Evening star., 1936-04-09
Protests of
Youth Must
Be Heard
Because of This, Life
Continues to Move
Forward.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

WHEAT is to be done with these
children? The latest in my
family is my l7-year-old daughters
decision to march in labor parade.
I have forbidden it, but she says she
will march anyway; that she belongs
to youth, and youth is going to have
something to say about what is going
on in the world. When I ask her
what she has to say, she returns to
her usual incoherent stage and says,
oh, I'll f1nd something to do. I'm
going to march in the parade"
Well. why not. If she feels that way?
One would certainly not deny labor's
right to protest against the present
condition. Parading is very gentle
way Of voicing the complaints that
the unemployed, the underpaid, the
oppressed in the field Of labor are juSti-
fed in making. American opinion has
always gone along with those who
struggled to make their cause known
and their rights redreSsed in peaceful,
legal ways. Parades are peaceful, and
certainly legal, ways of making pro-
tests. Why should not youth be in
sympathy with such causes? They
should be.
She would never have been inter-
ested, never have thought of parading
If she had not been associated with
some radical students. The authorities
have been very lax. They should have
put those radicals out and protected
the other students from associating
with them. did not send my daugh-
ter to school to have her turn radical"
The very best way to turn intelligent
protests into unintelligent actions is
Ito turn the rascals out" Let the
protests be heard. Let the young
people talk their ideas over and over,
both sides doing their best to prove
their cases, and the truth will be bet
ter served. 1t is always a mistake to
call your opponent names. If differ
ing from you is being rascal, rad
ical, bad citizen. better begin to
doubt the Righteousness of your cause.
Only weak cause needs such
methods.
Ideals that have stood the test of
time will stand the questionings OF
youth, and youth does well to ques-
ton. 1t is on the power of questioning
youth that life moves forward. If
each generation had not questioned,
weighed and decided to change things
a bit we would still be living in houses
with windows sealed at night, still be
saying that illness, poverty, suffering
are the will of God. Because some one
rose and shouted, mol" we are hap
pier. healthier, better men and women
today.
Let youth rise and shout its mo" II
1t will. Let it parade, make speeches.
study and think and struggle to find
the truth. Truth cannot be harmed
by searching. Nor can it be smothered
by hiding. Let us have it. What one
generation calls right may be shown
as wrong by the next, and without
harm to civilization. History Is a
long recital of that fact.
Wisdom is beyond our narrow
of right and wrong. Let
us try to be wise when considering
such questions as concern youth today.
Many of our cherished ways are going
to stand the test of experiment and
attack. Some are going to be modi- |
fed. We can be certain that what |
is good will remain in spite of all |
effort to remove it. What is wrong
in our scheme Of living will 60, to
The degree that youth can move it.
Have faith in the strength of right
eousness, have faith In the intelli- |
yence Of youth. There is nothing to |
fear in their movements and much to
praise. Let them march forward!
(Copyright. 1860