CAMPER EDITORIALS
Today's editorial page is devoted to editorials written by members of the first three-week journalism camp which concludes this week-end. These campers have just finished three weeks of extensive training in journalism and the following editorials were part of their assignments.
Teenagers...
...delinquency
"Teenagers are all juvenile delinquents. They don't care about their community or anyone else. Why, the only thing that matters to them are themselves." So goes one more of the many remarks made frequently by members of the adult world.
One will have to agree that not all teenagers are angels, but is this true of all teenagers? If one looks at a group of teenagers in Kansas City, he will discover that there are exceptions.
A few years ago a tragic accident took the lives of two Kansas City area teenagers. At the funeral of one of these teenagers, the minister urged the students of the area to take action to prevent the recurrence of such another accident. From his pleas, the teenagers of the area decided that something should be done. Thus, the Southwest Youth Council and Court was formed.
Made up of students from eight area Kansas City high schools, the group's main purpose is to promote safe driving among both teenagers and adults. Also, the members of the council hear the cases of teenage traffic violators who are sent to the youth court by the municipal court judge.
If the jury feels the violator deserves a suspension of his driving privileges, they will vote to suspend it. However, so as not to act as supreme rulers, the violator has his choice of signing the pledge stating he will not drive for the period of time decided by the jury, or disregarding the pledge entirely.
So, one can see if teenagers are given more chances to do projects which are helpful and worthwhile, they will carry them past the point at which the adults have failed.
-Doug Graham
Chivalry is dead?
Chivalry and femininity are being buried in women's strife for equality in the world today.
Since the turn of the century, with women's thrust for equality and place in society, since women have been allowed to vote, since female smokers have been accepted in today's sophisticated "in-crowd," chivalry and femininity have been slowly dying out. Now they are almost extinct.
If women continue to pursue a man's occupation, if they insist on wearing the pants in the family, then why should they be treated like something, wantonly special or with great respect?
The morality and feminine standards have slowly declined. With mini-skirts, topless wearing apparel and dresses which expose the navel, there certainly is not much to be left to the imagination.
If a woman doesn't respect herself, then why should men be expected to treat her with respect? —Lynda Kalagorgevich
Memories
A great person lives
A man must live within his domain, for his efforts outside his domain will thwart any successful achievements in his future.
A man I once knew very well, and loved very much was a great example of such a person.
This person was taken away from his loved ones in a tragic automobile accident at the age of twenty-three. He was respected and admired by all.
He was a big brother to those who were younger. He was a son that an elder person never had. He is cherished in the memories of all who knew him.
He was not well-known, that is, famous across the nation or world. But was distinguished among his many friends.
This person had many flaws, as all people have. He lived within himself—he never troubled anyone by exerting his troubles upon them. He never actually realized that it was of great importance to have someone to share his troubles and pleasures with. He drank moderately, smoked heavily, and spoke in profane clichés occasionally. He did no harm, but he had the same innate quirks everyone develops at one time or another.
He was tremendously active. He was a very hard worker, and expected the people who worked for him to be the same way. He, like most young men at one time or another had a combative attitude. He felt that in order to get
rid of his animosities, he must engage in an occasional fight. This one aspect of his personality worried his family very much. He got over it, before it reached any degree beyond return. His actual cause for "fighting" was his view about people using their position to overrun others of lesser importance. In other words he wouldn't take meddling from anyone in his own personal affairs, nor in affairs where he was involved.
His flaws were few, and his attributes were many. He was an idol to boys who had no one to pattern themselves after. He was extremely close to his family, especially his mother and father.
He had a keen sense for understanding people. He did not consider himself sophisticated, nor intellectual, though he was very cultured in many fields. He offered a helping hand to anyone who would accept it. He loved life, and had lived much beyond his 23 years.
His funeral was one of the largest in his small hometown. The people he worked with journeyed many miles to pay their last respects to a person they admired very much.
You may wonder how I am so well acquainted with this person. I will tell you-I was, and am, in a different manner now, his younger brother.
-Rick Hively
Down with Boy Scouts?
Today's American public is not really too concerned about the Communist movement in America and other parts of the world.
Since the U.S. is basically a "good joe" and forever helping its neighbors, the American public cannot comprehend how good common people like the Russians can learn to hate us as they would a plague. This hatred is caused by propaganda. Now many of you say this is ridiculous and that I am a fanatic on Americanism, but let me give you and example.
This article recently appeared in the Russian newspaper "Pravda."
"A Pravda Survey reveals that an organization called the Boy Scouts is turning American youngsters into hostile warmongering imperialists.
"Every boy is forced to join the Boy Scouts and is trained to be a master of all forms of espionage, violence, and germ warfare.
"He quickly becomes a very dangerous tool of the ruthless U.S. government.
"At the age of eight or nine, innocent American boys are forcibly herded into an organization known as the Cub Scouts, which prepares them for foul deeds. The Cub Scouts' dictators force the youth to worship the wolf, one of the most vicious and uncivilized of predatory animals.
"After three years of service in the Cub Scouts, the boys, now hooligan adolescents, are forced to join the older, more corrupt Boy Scouts.
"The most deceitful ritual is the shameful 'Court of Honor' where the young warmongers are decorated with so-called merit badges. It here they receive awards for their work in such insidious fields as 'Swimming' (underwater demolition and sabotage); 'Chemistry' (germ and poison gas warfare); 'Pathfinding' (counter-espionage); and 'Pioneering' (exploitation of underdeveloped nations)."
This is, as you can see, absurd. But if you lived in a Communist controlled country, this would seem entirely plausible. With propaganda such as this, it is very easy for the Communist Party to turn the people against us.
—Gary Logan
Green Stuff
Reflections on the Fourth
Yes my friend, what is the meaning of Democracy and the true American spirit?
It was a fourth of July celebration like many other such celebrations that were taking place in cities, towns and hamlets throughout this great land of ours. And we were the same people as those who attend such celebrations. We sat listening but without comprehending the words of Truth, Americanism and Motherhood. When the speaker had finished we applauded, then cursed the slowness of the proceedings. And those who did listen? Some cheered. Some recalled old war stories. Some denounced his "super patriotism" and branded him a Bircher. And those who listened . . .
2 Summer Kansan editorial page Friday, July 7, 1967
With the end of the speech we began the real festivities. This was led off with the p'aying of the National Anthem. This song so well known and beloved moved many. Some to tears, some to echo its choruses through our hallowed halls, and some to curse the high "C" they could not reach. And those who listened . . .
Then the great and magnificent aerial displays commenced. With great enthusiasm we yelled, applauded and sighed with each successive burst of flame. The loud explosions, the flash of light, the silence that followed. A silence that was broken only by the crying of young children who could not understand. And who listened to their crying? Who could explain . . .
Yes my friend, what is the meaning of Democracy and the true American spirit?
Age gap exists today
Today's youth are more open than ever before. Few of the inhibitions their parents had exist among this new generation. They are rarely afraid to express their opinions among their peers and seldom are totally frank with their elders.
Some of this secrecy from elders may stem from the fact that most teenagers are unable to identify with them. The age gap is less to blame than the difference in the world in general. Parents often discourage any confidence that the children may be ready to give by saying, "When I was your age . . ." They may think that they are helping to build morals in their children, remind the youths that they, too, were once young, or some equally naive thing. In essence all they are really doing is reminding the young how different the world actually is from the world of their parents.
—Alynne Withers
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