The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-06-13
DUy
-Hi sS5. y4'eAive. a,s
through,
Hazel
Eyes
BY
Hazel Brannor

America believes in a democracy
which we generally regard as a gov
m OF the people, by the people,
for the people. We must believe la
it because we fought one war to make
the world safe for democracy and are
now talking about saving it again.
England and France are busying
themselves saving democracy In Eu-
rope.
Thus people of the United States
reason that it Is to our advantage to
see that the great democracies OF
Europe are preserved so that men may
think and act freely, in theory at
least.
AS a matter OF fact we are just
sticking Our necks out. We are plung-
ing headlong into deep water without
giving any rational thought to the
matter at all.
Most of our leading thinkers have
never voiced a desire for anything
but an allied victory. They are so
bent on an allied victory that II the
allies aren't good enough to win for
for US to plunge in with them, first
with equipment and then later with
men, IL considered necessary. Any
thing for an allied victory, they say.
It Is only reasonable that we would
all prefer an allied victory for Eng
land and France. We have more in
I'M with those two countries than
their enemies because we know more
about them.
But 1t Is certainly unreasonable to
assume that we must dictate how the
people OF Europe must be governed
Who are we to Impose democracy
on people in other countries who pre-
fer other types of government? We
should not even feel it u duty to
protect democracy in small countries
unless bound by treaty to do so.
(England certainly did no fighting for
democracy even when bound by sacred
treaty to do so. She sacrificed help
less countries for temporary peace
from which she gained nothing)
Democracy should exist only in
countries where its people. really be-
iieve In and want democracy. There
are lots of people in the world who
would infinitely like being told what
to do than having to think for them
selves. Democracy carried with it a
sense of responsibility, and obligation
TO be a genuine part n parcel OF
the government, by the people, for
the people,"
Yes, today we have other peoples
who prefer other forms of govern
ment- As a responsible republic we
should recognize the right Of people
TO have the form of government they
want. We should be big enough to be
able to do business with a country
regardless of what form of govern
ment 1t has, If we are interested in
doing business. Because we like u
friends is no reason we should marry
them. Neither do we have to sub
scribe to their political theories be-
cause we do business with countries
foreign to our own.
Americans never think of this how
ever. All they can see is that demo-
scracy needs saving and they are deter
mined to save it.
This war is going to be over some
time. 1t looks like Germany is going
to win it unless something unfore-
Hsaap hanrnnc (INbo last +;,,o h,,a,sn,
stepped in with fresh troops INK
helped save the cause.) This time
America has nothing to step in with.
This time England will fight her own
battle, win or lose.
SO instead of the United States
making no bones about who we're for
and who we're against we had best
spend our time learning to under
stand German and meanwhile start
building ar army and navy hat will
keep all invaders off American soil
and make her rights respected by ev-
cry nation at nome n abroad.
Regardless of who wins this war
there will still be men and women and
children to be fed, clothed and housed.
Life and death will go on.
America can serve humanity better
by making democracy work in Amer
lea, giving each citizen an opportunity
to help himself, than by shedding
blood on foreign soil.
The turmoil and unrest in America
during a depression period is fertile
ground in which to SOW the seeds of
revolution n 'isms. We must show
totalitarian countries that democracy
does work.
To be an American citizen today
is the most wonderful citizenship in
the world. That citizenship in a great