The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-01-08
Observations
Let Holidays Stay
But Look at War as
it Really is
By HELEN EssARl

wish were like those sizzling ra.
do and holiday comedians who.
when they want a phrase, call in a
Bright Mind and say:
Give me something that packs
a punch. Something to WOW them
into the aisles," never had a
script writer. Nor a ghost writer.
Critics have been my general re
ward and inspiration. But III the
past dispiriting weeks have called
bosom friends on the phone on
writing DAYS and said: Tell me
something cheerful. What do you
know that isn't too depressing to
talk about?'
Today the bosom friends were
deep in sorrow. How can | think
of anything cheerful" they pro
teste done after another. Il have a
son in Belgium. ... Did you see
President Rooseyelt's hope that
1915 would bring a measure OF
peace?'.. My husband is on a
submarine. He's been reported
missing
Next | tried a philosopher. Per
haps he could find hope somewhere.
His voice came over the wires, fiat
and despairing. Il AM sick" he eX-
plained. IL feel as il | were on
rocking boat on the high seas in
the middle of a terrible storm.
I'm WOODY. | cant think. ! feel
weak in the knees. I've been try
ing to write a little verse for
particular riend. But how can
write a verse | get a line and
a half done. Then ! think of those
poor boys in Belgium and way of
in Leyte. | can't go on. Every
thing | try TO do or say is so utter
" hollow and unimportant. COM
pared with the hell OF our own
sons abroad? Nothing makes sense
to me-. What would | write if
I we're you-Just a minute now
Let me try to think. e. Why, I'd
write that President Roosevelt
ought 10 abolish Christmas and
New Years for the duration. He's
abolished everything else. The
country can't take too much and
stay sane
DON'T agree with the unhappy
philosopher. | wouldn't abolish
Christmas. Nor the New Year.
But | would abolish some OF the
fictitious cheer and heroism that
builds war up into a glorious ad-
venture.
The fictitious cheer and heroism
is war propaganda. And It EXPLOITS
the agony of the poor fellows who
have to kill or be killed.
Id not permit any war camp to be
used as part of a radio program
to advertise a money-making outfit.
Night after night, hour after hour
this exploitation goes on.
The radio listener tunes in on a
hilarious time and bands whip
ping up cheers and cheers whipping
up false enthusiasm. The listener
I. forgets that here is a set pro
lam designed to entertain.
He hears only the shouts and the
usic and the quips OF the script
riters, done with profit to the
)medians. He is lulled into a
ort OF peace of mind. Unconsc-
)usly he feels that war has its
right moments. All the boys
aren't so bad off,.
YOU GO to her Sergeant Jones,
the brave fellow. What picture
does he bring to your mind as he
talks Of his experiences? He brings
the picture of escape. Not of sacri-
fee and death. He spea"s ten
derby OF the suffering OF his com
rades. But you don't see those
comrades. You can't hear their
cries OF horror. You see Sergeant
Jones. alive. telling a personal
story of great adventure. It is al
most like reading a thrilling mys-
terry story.
You have the same feeling about
him that you have when you say
to yourself. "Other people die. But
] will not die" You and Sergeant
Jones represent victory over death.
Certainly | won't have the Serg-
cant Joneses tell what they know
OF war. Like this:
War is foul business. II has
made me md my comrades fiithier
than animals. 1t has put hatred
into our hearts. Hatred OF the
enemy and hatred OF you who did
not protect us from this mire.
There is no glory in war War is
rotting bodies and fear and loath.
ing"
Everyone who returns from the
hghting zones IS sickened at our
comDlacency. How can we be
anything but complacent when the
censors deny US the truth and feed
! us drivel?
We must be told what is hapnen.
I Ing and WIN, in Justice to the men
who are dying and TO ourselves.