THE PEOPLE'S FORUM
THE PEOPLE'S FORUM A Nation of Dirksens Dear Sirs: Incredible optimist that I am, I am beginning to see an immense good rising out of the evil of Vietnam. For the first time, Americans in large...
...In addition, the lack of any substantial challenge resulted in a general attitude of "sticking it out" which, in my opinion, is most degenerating, socially, morally, and psychologically...
...Secondly, I think Mr...
...Unfortunately, Mr...
...The fact remains, however, that actions speak louder than words...
...policy itself which has rendered "aid and comfort" to our enemies...
...I would like to make one more point...
...It is tragic to view our actions when we could do so much good in the world...
...Would you add Iowa to the list of "no death penalty" states...
...This memorandum states with documented facts that our American policy in Vietnam violates: the United Nations Charter, the Geneva Accords, the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty (SEA TO), and the U.S...
...As a Peace Corps Volunteer amidst many drafted and enlisted men, I was able to listen to and witness the morale in this limited situation...
...Constitution...
...Like the Holy Alliance of 150 years ago, we pose as the great conservative protector of a status quo intolerable to the underprivileged and undeveloped peoples and countries of the world...
...Hats off to The Progressive for thus observing the fiftieth anniversary of her historic Peace Ship expedition...
...But we are finally realizing that this is true and that it is a deadly serious matter to the rest of the people in the world...
...Third, isn't there a far greater civil liberties question involved here than Mr...
...I don't know...
...The article may also help us to understand the immolation of Norman R. Morrison, another "nut...
...July 5, New York Times) of the statement attributed to him by Professor Graff of Columbia University in his New York Times article of July 4, 1965 that, "in the final analysis the United States is the engine of mankind and the rest of the world is the train," it would appear that Mr...
...Walt Ros-tow, in his recent book, seems not only to take this for granted but apparently advocates it...
...Forster...
...Senators Fulbright and George McGov-ern have a sane approach to problems such as those of Vietnam...
...Those who may be interested in holding such an event in their city are asked to write FOR for a brochure describing the convocations...
...The peace efforts of the wise and witty Rosika Schwimmer have never been adequately appreciated...
...I don't think we do, and without this information it is more difficult to cry out in alarm...
...If through fear or the pressures exerted by an ill-informed public manipulated by political demagogues, we continue to frustrate the hopes and expectations of the exploited peoples, they may emulate the peasants of China and Cuba, and turn in desperation toward their Communist betrayers for leadership...
...Hideo Hashimoto Professor of Religion Lewis and Clark College Portland, Oregon No Death Penalty in Iowa Dear Sirs: In the December issue of The Progressive you stated that the death penalty had been abolished in nine states in the United States...
...Helen S. Eaton Duxbury, Massachusetts Birch and Police Dear Sirs: Although I share Arnold Forster's concern about extremists on the police force, I was disturbed by his article, "John Birch on the Police Force," which appeared in a recent issue of The Progressive...
...We seem to be living under a quasi-military dictatorship since, of course, men trained in a profession necessarily look at everything that might concern it from the point of view of their profession...
...The police deserve better treatment...
...Forster's article constitutes just another example of hand-wringing, devoid of any critical insights into underlying problems...
...More and more, America is becoming isolated from the rest of the world, but more and more Americans realize it now, and there is a chance that we can do something about it...
...Iowa City, Iowa Peace Corps and the Draft Dear Sirs: I find The Progressive a welcome relief from the weekly issue of Time which we Peace Corps Volunteers receive "free" for three months...
...Yet, in spite of the fact that Graff wrote the article as a friend and supporter of Administration foreign policy, his silence to date has been curious if not eloquent...
...If the citizens of our great country really want to use their gift of education to open their minds to the truth of whether or not we are indeed flouting the rule of law in Vietnam, then let them read the "Memorandum of Law of the Lawyers' Committee on American Policy Toward Vietnam...
...After some discussion, they usually leave with the magazine, and it comes back well worn out...
...Titled "Peace on Earth: Moral and Technological Implications," the series of one hundred convocations in as many major American cities during the next two years has been made possible by a large gift from a retired West Coast industrialist, conditioned upon being matched dollar for dollar through (1) a $5 per person registration fee for convocation participants and (2) individual gifts...
...Would that today's forces of unreason could be made to listen to her precepts...
...I have personally participated in two of these convocations, one as a moderator, and recommend them to your readers...
...The real problems in this area, which center on recruitment and training, are ignored by Mr...
...Gerald M. Capi.an Washington, D. C. Schweitzer in Focus Dear Sirs: Milton Mayer has a view of Albert Schweitzer which seems compatible with my bifocals, since prior to reading "Some Kind of a Nut" in the November Progressive everything relating to Schweitzer appeared out of focus...
...Bundy's disavowal must be accepted...
...The program is under the direction of FOR staff member Miss Dorothy A. Ny-land...
...it is hostile to our true long-range national interests...
...Inserted in the Congressional Record, October 23, 1965, by Senators Wayne Morse and Ernest Gruening...
...C. Bernaert Lauwe, Belgium...
...Finally, do we know whether John Birch Society membership among police officers is higher or lower than in other professions or other skills...
...This gives them a warped attitude...
