The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-07-13
The YOUTH AND PATRIOTISM

1t my good fortune to have been graduated few
weeks ago from American high school, The good for
tune lies in the idea of getting out of of the worst
beds of reaction that is possible to find among Amer
lean institutions In this school, patriotism although not
subject that taught outright, sentiment that
mbbed by the student with the aid of the
faculty and of the orators who to the school to
speak every and then.
1t is that 81 pledge allegiance my flag" is not
said every day. and that "The Star Spanged Banner is
not sung every day. butdo not think for moment that
patriotism has been forgotten and that this reaction
airy American institution has realized the destuctblity
of this decadent sentiment The boards of education
realize that the average high school student is able to
comprehend little than II pledge allegiance and
they also realize that he is not very analytcathat
anything told him in high and mighty manner,
he would swallow it without grain of salt. 1t is
this of mind that the capitalist tools play with their
patriotism, anti-Sovietism, Yellow PERIL etc.
In celebration of Memorial Day. the whole student body
of this school asked to donate few pennies with
which to purchase silk American flag to beautify
the Auditorium and to inst that beautiful and uplifting
sentiment of love of country Those who refused to help
this worthy they must have been in the pay of
the Soviet Union lectured by the teachers and
Stunned by the students When the day for celebrating
arrived half the student body assembled in the audi
forum where could be the newly purchased flag
The program was opened by the orchestra which
played some patriotic airs Then followed a paylet in
which the colors of the flag personfied A boy
made speech for each color-Red representing valor
White representing purity and Blue representing loyalty
He then recited your flag and my flagyour land and
my land" Five members of the faculty (exservce men)
then sang songs At last the big event of the
day took place. Congressman Clyde Kelly made speech
which he stressed the false idea that patriotism
uplifting sentiment that Llndberghs father was
great and great patriot (ths to some of
us) that Colonel Lndbergh daring and courageous
patriot because he following in the footsteps of his
father (some news that the did good in that
it established staple democracy that at present in
the United States there "bght" which under
mining the wonderful institutions of blessed country
and that this "bght" must be strangled in its infancy
as one rotten apple the whole barrel full He did
not name the "bEght" probably because sixth
told him that he might find few in the audience OF
he made contrast between destructive and
constructive peace. The applause very prolonged
This program of which have just spoken, is only
of many. The jingoes realize there is to be
1nent race which will result in terrible destructive
that the Especially the YOUTH must be prepared
for by propaganda, and that the place where this
propaganda will have the most effect is in the schools
nourished by the American capitalism 1t is up to the
students realize that they must fight against this
coming war; must question the words of funky instuc
TORS that sooner later the youth will be forced to
choose between proetarat and reactionary between
new world and decadent one To follow the old means
be aid in the prolongation of civilization which is
characterized by the codblooded murder of millions Of
people and the exploitation of those who remain alive
All this for private profit To follow the
be an aid in the destruction of civilization and the
struction of that culture which only possible with the
establishing of the Union of the Socialist Soviet Repub
lies of the World, which will be founded economic
equality