Sunday Chicago bee. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1925-19??, 1941-05-04
Continued from last week)


We don't want to preserve Man
ners, customs, traditions and eco
romic and social patterns that de-
nv millions of American citizens
The right to participatein their own
government because they lack the
money with which to buy the pri-
vilege of voting. We don't want
to preserve or defend those eco
nomic patterns which permit mil
lions Of farm families to exc out
bare existence on tired and
eroded land and millions more to
wander across the country in
WORKOUT jalopies, seeking jobs
that do not exist. We don't want
to defend or preserve those ele-
ments Of our social organization
which forces large segments OF
cur population to dwell in I'M
speakable slums when they might
have decent homes. We don't
want to preserve those elements
which force our children to play
on refuse dumps and in city
streets when they might have
parks and fresh air. We don't
want to preserve those elements
which force As million Americans
to remain under-nourished Wher
they might have proper food.
These things exist in America
On the one hand we guarantee
labor the right to organize and t.
bargain collectively and on the
other hand we see the forces Of
reaction in full hut and cry
seeking to wipe out all Of the
nard-Won gains Of the working
man in the interests Of what they
call national defense. On the one
hand we point with pride to the
fact that America has, since it:
beginning, been a haven for those
who sought to escape persecution
III other parts Of the world anC
on the other hand we see today
the forces Of reaction trying tt
close to the present-day refugees
who were the frOnt-line fighter:
against Fascism the last inch Q.
our door which remains open. /
we listen at the proper hour or
Sunday evening we can hear bis
business spokesman tell us Wha
his employer is doing to defend
cur way of life while, at the same
time, that employer is undermin-
ing our way Of life by flouting the
democratic process and the law:
that it has enacted-by hiring
thugs and gangsters to prey or
union organizers-and by hiring
propagandists to spread the doc
trines Of racial hatred and dis
elimination against minority
groups.
But for all Of our faults anC
cur weaknesses we nigh
just as we'll be honest with our
selves and admit that they exis-
we still have something here
in America that is infinitely better
to my way Of thinking than any
thing that could be found else
where We have something here
that is worth defending-sOme-
thing that is worth fighting for
something that is worth making
sacrifices for. But at the same
time we ought not to forget tina
there is still a long stretch Of roac
Iahead Of us and that it is our pur-
pose to keep going ahead and no
to stop and wait for the rest Of The
world to catch up with US. II
travelling toward the goal tina
lies at the end Of the road
there is such an end-We need the
help and the participation Of all
What specific contribution car
religious youth make in this en-
deavor? | think that religion!
youth, if they have gotten th'
tull value Of their religious train
ing, can make a real contribu.
ton toward better American So
clety. Young people with religi
Gus. training-reg CARELESS of the
form or ritual according to which
they Worship-haVe all had TIL
opportunity to develop essential.
similar qualities of understanding