THE PEOPLE'S FORUM
THE PEOPLE'S FORUM Oxnam's Skin Dear Sirs: In France, according to experienced observers, the most frequently-heard remark is: "What has happened to America?" The remark refers to...
...At this many thought, no doubt, "How safe is the strong man armed...
...Nor can any nation have confidence in the execution of a plan for disarmament so long as only a few initial steps are proposed that imply sacrifices but leave the further procedure pending in mid-air...
...a world federal government to enforce peace...
...Well, it wasn't dropped, and the schools not only attempted, but accomplished, another violation of academic freedom...
...A few details about myself: Age 22...
...For example, the criteria decreed that, for his work to be acceptable as text or supplementary reading, the author and the book must "support the principles of American constitutional government...
...The schools administration revived the dormant criteria shortly after my article appeared, and the school board adopted them without a dissenting vote...
...Here seemed to be a sanction for the armament race right from the mouth of the Master...
...A. F. Bryant Seattle, Wash...
...1952 ("A Book-Banning That Backfired...
...That should demonstrate whether the criteria were "misinterpreted" by those who opposed them...
...I wonder if you could perhaps pass on my name and address to a Progressive reader who would be interested in corresponding with me...
...Is America going to be too stiff-necked to seize all opportunities for ending both the hot and cold wars...
...Affairs Pamphlets, with a view to possible reinstatement...
...However, the President gave only part of the sentence used by Jesus...
...The remark refers to McCarthyism and all its implications...
...I wrote that the banning of some 50 Public Affairs Pamphlets by the Denver public schools had stirred up such a storm of protest that it seemed "highly unlikely that the schools would ever again attempt [such] a violation of academic freedom...
...All to no avail...
...William Esslinger New York, N. Y. World Federalists Dear Sirs: From time to time, I have read material in The Progressive favoring a stronger United Nations...
...Does that close the chapten...
...In early discussions of the criteria the administration had promised that as soon as they were adopted they would be applied to the banned Public...
...His only concession was a suggestion for "continued study of the several comments and of their implications . . with a view toward making a more critical analysis within a period of 18 months...
...Nevertheless, it makes all the difference...
...And his roots seem deep in the finest soil of our American so-called traditions...
...Certain groups and individuals in Denver objected mightily when it became evident the schools were determined to have criteria...
...He justified the recommendation partly on the grounds the proposed standards were less stringent than those in many other localities, partly by arguing that certain phrases in the document had been misinterpreted by those who attacked them...
...interested in corresponding and exchanging newspapers and occasional union publications...
...At a meeting of the school board the superintendent, after observing that the "attention" given the criteria by community groups was "gratifying and helpful," recommended adoption of the original proposal...
...recently married...
...That should be the test of good faith...
...A stronger than he may come along, or some one may grow stronger...
...What puzzled me was why the Bishop missed an opportunity to condemn the general investigative practices of which he was only one of many victims...
...It is also most improbable that the nations will ever agree on a formula of "balanced" disarmament...
...The comments of some of them before the unanimous vote was taken are interesting...
...Private sessions were held with school officials...
...To negotiate from a position of strength, we had better negotiate soon, and the best means to do this is not a conference with Malenkov without a plan of our own, but the public proposal of a sincere plan for disarmament, peace, and world government —a plan capable of inspiring new hope in the hearts of men...
...During the '30s liberals did yeoman service in raising support from the American people for those who were fighting aganst Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco...
...Or in this atomic age two well-armed giants may destroy each other...
...I'm afraid the two-year-old wrangle ended on a note not quite so auspicious as my article might have indicated...
...It is the "stiff-necked" who were punished in bygone ages...
...Where now is the safety of the "strong man armed...
...Arthur L. Berriman 3 South Grove S. Tottenham London N. 15, England I have seen several copies of The Progressive and like it a great deal...
...Much that one reads is so painfully "objective"—to the point of fence sitting in the best tongue-in-cheek tradition...
...Concerned citizens of Denver are watching and waiting...
...True, the early drafts had been modified somewhat and were not quite so objectionable, but they were still bad enough...
...However, until such time some committee is formed for that purpose I would suggest that Progressive readers, who are interested in supportng the resistance to the Soviet dictatorship, contribute to the Call Fund for Socialist Freedom Fighters, 303 Fourth Ave., N. Y. 10, N. Y The money raised will go directly to Ernst Reuter, Socialist mayor of West Berlin, for distribution among workers' families whose loved ones have been murdered, wounded, imprisoned, or deported in their fight for freedom...
...Another said she didn't "believe the individual teacher has the capacity to discriminate between what is good and what is bad" in teaching materials, and therefore some product of group thinking, like the criteria, was necessary...
