The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-11-15

strange environments.
Most of his problems are medi.
cal, certainly if we include psy-
chology in medicine.
Some of my women folks who
have just begun 10 meet the re-
turning member of the armed
forces seem surprised that he is
so often full of gripes and resent
ments. But it would not have sur
prised Alexander the Great or
Hannibal, or Joshua. 1t is as nat
ural for a soldier to grippe as it is
for a pony to buck the first time
he gets a bride.
Fundamental Causes
The fundamental causes are
very much the same in the two
cases. The soldier is put in an en-
tirely new environment. He is
made to get up in the morning and
every morning. He Is told to go
thither and he goeth, or else. This
naturally grinds the independent,
proud spirit Of the free born Amer
lean who has been laying around
in bed until he darn well pleased
to get up and went thither only
under the pressure Of hunger or
'ove.
The army psychiatrists are do
ing a good job of trying to help
out the adjustments that must be
made by deliberately talking over
the problems with the new in
ductee. The old time theory of the
hard boiled drill sergeant was to
let 'em gripe: they were going to
do what he told them anyhow and
if they griped they griped: it was
none Of his business. But the mod
ern idea is that they will make bet
ter soldiers if they see the whole
situation in prospective. 1t is not
an attempt to soften them but to
make them reasonable human be-
ings.
The boy who first gets in the
army has been. torn away from
several things precious, or at least
familiar, to him. There are, of
course, all kinds Of boys. There is
the boy who wants to run away
from home either because he is I'M
happy at home or the adventures
of the great world make more Of
an appeal to him. The army is a
great place for such a guy, but he
is in the minority.
Most Of the men in the army are
either homesick or they have been
separated from their girl, or they
have given up a job, or they are
parted from their friends. They
know that what they are doing is
temporary and does not fit them
for life, in short, is q waste OF
precious time. All this is perfectly
natural and normal. AS is also the
fear that the thought of the danger
they are about to encounter has
on them.
This leads to resentment. That
Is a short word for very compli-
Gated set Of emotions. But an emo
ton just the same. In all Of US
about half our mental life, at least,
is emotions. The rest is in the
think-box and this, under normal
circumstances controls the emo
tions and keeps US on an even keel.
But the soldiers resentment may
set him to brooding and the think
box is reduced to very small in
significant part Of his life. Sooner
or later for most Of them the
think-box begins TO get strong
again and resumes its normal
status. But for some, such adjust
ment never occurs and the emo
tons get in the saddle and things
go haywire. They may take the
form Of dyspepsia, or rapid heart,
or bowel upsets and that il why
they have a medical angle.
But they can be brought under
control, just as the colt is broken
to the bride.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
E. P. S.:-My 12-year-old son
was not circumcized at birth. Is
It too late now?
Answer: No, if there is any in
dication for IL