San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-01
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

In speaking TO the Federated w omen ;
Club; about the young women of Texas,
the dear of women from the State Uni
We. sity said that social responsibility is
perhaps the greatest problem we have
tc face She gave her reason for this
statement in the fact that ''the modern
attitude to let everyone take care of
himself seems to prevail now even among
the younger women
From one point OF view that modern
attitude" is to be regarded as a hopeful
sign. though the statement is not to be
taken as 4 declaration of the utter ire
spcl sihility it may be considered. 1t
is rather healthy rebellion against one
Interpretation of social responsibility and
one that has been. within recent years.
much to the side OF coercion and de-
termined intention OF those socially
minded to make their ideas of what is
good for the social BODY into sort
OF Frocrustean bed. The desire to
cut down to the required measure pre-
supposes a certain resistance in those
who view social responsibility in a diff
fcl ent light.
These latter. who approach life from
the individual standpoint rather than
thro, gil society. believe that the best
results can be obtained by encouraging
independence. though it produces that
tendency deplored by the dean OF women.
as ''radicalism in religion" They regard
the spirit of inquiry and experimental
ton. with its inevitable break with many
established forms. as the best and surest
means OF acquiring. actually, that inter
ior sense OF balance and proportion that
will determine the individuals relation
ship to society. This is no docile atti-
tude and carries with it engaging posi-
bil;ties OF disaster Nor is it road for
weddings. but it can produce sterling
stock.
On the one hand are the social or
ganizers, doing much for the body of
societr. helpfully relieving abuses. seeing
TO the public veal. They are valuable,
Among them are ali those people who
know what is good for the world, and
those who are accounted unselfish.
though they happen to be doing what
is il their natures to do and what they,
chiefly desire to do. The opposite type
OF person, following out his nature Just
as Still ely and doing what he desires to
do. is accounted selfish because his &C
tivities do not happen to take that par
ticular outward social trend. Is it more
selfish for one to follow his deepest de-
sires than the other?
The individualist's idea OF social re-
sponsibility happens to be experimental
and so he is tremendously necessary in
breaking up hard and fast crystalliza-
tons OF partial ideas. He is the inves-
tigator, the searcher. the discoverer. the
inventor He is the hardhcaded man
who insists upon discovering what is
best for himself, and having had diff
Guilty in doing so. hesitates 10 impose
his ideas on others
The socially minded without the in
dividrally minded would crush life TN
der deadening weight of authority. He
knows too we'll what is good for the
world. The individually minded with
out the socially minded. in promoting
more and more liberality. tends to fly
oil intc space SO both are necessary
for the health of society. in balanced
doses. Ones Interpretation of Social
responsibility" being just as valid as
the others. they complement one an
other. But they are doomed to con-
tinuous misunderstanding, to mighty
pei soral irritations, and many bitter
fights.
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