Smyrna times., 1944-10-12
D
FROM
Our Boys and Girls
in the Service
David C. Harrison Post, No. Ia,
American Legion, and Unit of the
American Legion Auxiliary.
North Pacific Area

North Pacific Area
Dribbles
Smyrna, Delaware
Dear Dribbles:
It's very rare that I write to you
although I do follow your column
regularly. At least it's as regular
ly as it is possible for The Smyrna
Times to reach me.
I read with interest your idea
about prisoners of war. This had
been brought up by letter you
had received from one of the fell
lows who was guarding them out
in the midwest somewhere.
You scratched upon the surface
but it seems that your opinion isn't
shared by many other Americans.
Recent disturbances prove that
there isn't a doubt that it does as
sumo the proportion of being a
problem, a major one at that.
Since this war has voiced the re-
solve of making a better world in
stead of using the old slogan of
World War I, "Safe for Democ-
Tacy," people have been led to be-
lieve that prisoners of war should
be permitted to see for themselves
how Americans live, taste of their
luxuries, and enjoy their privileges.
Germans, as well as Japanese,
had their opportunity to see how
peace time America operated. In
stead of interpreting our particular
way of life as we do, what did they
do? Remember Pearl Harbor,"
sure sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Nor can Germany protest that she
did not understand.
No, it all depends upon the cut
of the individual. Germans are
Germans. Nothing we can show
them will prevent them being
themselves. They've had their
fling. Now, as the conquered, they
should be treated. That does not
mean an eye for an eye exactly.
What laugh the Germans must
be having, up their sleeves of
course. Sure, America is a great
country, always of the forgiving
nature. Give these Germans their
liberty after the war and with the
proper amount of time in which to
prepare, they'll be threatening us
again, attempting to probe the
weak spot.
Why can't Americans realize
that these prisoners of war are the
very ones who not long ago were
sighting their guns at U. S. uni
forms, and hitting their mark a lot
of the time, too. Do these men de-
serve forgiveness to the extent
that we have, and are, showing
them? 1, for one, say NO.
Our policy for post war interna-
tional security is to dig out the
sources of Nazism and the fanat-
ical beliefs of the japanese, to kill
these teachings at their roots. AS
long as single German, Italian,
Jap or satellite member maintains
that superior air, he is dangerous.
Their attitudes should be changed
by the type of treatment they can
best understand. This should be
force, certainly not kindness. The
Germans back in 1912 didn't make
such "a friendly offer to the Rus
slams, did they?
Tough words? Surel This
isn't a playful game! Dog Tags
nailed to rows of crosses over in
Italy and France attest to that.
Not to mention those which can be
seen over in North Africa. The
second of two World Wars is now
on the road to being won. In both
these wars, we Americans have
definitely paid, and are paying, our
share of the cost in every respect.
And yet, we haven't learned our
lesson. Unless American people
rid themselves of their indifference,
with which they treat this prob
lem. Our choice lies between that,
Or facing the possibility and prob
ability of having another genera
tion living through an era, such as
we are now living in.
have no intentions of instigat-
ing an argument. I just get bored
with hearing Wake UP America,
Wake up America" and nothing
being done about it. You could
spank a child who did not pay at
tcntion to what they were told but