...We are a nation of Everett Dirksens: We take away with our left hand what we give with our right...
...And, more importantly, send a generous, tax-deductible gift to Fellowship of Reconciliation, Box 271, Nyack, New York, marked "Convocations...
...Our deeds are too often a betrayal of the political idealism that inspired our birth—all men, not just all Americans, are endowed with "the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...
...As a result of a motorcycle accident in Nigeria, I was evacuated to a military hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, for two weeks...
...Forster is naive in assuming a one-to-one relationship between membership in the Society and improper police conduct...
...Frank Duino Index, Washington Musical Folklore Dear Sirs: Regarding Margaret Long's excellent article, "Let Freedom Sing," in The Progressive for November, she has done a grand job of pointing up the importance of "protest" and "topical" songs in the civil rights movements...
...We should pay more attention to support of the Mekong River project and of the village "clusters" in Laos where we try to teach modern methods of agriculture to the villagers...
...William E. Connor, M.D...
...I want to call your attention to the omission of Iowa from those states which have abolished capital punishment...
...Bundy protests too much...
...More likely he would find another outlet for his opinions...
...The bill was signed by Governor Harold Hughes and is now the law of the state of Iowa...
...Is there really a John Birch Society way to handle a felonious assault or a housebreaking case...
...the reading public is entitled to a more sophisticated analysis...
...James Jablonski Peace Corps Nigeria Peace Ship Anniversary Dear Sirs: I want to congratulate Edith Wynner for her superb "Out of the Trenches by Christmas," which appeared in your December issue, and the editors of The Progressive for publishing it...
...Edward E. Cruise Chatham, New Jersey Sane Approach Dear Sirs: Your editorials in the November issue regarding Senator William Fulbright's sane approach to our international problems are most gratifying...
...Hank Slaughter Houston, Texas Interfaith Convocations Dear Sirs: The Fellowship of Reconciliation, with the cooperation of the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, is in the midst of a unique program to bring together leaders of the Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and other faiths in a study of ways to face the challenges of our increasingly cybernated, injustice-ridden, and war-oriented society...
...Frederick E. James Paris, France Bundy Protests Too Much Dear Sirs: In McGeorge Bundy's denials ("People's Forum," December Progressive...
...His dilemma might have been this: Where would he have gone that would have been the equivalent of Darkest Africa in Schweitzer's day...
...Mrs...
...Unless we learn to practice greater restraint, wisdom, and circumspection in dealing with popular revolutions and refuse to be stampeded by ideological zealots, we will face national disaster...
...We suffer from a defective sense of history, a refusal to accept our responsibility for the part we have played in the emergence of this present dynamic revolutionary world...
...We shall never have peace as long as this situation prevails...
...Forster seems to demand, it is doubtful if any policeman would change his views on domestic and international affairs...
...Not only is our present policy toward the "have-not" peoples damaging to the moral stature of the United States before the world...
...38 Park Row, New York, N. Y. 10038...
...As ever, you offer stimulating articles in a top-quality publication...
...It should not be forgotten that these songs are not as historically rare as they may seem but are, instead, part of an American folklore pattern that may be traced back to the American Revolution...
...For the question is not if, but when and how these eruptions will come and who will lead them...
...We give foreign aid with one hand while we uphold military dictatorships (and thus end the possibility of real progress) with the other...
...The lack of enthusiasm, dedication, and idealism in carrying out "military duty" was negatively impressive...
...Miriam Levin Chevy Chase, Maryland A Light Dear Sirs: I want to congratulate The Progressive for the quality of your articles and the valuable effort that you have made to remain a light in the confusion of our time...
...Your articles throw the light of truth on many issues we must explain to the more inquisitive students and teachers who occasionally visit us in the village...
...Corinna Marsh New York, New York Lawyers on Vietnam Dear Sirs: "Oh would some power the giftie gie us to see ourselves as others see us...
...This is what they want, as do the Vietnamese and other underdeveloped countries...
...Songs such as Yankee Doodle and World Turned Upside Down were as socially significant during our war with England as Oh Freedom and We Shall Overcome are today...
...The Iowa legislature acted to remove the death penalty in the spring of 1965...
...Even if all policemen were prohibited from joining the John Birch Society, as Mr...
...Forster suggests...
...Our citizenry, acknowledged as among the best educated in the world, has the gift sought in Robert Burns' poem, but we refuse to use this gift by blotting out the harsh reality that our government flouts the rule of law in Vietnam for the jungle law of the military claw...
...The problem of restricting freedom of association—a right which John Locke, among many others, asserted as "natural"—is a complex one that is skimmed over quickly, too quickly...
...Rather than charging loyal, intelligent, and responsible critics of foreign policy with "giving aid and comfort to the enemy," should we not ask ourselves whether it is U.S...
...Most of these problems we have engendered by our senseless fear of Communism and allowing the armed forces to have a say in setting policy, quite contrary to our tradition...
...Although it is difficult to believe that two such eminent interpreters of historical truth could so completely misunderstand each other on such a salient issue, Mr...
...For the first time, Americans in large numbers are realizing that the fabled anti-American feeling abroad really exists, and—more importantly—is in fact justified...
Vol. 30 • January 1966 • No. 1