...And material shall "conform to generally accepted moral standards and spiritual values...
...My annoyance with some of his personal dithyrambs I generally can recognize as embarrassment at my complacencies...
...The plan must therefore contain all the elements of and for peace, and it should include an assurance of the economic advantages (e.g., as proposed by Walter Reuther) to be derived from peace and disarmament...
...I also wrote that, at least partially as a result of this book-banning, the schools had considered formulating a set of "criteria and procedures for use in selection of instructional materials...
...Mayer's "subjectiveness" is refreshing because he invariably speaks his mind and heart, always seasoned with a fair pinch of humility...
...One said such criteria were necessary in order to "have something to show" parents who complain about communism in the schools...
...Though, because of lack of complete agreement within its ranks, the Citizens Committee statement was not as strong as it could have been, the ACLU's contribution was an excellent set of suggested alternative criteria embodying the highest principles of academic freedom...
...The peoples of the world must be convinced that it is in the interest of all of them to carry through the plan...
...public panel discussions were sponsored...
...Friedrich Jaeger 21B Hagen/Westf Langestrasse 131 Western Germany Fight for Freedom Dear Sirs: When Michel Gordey advises us against a "get tough" policy towards the Soviet Union, does he mean that this is the time for conciliation, a time for appeasement...
...Gen...
...Not exactly...
...No great enterprise can be achieved without belief in its success, and only a complete and inspiring plan of evident sincerity will create a basis for belief...
...Here is the rest of it: "but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils...
...R. A. Andrews Edisto Island, S. C. A Quote Completed Dear Sirs: President Eisenhower recently quoted Jesus as saying, "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace...
...Hugh Graham Freeland, Md...
...I wonder whether any of your readers, who honestly wish to see democracy triumph in Germany, would care to enter into correspondence with me...
...Their address is 125 Broad St., New York 4, N. Y. Barclay Johnson Winnetka, 111...
...It seemed to me he was concerned only with saving his own skin...
...I admit that I'm not at all sure what policy our government ought to follow...
...There is one little matter still pending...
...Max Awner Denver, Colo...
...and that too I find salutary...
...When men rip up the cobblestones to heave at tanks it is no time to appease the Soviet government...
...but I am sure of this: It is high time for the liberal and labor movement in America to express its solidarity with those who now strike a blow for freedom behind the Iron Curtain...
...The seven members of the board agreed fully...
...I felt like saying the same thing during the Bishop Oxnam testimony...
...How safe are his goods...
...Eisenhower showed at least a passing awareness of this a few years ago when he stated: "Except for moral regeneration there is no hope for us, and we are going to disappear one day in the dust of an atomic explesion...
...Correspondents Wanted Dear Sirs: I have just finished reading your excellent publication...
...a part of these advantages should, as an earnest, be put into force immediately...
...Perhaps some of your readers would be interested in information from the United World Federalists, the principal American world government organization...
...The Denver Federation of Teachers, the Colorado chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Citizens Committee for the Denver Public Schools and—somewhat belatedly—the local chapter of Americans for Democratic Action, as well as a number of individual citizens, filed written or verbal protests...
...Tom Brooks Brooklyn, N. Y. Mayer's Dithyrambs Dear Sirs: One of the nicest things about The Progressive is the editorial policy which chooses to publish Milton Mayer's vituperations...
...The elements of which national power is composed are too manifold for such a formula and they may change with any great technical invention...
...But I added that "after early drafts of the criteria showed them to be capable of even more undemocratic application than the banning of the Public Affairs Pamphlets, the whole plan now seems to have been dropped...
...It certainly is time to do the same for those who fight against Soviet totalitarianism, terror, and tyranny...
...The Denver Story Dear Sirs: For the record, I should like to bring your readers up to date on the Denver school book controversy about which I wrote in The Progressive for December...
...It may be asked what difference it makes whether we produce a proposal for partial or for total disarmament since the ultimate aim is total disarmament even if only initial stages are proposed, and the process of disarmament will necessarily take time even if total disarmament is proposed...
...Partial disarmament would not dispel the fear...
...No one will build a house, or receive credit for building it, without a complete plan...
...and the fruit, while occasionally bitter, is always tonic...
...rather it is time to ask, "Which side are you on...
...There is only one way out —total disarmament, controlled by a world government...
...The Only Answer Dear Sirs: We are caught by a vicious circle: fear of war leads to ever growing armaments, which in turn increase fear and thus the danger of war...
...not a member of a political party (if I were it would be the Labor Party...
Vol. 17 • September 1953 • No. 9
