The Redwood gazette., 1936-06-11
AMERIyANISM
Orville Radtke

| am an American, a citizen OF
the United States! To my opinion
there is no true citizen of oul
country whose spirit of patriotism
is not aroused by these words
When "Old Glory" is sighted, we
automatically look up with pride.
It is our democracy for which that
flag stands. This patriotism is
oased upon and centered about
certain ideals and aims of this our
country. The great American Re-
volution was fought so that these
ideals and aims could be won. The
United States of America was
formed so that they could be safe
guarded.
Of what do these arms and
ideals consist? When the fathers
of our country sat down to form
the great document by which this
country should be ruled, they first
listed the fundamental reasons
why they were establishing the
Constitution. To these same fore
fathers a perfect union, establish
ed Justice, domestic tranquility, a
common defense, the promotion OF
the general welfare, and blessing
of liberty were aims and desires
that were coveted enough to fight
and die for. The following gener-
ations even unto our times have
all lived with the same ideals IN
mind.
AS time went on and our coun-
try grew in size and power, new
ideals became prominent. Wash
ington's wish that we should re-
main free from foreign affairs in
which we had no great interest
has become guide in our dealings
with other nations. Other worth
while aims have been combined
with those first desired by the
fathers of our nation. All these
combined ideals and aims have
been and are kept alive as the line
national spirit that our country
possesses. This national spirit is
our true Americanism.
Today we find ourselves in the
circumstances that follow severe
depression. Along with unem-
ployment of thousands has come
floods, tornadoes, drought and ear
thquakes. All these things work
ing hand-in-hand have caused ou1
country to be struggling in condi-
tion that are far from pleasant
Such times as these are the times
that really test our worth. The
question that faces us is, 'Are we
living up to the aims and ideals OF
our nation, or are the evil forces
too great for US? Optimistically,
say we are. We are surrounded
on all sides by bitter conflicts be.
tween nations. In many of the
cases, it would be only too easy
/ for our country to become serious
ly envolved. To the present time
l am happy to say, we have kept
quite clear from these conflicts. A
great portion of our population
has suddenly found itself stricker
by real poverty. Those not so ser
iously affected have Loyalty helpet
/ the less fortunate. Though the nat
ion is thus stricken with un
pleasant times, it's people still al
hold the government of this oul
nation to- be the best in all th'
world.
/ AS the ruling generation of to
morrow, it is the duty of us, th'
youth of today, to dedicate ou
right to rule to the end that th'
American ideals be upheld. 1t i
our duty to our forefathers to pas
on the true American patriotism
loyalty and spirit to those gener
ations following. If this be ou
pledge, we shall leave this natiol
to our posterity in better circum
stances than it enjoyed when j
was handed to us. That would b
the result of true Americanism.