Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-03-03

Society of Askov, was held at the As
sembly hall Sunday evening, when
Sigurd Johansen of ST. Paul, stu
dent at the State University, spoke
on 1.-The Sociological Aspects af War"
The speaker was introduced by L..
Byron Olsen, president of the Young
Peoples Society and former fellow
student at the university, who in his
Introductory remarks spoke of the re-
sentiment on the part of students to
compulsory military training in the
Minnesota University. At the Wiscon-
sin University it is optional with the
students and attempts have been made
in the Minnesota legislature to make
it optional in this state also, but so
far without success.
Mr.. Johansen said that patriotism
and love for humanity is above pa
triotism for any country, it was not
his. intentions to put one country
above another in this talk, but rather
to view the whole thing from an in
ternational standpoint and to point
out the folly of war for all races.
At this time, said the speaker, the
peace conference is on at Geneva and
two Oriental countries are at war
a serious situation. Some folks may
discount the value of small peace
meetings like this but with enough
of them they will be effective Every
thing must have beginning and
there must be stepping out of the
beaten path. The time has come when
there is crying need for the aboli-
ton of war.
Loss of Life APPALLING.
The speaker said that property loss
in any war mounts up to huge sums
but that the loss of human life is
serious. In the World war there
were 65,O0O,O00 men in arms. Of
those nearly 100000 were killed
and about 2O,0OO,OO0 wounded The
cost of the war was $1S6,0O0, OO0, 900
to all the countries, or about the same
as the entire value of the United
States in 1922. During a war the
death rate of the civilian population
is also higher and the birth rate is
lower. In the World war France lost
600 of it's men between the ages of
10 and 81, the strongest physically
1t will take France Sc years to get
that population back
Mr. JOhansen said that war does
not foster spirit of justice but the
spirit of might is right. Folks for
get the golden rule-dO unto others as
you would have them do unto you.
The doctrine is an eye for an eve,
and a tooth for a tooth War is de-
structive to moral values-truth, ard
instead propaganda and falsehood
thrive; there is a military control of
moral conduct. Love for country
helps person to enter war, but
hatred of the enemy drives the SOL
der on, and in war some people act
worse than beasts.
Going on the speaker said that war
does not bring advantages to either
victor or loser, and the brotherhood
of man is greater than the brother
hood of soldiers. There is no cause
for taking life, all individuals are
needed. Thou shalt not kill is the
greatest law. Another war will in
volve old men and women and chill
dren, and there is already talk of
some countries providing gas masks
for all civilians. There is a lack of
using human sciences to the advan-
tage and benefit of the people.
AutOcratfc Russia With Al les to
Make 1t Safe for Democracy.
America entered the World war to
end wars, ito make the world safe for
democracy" said the speaker, adding
that we had the greatest autocratic
country at the time, Russia, on our
| side. Preparedness never has and
never will stop war, those who pre-
pare the most get war. Many people
will go along to a defensive war, but
it is almost impossible to distinguish
between an offensive and defensive
war. The bully in school will tease
the little fellow until he strikes and
then the bully comes back claiming
that he must defend himself. The
same holds true of nations. Arma-
ments further war and engender fear
and lack of confidence in treaties
What did the World war settle? asked
the speaker.
To create the war spirit mob psy-
chology must be aroused, all must be
subOrdinated. But after folks have
been removed from war hysteria it
is easier to recognize some of the
propaganda put over during the ex-
citement. Propaganda is spread by
newspapers and moving pictures, and
now the talkies and radio can be used
Schools are made use of during the
war. A spirit of hatred is fostered
the United States schools upholdine
in their histories the justice of Amer.
lean entry into all its wars, the his.
tories Of France uphold their country
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