Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-31
.VINCENT'S AUJINA
By H. Addington Bruce
HOLEHEARTEDLY I indorse

HOLEHEARTEDLY lndorse this
II sentiment in Ross L. Finney's new
book, causes and Cures for the
Social Unrest"
''In times Of peace about the most I'M
portant duty that the citizen owes to his
country is straight thinking, especially if
the times are critical, as our times are.
"The reason for this is that in a democ-
racy public opinion corresponds to the SOW
ereign in an absolute monarchy, and if pub
lie opinion is mistaken the battles of peace
go against the republic. Everything de-
ponds in the last analysis upon the contents
Of the public mind"
And, unfortunately, straight thinking,
with an enlightened public opinion as a
resultant, is one of the most difficult of all
Acquisitions 1t is difficult because of what
Walter Lippmann calls the stereotypes pres
ent in nearly everybody's mind.
To quote Lippmann himself on stereo-
types, as described in his public Opinion"
'In the great, blooming, buzzing confu-
sion of the outer world we pick out what
our culture has already defined for us, and
we tend to perceive that which we have
picked out in the form streotyped for us
by our culture
More directly, we tend to see things and
to think about them, in the light of pre-
possessions and prejudices instilled into us
by utterances of the particular group Or
class of persons with whom we are most
frequently associated
What they affirm about this or that phe-
nomenon, this or that event, unconsciously
generates and fixes in our minds images
which may promote, but are more likely to
hamper, straight thinking. Particularly is
this true as regards religious, political or
socio-economic matters.
A strike occurs. Thousands of workers
cease productive effort, protesting that they
are not receiving due share of the profits
of the industry in which they are employed.
Do we, a rule, endeavor to reach an
unbiased Judgment regarding their protest
and their action in striking? Or are we
unwittingly biased by the stereotypes of our
particular social group, to an instant ap-
plauding or condemning?
Let every one answer for himself. If
the answers Of every one could be recorded,
and were made in all candor, it is safe to
say that the distorting action of stereo-
types would be revealed in countless cases.
How to counteract and suppress these,
how to be rid of prejudices and proposes
sions, is in truth a perplexing problem.
But it is not insoluble.
To widen the range of ones associates
so as to neutrality-suspicious.
bers of many social groups is a real aid
toward it's solution. To read attentively
newspapers, magazines and books giving
opposite views on controversial themes is
another aid.
Most important of all, however, is the
gaining of a habit Of always putting to
ones self the query, what the real
facts?" When the real facts once are as
certained straight thinking becomes infinite
ly easier than it ever was before.
And, to repeat in another form the warn
ing of the opening paragraphs:
Straight thinking is for all Of us thing
indispensable if public opinion, the con-
sensus of the conclusions reached by us
in the aggregate, is to make for a wise
management of public affairs, for real prog
ress by democratic means.
Copyright, 1929