Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1920-05-15
RABBI Wise ADDRESSES teachers

tongue, not, be by reason of this an in
ferior person.
There can be no Americanization un
less there be contacts between native
and foreign born Americans. Insofar as
Americanization is an educational pro
cess, there must be what every teacher
knows is fundamental in teaching
namely, a point or points OF contact
There. can be no contacts without broth
erliness. There can be no brotherliness
unless native Americans root out Of
their heats every prejudice every an
tagonism, every ill-will, all these ten
denotes of the spirit which raise barriers
between man aRld man.
It is easy to define what Americana
cation is not. Americanization is not
reorganization Americanization is not
standardization characterization is not
Characterization In declaring that
| characterization is neither regularzation
nor Standardization, 1 am thinking of
the unwisdom of such Americans as
! Imagine that every foreigner who comes
must pass through the processes of be-
| ing regularized and standardized. that
ne cannot enter into the life of America
1 until after he has diverted himself of
and cast away everything that he
brought with him from his native land.
/ America is a standard, but American
| ia ton must not be a Standardization.
Standards exalr; standardization de-
grades. Levelling as a process is always
I down and never up; Americanizaton
must not become the equivalent of that
| Standardization which achieves dull mo-
notonous, deadly uniformity instead of
q vitalizing and varied unity, Ameri-
| canization must not be imported in ways
that SAVIOR of partisanship. The dis
/ ciples of political party whether re-
/ publican or democratic or any other, have
no right to assume that the salvation of
the foreign-born American or his entry
into American life is conditioned by
~ H5arsaiD in one political party or
! another.
Neither is characterization the equiva-
lent Of discrimination for the foreign
born. Speaking for my own people I
know that the greatest disservice that
could be rendered America is to attempt
the de-Judaizati0n of Jews and their
Characterization. You cannot rest
thew loyalty upon disloyalty to the old
The new allegiance will find itself rock
bo.tomed upon the ancient and unim-
aaired allegiance. That Jew is less like
IS to become a good American who is
Indifferent to and scornful of the pre-
c5ous and consecrated things in the life
and faith Of his people.
school Press. Church, Theatre.
There are certain methods or instru-
n1ntaIities of Americanization which
must be utilized and magnifed,-the
school the press, the church the theatre
The school must be kept free from every
political ENHANCEMENT and every sec
tartan bliss. The press must not be ar
Instrument in the hands of power but 6
medium of free and untrammelled com.
munieation between all groups and class
es in tile republic. The pulpit of every
faith, Ike the press must keep itselI
free from the emination of any class ant
serve as sDiritualtsymbol of the unity
Of the republic Theatres ought in some
way or another be taken out of hands
that are unclean and converted into al
ins,rumentality that shall be serviceablt
in the interest of Americanism. There
are American theatres and there ar,
American players and there are Ameri
can dIamatists who are ministering fine
ly 70 The best in American life, but there
are theatres Of every kind and vast mum
bers Of them which, far from beine
agencies Of characterization are sewer!
and cessDools.
The great majority of foreigners live
in the cities and larger Municipalities
City government must be clean ant
straight. An incorruptible police force i.
the most efficient agency of Americani
&9iton. The f0reign-born American
whose first acquaintance with America
is through the medium of corrupt anC
depr2Tad city government is ineffabIy
Ur7aEsd by his new country. The for
oigner must be enabled to see tina
America spells law. liberty under law
it is true. but above laH liberty through
i2W. The application of law 10 th,