood of a hundred innocent peoples, shell-shocked by lust and murder; who will fight for the love of his fellow man, for a better world and a better life, for democracy and justice for the little people—who fights for freedom?—J.E.G.
Graduate School Organized in 1896 The Graduate School was organized in 1896-97 for the purpose of giving opportunity to students to pursue advanced work and of encouraging independent investigation.
NEW ARMY SHOW---numbers will be seven hecklers. They are Bill Murry, Percy A. Ransome, Carrol Lindsay, Lee Mysseiork, Cas Rozyki, Dutch Krieger, and Ed Markle.
(continued from page two)
Playing in the Swingster's orchestra are Joe Williams and John Cole, trumpets; Ray Frazer, elarinet; Charles Salray, Charles Graffis, and Ken Krutz, saxophones; Tom Bell, trombone; Walt Kingsley, drums; Mike Kofsky, piano; Marwin Kuhlmann, bass; and Ed Cabala, accordian.
J. S. McClurg at the organ will be responsible for special musical effects throughout the show.
The stage crew for the show consists of Marlin Kroger, lights; Joe Telecsan, Charles McReynolds, Bob Stumme, Harry Kingsbury, and Lucky Grosser.
KFKU's "Exploring Your University" broadcast featured the Women's Glee Club and John Frye, of the State Geological Survey, last night. Before Mr. Frye's talk on the work of the Geological Survey, the Glee Club, under the direction of Miss Irene Peabody, sang "Bless This House" (Brake) and "Country Gardens." Dorothy Nicholson sang a soprano solo, "Song in the Night" (Loughborough).
For All Occasions RIDE THE BUS
Talk on Geology Heard Over KFKU
Co.
The Rapid Transit
Your Local Bus Service
BOOKS for CHRISTMAS
Asch—The Apostle. $3.00
Douglas—the Robe. $2.75
Llewellyn—None but the Lonely
Heart. $2.75
Three numbers after the talk included "Dance the Romika" (Ware), "When Day Is Done" (Katschet), and a duet, "A Christmas Song" (Henschel) by Dorothy Nicholson and Norma Jean Lutz.
Carroll-Dunnybrook. $2.75
O'Hora—Thunderhead. $2.75
Smith-A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
Duncan—Light on a Hill. $1.25
WANT ADS
Seagrave—Burma Surgcon. $3.00
Adams—The American. $3.00
Cushing—Sir William Osler. $5.00
Clapetsteal—The Doctors Mayo.
Officer Authority Made a Corporal The author of the manual, "How to Get a Commission in the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marine," was recently promoted to the rank of corporal.
Officer Authority Made a Corporal
Fairchild—Garden Islands of the Great East. $3.75
tionary. $6.50
Post—Etiquette. $4.00
Rombauer—Joy of Cooking. $2.50
House—Wild Flowers. $4.95
Hegner—Parade of the Animal
Kingdom. $3.95
Webster's Dictionary of
Synonyms. $4.00
Pratt—The Navy. $1.49
Naval Officer's Guide. $3.00
Army Officer's Guide. $2.50
Webster's Biographical Dic-
tionary. $6.50
LOST: Black Sheaffer pencil in Fraser or between Fraser and Watkins hospital. Reward. Irene Tice. Phone 2676W. -56
Modern Library complete.
95c and $1.45
Children's books, Poetry,
Philosophy, Art.
THE BOOK NOOK
1021 Mass. Tel. 666
THE BOOK NOOK
Price—Who's in Charge Here?
$2.50
Marge—Oh, Little Lulu. $1.00
Spalding—Love at First Flight. $2
don marquis—archy and mehita-
bel. $2.50
---
Bolivar Marquez, Jr., Secy.
University Daily Kansan
Student Paper of THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE, KANSAS
OFFICIAL BULLET
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 1942
Subscription rates, in advance, $1.50
semester. Published in Lawrence, Kansas
and in the New York Times except Saturday and Sunday, and University
holidays. Entered as second class matrice
September 17, 1910, at the post office at
Kansas, Kansas, under act of March 3
1879
La reunion de Noel du Cercle français aura lieu mercredi a quatre heures et demi dans la salle 113 Frank Strong hall. Tous ceux qui s'interessent au francais sont invites.
Notices due at News Bureen, 8 Journalism,
at 10 a.m. on day of publication.
Romance Language Recordings
Dec. 14, Tuesday; 3:30, Frank Strong
111, French.
Dec. 16, Thursday, 3:30, Frank Strong 111, Spanish.
Strong Ills, fricken.
Dec. 15, Wednesday, 3:30, Frank
Dec. 15, Wednesday, 2:30, Frank
Strong 113, French.
W. H. Shoemaker, Chmn.
BUY A WAR BOND
INDEPENDENT LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANERS
740 Vermont
For Christmas
☆ ☆ ☆
Phone 432
KANSAN CLASSIFIED ADS K.U.66
FOR CLEANING OF ALL TYPES----
COURTVIEW CLEANERS Phone 646 1111 Mass.
IF YOU ARE HUNGRY---
There are two places to eat
MARRIOTT'S CAFE
and home
Open 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily
832 Mass.
Try the New INKMAKER PEN Makes its own ink
ELDRIDGE PHARMACY
Phone 999 701 Mass.
Latest Used Phonograph Records—Reasonable
JOHNNY'S
1031 Mass. Phone 2085
25 Years of Service
Our Health Depends on
Good Food
DE LUXE CAFE
711 Mass.
25 Years of Service
Eyes
Examined and Glasses Fitted LAWRENCE OPTICAL CO. 1025 Mass. Phone 42 Lenses Duplicated—Quick Service
X-MAS PHOTOGRAPHS
Order duplicate photographs from any pose we ever made of you. They can be finished on quick notice.
HIXON STUDIO
Phone 41
721 Mass.
MONEY LOANED ON VALUABLES Unredeemed Guns, Clothing for Sale WOLFSON'S
743 Mass. Phone 671
JOHN ULM OIL CO.
Welcomes You
Complete Lubrication
North End of Bridge
Open 'til 9:00 p.m. Daily
Chas. Love, Mgr.