The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-01-22
DEFENSE MEASURES
IN THE HOME
BY LUCIA MALLORY

Not only the little children but our
big boys and girls need the guardian
ship of the hOme-;lwayS, but especial
1y as Il preSent-day defense measure.
The boy who has just enlisted or has
recently been drafted needs to have
that guardianship follow him. 1t is an
act of family devotion, as we'll as be-
ing unquestionably beneficial, to knit
him Il sweater or TO send him a box
of good things to eat Don't overlook
these attentions. But, if he is at all
thoughtful, he has problems that such
SOlicitude for his comfort may help
him to forget but will not help him to
solve. With regard to these he may
need your help very much. What kind
of letters do you write him? Are they
newsy and CHEEKY, reassuring and
strengthening and inspiring?
You know you taught your children
the Ten Commandments, including
''Thou shalt not kill Then, too, you
taught them to be kind and forgiving
and to Judge not. Now, they are be-
ing adjured to condemn, to take re-
Venge to Kill. What wonder if some
have sustained Il moral shock and are,
regarding their ideals, cropping in the
dark?
1t has been said thata nation cannot
fight we'll until it hates. But is this
true? Should not the stimulating pur
pose of the soldier be the protection
of his country-its people and, above
all, its ideals? And how can one fight
intelligently and fearlessly for ideals
if he is blinded and poisoned by hate?
1t has long been recognized by the
medical profession that hatred poi
sons the system of the hater. What
does one gain by poisoning oneself?
If the inmates of ;n asylum get loose,
one does not hate the madmen. Yet
to safeguard the public, if those mani
acs are armed and cannot be captured,
they must be shot.
The "Thou shalt notS' of the Ten
Commandments all refer to selfish or
vicious purposes. They do not forbid
us to defend others. SO you can tell
these young people that their early
Bible lessons still hold good. They
should not hate, should not be revcng-
ed, but they should fight-unselfishly
for the protection of all for which
the United States of America stands.
Remember Pearl Harbor? Yes. let us
remember Pearl iiarbOr. Remember the
Americans who at that far distant out
post performed deeds of yalor that will
forever add luster to the pages of our
history Remember and emulate their
quick response to the call to defend the
Stars and Stripes. Whenever and Wher-
ever we hear Pearl HarbOr", may
our flag-for which those men unheSi-
tating sacrificed all, the symbol of our
homes and our Bill of ltights-ever
blazon forth with inspiration for US,
too, whether the need be physical de-
fense or spiritual loyalty.
They know, these boys of ours, how
the knights of old SWore to keep them
selves pure, and Why-that which they
We're to defend was holy. SO, just as
truly, the principles underlying the
term Democracy, which their coun-
try is fostering and their flag is pro-
1ectln@, are holN. These as knights,
they go out To defend. 1t is Il high
calling, Il glorious purpose and re-
quires purity and courage.
Give this thought to the boys in the
service and to the boys and girls ut
home. You know your own child. Give
him only as much at Il time as he will
receive gladly. But give il to him again
and again. 1t will be il light that will
shine out for him, harmlesSly, through
the darkest blackOut.