The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-09-17
Observations
America Fails
to Realize Own
Genius, Ability
BY Helen Essary

theme.
"Dont forget The GENIUS OF
America.
You statesmen and politicians.
you fighting men and workers You
women and children. Never forget
for one instant the GENUS Of
America. Rejoice in IT, Use H.
Guard 1t. Let it guide You as you
talk peace and plan the world OF
the future.
We are such silly people We
Americans. Fundamentally humble.
Unaware OF our own strength. /
was reminded OF this yesterday IN
an interview with a visiting for
eigner. He said we had no proper
pride in our own country.
II have been in the United States
for six months he said. and |
have yet TO hear one American
speak OF the genius OF America
Or the splendor Of America il you
wish.
You are the greatest country
the world has ever seen. You have
everything. Everything, All the
money on earth. youth. natural re-
sources beyond reckoning. courage.
enthusiasm. Imagination. You've got
everything
Yet. you have no conception OF
your power. or, | must add, Of your
responsibility. Are you ashamed OF
your country. you Americans? Do
YOU want to play second place.
Especially WouiG f'hke 10 asS~y6u.
why does your own President never
hint AZ the GENIUS OF America"
Since this conversation. have
been searching yainly through files
10 discover If President Roosevelt
has ever spoken in good clear words
OF the greatness OF the country
which he seems 10 enjoy bossinR
He has spoken often OF our duty
10 save the world. or the money
and the munitions OF war. And the
food We should lend, give away or
get rid OF somehow.
But he has not told in words OF
one syllable OF the genius OF Amer
lea. He has not giortfied in Amer
lea as Churchill has glorified in
England. When the prime minister
speaks OF England you see not a
little island struggling to survive.
But great nation. forever an EN-
pire-an empire that will live on
and on because it had the divine
right TO live, TO rule and. II / may
add al this moment. TO cooperate
with America on Britain's terms
All Britons reflect this proper
arrogance OF the prime minister.
Britons have never apologized for
their pride. / envy their national
insoience.
Some Americans are a craven lot
Not you. Of course. Other people.
We have no conception OF our own
greatness. We seldom speak OF it,
We are afraid Ne might seem boast
full 10 other people Nonsense
Why shouldn't we boast Why
should we succumb to the propa-
ganda that says adroitly you must
not love America first-you must
love the whole world
II was that sort OF propaganda
that got us into the war. Honest
Europeans and Asiatics will tell
you that We did not have TO get
into the war We had TO. after
Pearl Harbor. yes But not several
years before. when President Roose-
welt made that prophetic quarantine
speech in Chicago.
-Four years ago in London l
lunched with the editor of famous
English newspaper. After his third
glass OF port he spoke freely.
When are you Americans going
10 get up off your knees to the rest
OF the world he said. When
are you going to realize that il is
you who should set the pace for
civilization There must be some
thing fundamentally timid about
you. Maybe it is because you have
not yet shaken off that inferiority
complex OF your ancestors who
were. you must admit. the down
trodden OF Europe. II they hadn't
been downtrodden they wouldn't
have run off 10 a new country.
They we're also aggressive and
brave but they had a feeling that
the lords OF the manors were their
hupEIlOlH. ! sOmFtlHles DSleNe lndL
you still have that feeling about
Europe. You are magnificent. You
courage and your ability carry you
magnificentfy for a while. Then
you grow fearful Remember you
lost the peace after the last war.
May God give you the will to save
the peace II ever there is another
world war. You and England will
have TO cooperate in peace making.
But II is you who must lead 80
Often lately / have thought sef
that talk. Particularly now as a
new word. Anglo-America is max.
ing its way into thought. print and
conversation. Anglo-America? What
does II mean? II means II we are
10 follow Mr.. Churchills suggestion
a kind OF PARADISE from which
English-speaking people will run
the world. America. therefore. must
forevermore be tied 10 Europes
problems.
] doubt II Mr. Churchill himself
believes thai We cannot escape
Europe's problems merely because
we nave moved out OF the old world.
Mr.. Churchill is very clever man.