Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-09-19

stood and appreciated in norm l
times are obliterated by the dread
hand of prejudice and mass emotion
in periods of war.
In 1918, to take a simple illustra-
ton, a music teacher in the capital
city of a mid-western state forbade
the singing of all songs OF German
origin in her classroom. If a back
ward or careless pupil suggested
beautiful little folk-song of German
origin (sung and enjoyed scores OF
times before by the class in pre-war
days), the teacher and youngsters at
once exclaimed German melody"
and the song was promptly banned.
In similar vein, few years ago the
writer visited a Danish-American
community in northern Iowa. While
passing the church he noticed definite
traces of yellow paint on the founda-
ton of the building and, upon inquiry,
was informed that the paint had been
smeared on the church during the
Wy OIlu Val tWO 0CSctoCS Soi iiSA ~ -
group of citizens from nearby viii
lage. The building had been defaced
because these ScandinavianS conduct
ed their church services in the Danish
language They had done this, incl
dentally, since the founding of their
community, and never before had
their loyalty to America been ques-
toned. Suddenly, however, the use
of the Danish language had become
subversive and traitorouS.
Let us proceed vigorously today
with our attack on the fifth column
in America. But in doing so, it
should be remembered that all indi-
viduals and groups which still retain
certain European or Asiatic behavior
patterns can not lightly be classed
as fifth-columnists. Emotion an d
prejudice must not again be permitted
to run riot. Speaking the German
language, enjoying Russian music and
dancing Italian folk dances are not
overthrow the American form of gov
eminent. These may be associated
with traitorous conduct, but so, on
the other hand, may any of our typi-
cally American culture traits. Our
country has grown great through the
labor of many natiOnalitieS and races.
People have come to our shores from
every country in the world, each
group contributing cultural values
that have helped to build stronger
and better America.
In this era of growing ''war con-
seriousness" the schools of America
have particular responsibility in
teaching America to distinguish be-
tween traitorous activity, on the one
hand, and the innumerable foreign
| behavior patterns, still in the slow
process of Americanization, on the
other. We rightly condemn the out
rageous anti-Semitism of other coun-
tries because it passes final judgment
on the basis of alleged biological in
heritance rather than on personality
character and social worth. We should
attack with equal determination the
attitude of those in our own midst
who seek to eliminate as un-American
all foreign culture traits regardless
of actual evidence of subversive &C
tivity or thought
Dictators abroad have proved con-
clusively the extreme effectiveness
of education" in developing narrow
nationalism and race hatred. Ameri-
can educators are now faced with a
challenge to demonstrate that schools
can be used, with equal effectiveness
to create a broadminded patriotism
that is tolerant and appreciative OF
all cultural values regardless of race
and nationality.