Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-11-17
Elsie Robinson
Let's Preserve
American
Faith

AFTER THE war-what?"
Suppose We do save America
and emerge bleeding and bank
rupt, as we inevitably must, will
we still believe the venture was
worth the price?
For years we've been taking
the American way of life for
granted, Boosting Of its decency,
clarifying in its happiness, its
peace and prosperity. But now
we're beginning to wonder.
The tall dream seems tar
nished. A creeping apathy is
replacing the old enthusiasm
=. cynicism shackles our fight
ing faith.
IL IL is like this now what will
IL be like i'm a desperate, de-
moraliZed world? Will there be
enough OF our fathers gusto to
carry us on?
Worth the Living
Those aren't quiz queries.
They are desperately practical
and pressing. II the American
way of life isn't going to be
worth the living after the rum
pus is over, we'd better stop de-
Tending il right now and invest,
instead, in some choice concen-
tration camp real estate.
But I've a hunch it will be
worth the living and I'm collect
ing all the evidence that comes
my way. Bits like this, for
example:
Ever hear of Carpenters
Union. Local 1872, San Maeto,
Cal? Probably not - they're
not seeking publicity. Defense
times too precious TO spend it
talking about themselves.
Yet, in spite of the rush,
they're managing to do some
thing mighty interesting.
Every week. a selected batch
>of them :. 10, IS, SO on
drop in at a local hospital, peel
off their coats, wait quietly while
the doc drains a pint OF blood
from each. Then, as quietly, go
their way.
Blood Bank
Building a blood bank, they
call it. Actually, it's simply a
more efficient method of blood
TRANSMISSION. whereby it's pos
sible to save life under conditions
where the old transfusions
wouldn't work. Instead of re-
curing personal contact, this
blood is classified. dried, pro-
cessed so it may be preserved
indefinitely and sent to the far
corners of the earth.
Nothing spectacular. Doesn't
happen just in San Francisco
and they aren't all union men.
You'll find them lining up in
every big city, men from every
walk Of life -. stevedores, play
boys, cops, bank presidents,
writers, merchants. But one
thing they have in common
none of them talk about what
they do and none will accept a
cent.
1t isn't big gesture to them.
It's just their way Of being
regular of being American.
And for me at least, that an
swers a lot of questions.
Keep the Faith
will life be worth living after
the war? What Of the old
dream will have survived?
What is being preserved and
who's doing the preserving?
That much of the old dream
will have survived-that sharing
ones life that a nameless
brother may live! That is
what's being preserved and they
are doing the preserving
All those counterparts of Car
penter's Union, Local 162.
And I'm thinking that as long
as they keep the faith, we need
not fear, whatever the price
America will be worth all that
il takes :. all that we have to
give.
And my heart drifts back to
that One, long ago, who built the
first Blood Bank. He was a car
penter, too born in days as
cruel and hopeless.
How could He ease that pain
90. save them from that de-
spair? He had no money or
power to give-but He could
give Himself and His love.
Men might forget words and
warnings. But they would not
forget a body broken on a blood
stained crosS-to prove that
love. So, for 1000 years the
blood has flowed =.
From local-Calvary!