Evening star., 1941-11-10

sSsa@@S @SS'AS'7@ they might be
Henry MeL.mors. instilled with
any thoughts and ideas harmful to
morale" automatically cooked up
this puzzler:
Which is the more important
freedom of speech or freedom Of
listening?
You try to figure that one out.
I've had on my thinking cap mot
even removing it in the presence OF
ladies' ever since read the colonels
edict and have not come anywhere
near q satisfactory solution.
The colonel-and my advice 10
him is to get out of that high eli
mate while he still has command OF
his faculties as we'll as some troops
doesn't seem to realize the vital
relationship between the human
voice and the human ear. Appar-
emily he is ignorant of the fact
that the importance of free speech
is seriously curbed unless there be
some free ears around to receive
it. This is difficult TO understand,
too, because, thanks to his hygiene
course even little Oscar in the
fourth grade knows Of the fine and
happy connection between the vocal
chords and the ear.
I have no doubt that little Oscar,
even while partially absorbed in
rolling a spit ball or dunking Mary
LOUIS hair in the inkWell, could grasp
the fact that speakers are no good
without listeners. The colonels
ignorance Of this fundamental point
almost makes a man wonder what
he was doing while the fourth
grade teacher taught hygiene. Was
the colonel playing hockey in order
to take a swim or learn to ride his
bicycle with no hands or master
his fathers signature so that he
could tear off letter to his teacher
saying, Early E. w. was sick yes
terday, so please excuse his ab-
sence"?
1t might be wise TO let the colonel
explain how he reconciles a defense
OF freedom of speech with an at
tack on freedom of listening. Per-
haps he feels that freedom of speech
should be restricted TO lecturers in
homes for the deaf, or over dis
connected loud speakers and micro
phones.
Another thing that interests me is
how Col. Duncan intends TO inforce
his new ruling. Does he plan to
ask the War Department to issue
him a diving bell for each soldier
IN his unit and then demand that
his soldiers wear this smart, but
slightly cumbersome. dress? Or. will
he settle for an issue of blinkers and
earmuffs for the troops under his
command?
Too, who is going to decide which
meetings and places are harmful
| for the soldiers morale? I can't
picture the colonel making the
rounds and still having enough time
left for anything else. And, how is
he going to inform his men of the
places and meetings which they
must not attend? He wouldn't dare
address them in person for fear thev
would stick their fingers In their
ears and refuse to listen 10 him on
tne ground that he might inadvert-
emily say something to lower their
morale.
How will the colonel supervise
the soldiers when they leave the
premises on furlough? Certainly he
plans to. Can't you just imagine him
calling In Private Jones, who is
ABOUT to 60 home on leave. and
warning him against eating home
cooking on the ground that the pies
| mother bakes may be richer snd
hakler than the ones served a.
Camp Lowry, and thus might re-
suit in Private Jones becoming dis
eruntied with Army cooking on his
return.
There is no end to the things that
Col. Duncan must prevent his SOL
oilers from doing. Reading news
papers, for example. The news
papers still print the speeches of
lsolationists, as well as advertise
ments OF how much fun there Is IN
be had on a cruise to Bermuda and
Cuba. Magazines must 70 from
Camp Lowry. too. Occasionally the
have stories Of how much fun civil
ians have, and that would be bad
To show their appreciation of c.
Duncan looking out for them, h;
soldiers should send him an ac-
cepted textbook on psychology. and
with 1t, note requesting he read
and re-read the chapter explaining
how when you take something away
from man or forbid him to do a
particular thing, you only arouse his
curiosity along those lines.
Colonel, to the duelling grounds!
Ear steppers at so yards.
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