Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-28

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Mr.. william Randolph Hearst,
/ San Simeon, Calf.
Dear Mr.. Hearst:
THE American people should
j make a great annual occasion
Of 81 Am an American" Day, and
Of American Citizenship Week.
There are approximately fifty
million people In the United States
under the age of FL, which Is the
threshold of maturity.
Every year, several millions OF
these young people cross that
threshold and take their places
among the rest Of us, to perform
such tasks as they are capable Of
performing and TO conduct them
selves according TO the ideals and
capacities with which they have
been previously equipped.
It is a profitable and essential
national and annual enterprise for
us TO TAKE STOCK of the ideals
and capacities with which Ameri-
can youth Is being equipped.
We spend more money In Amer
lea for the education Of youth than
for almost any other purpose.
Should we not be concerned
about what we are GETTING for
our money:
Is our extensive and expensive
educational system doing all IL is
capable of doing. all II is expected
TO do:
Is IL teaching young Americans
TO understand and APPRECIATE
what we and our fathers consid-
cred the essential meaning Of "be-
Ing American" or Is IL teaching
something else. something alien
and menacing to our traditional
way Of life:
Does II instilI love of our coun-
try In youth:
Does II inspire children 10 revere
the names of immortal Americans,
and TO be grateful for the institu-
tons they established and the
principles and ideals they thought
important and the services they
rendered and the sacrifices they
made In order that our national
destInies might take the direction
they intended?
Since II Is OUR way of life In
America that we want TO preserve,
We should surely do all In our
power TO make that way appear
BEST In the conception of those
who win decide what tine future Of
America Is 10 be.
We think that 10 "be American"
Is the highest privilege any man
can have, brings him the most and
best rewards, makes life happier
and more pleasant and more pro-
ductive Of personal satisfaction
than any other human estate on
earth.
But would we be 80 sure of this
II we should neglect or fail TO in
cuIcate in children OUR ccncep-
tlon of what Is good about America
and what il fundamental TO It's
continuation and preservation ac-
cording 10 our ideals and stand.
ards?
Would we consider IL a privilege
10 "be American" " being so
meant what IL means in Commu-
mist and Fascist lands 10 be sub
jected to and impregnated by the
ideOlogies and morals of those
lands:
suppose We should let several
generations, or even a single gen.
Grafton, of young Americans be
alIenated from our historic Ameri-
can way of life by, let us say. the
Communist way of life.
Suppose. as would then most
certainly be the inevitable result,
that the new type OF American
citizen thus created would model
our country according TO the Com
munist plan.
There would then he. not the
free, tolerant and just America We
have now, hut an arrogant, terror
istic and brutalistic America.
There would be no freedom Of
religion or of speech or of press or
Of public assembly, not even free
dom of opinion and expression.
There would be no reverence for