The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-01-13
Observations
Americans Told
to be Thankful
by Sailor
BY HELEN ESSARY
BY HELEN EsSARY
what have VIC got TO be happy


about
I asked this dolcful question u
week ago,
Soon thereafter my telephone
rang. I'm a seaman first class" q
young voice said. I'm compelled
to take issue with you on that idea
OF not having anything 10 be thank
full for.
Il can think OF much to be thank
fll for. ] feel | ought TO tell you
what's in my mind And in tho
minds Of the boys in my outfit. II
you'd ever hear them talking when
they're on night guard duty you'd
be thankful you are a part OF a
country that can produce such fell
lows. What am I most thankful
for That's easy. Because I'm
an American"
Later, the seaman came TO see
me He said he thought he could
explain what was on his mind II
We had a little talk together.
Il feel happier at being an Amer.
lean than ! ever did before | got
iuto this war he said laying his
cap and coat carefully down when
I was living in Alabama working at
my job but not working too hard, |
didn't think much about what Il
means 10 be born In this country.
Il didn't earn the chance ] had.
! didn't realize what a wonderful
place the L. S. A. is until | began
travelling around. But know now
and I'm glad of the chance to keep
it the way II is. All OF us fellows
feel that way"
The reasons for such pride and
willingness? Well
There's such real freedom here.
Take for example what the news.
paperwoman. Mrs. May Craig, said
10 Mr.. Roosevelt the other day
when he said columnists were ex-
.Crescences, and she said he had
one in his own family.
Is there any place in the world a
reporter could call down a big fel.
low like the President Of the United
States and get away With It? The
President had 10 take Il and knew
he had to. lent that kind of free
dom worth fighting for?
Don't forget that freedom OF re-
ligion we've got, too, the seaman
said You can go to any kind OF
church or stay home from all of
them. You can be Catholic, Jew,
Presbyterian, Baptist. Anything.
Nobody burns your churches down.
Nobody makes you have a king or
obey a dictator.
It's such a thrilling country
we've got" said the seaman. Have
you ever been TO the Pacific north
west? The boys down my way
didn't know such a place existed un.
Ill the war. We're all getting
around and learning because of the
war
why. there are acres and acres
OF unsettled land In this country.
Places for hundreds OF thousands OF
people TO settle and work and grow
successful. Maybe in some of the
places they'll have to work little
extra hard. But that's all right, too
This war has taught men to work,
And young women, too.
Hundreds OF wives and daugh,
tiers are doing Jobs they never did
before. No, I'm not worrying about
whether they'll keep on with tho
jobs after the war. Most Of the
women will go home and raise fam
lilies. But the fact that they have
worked will make them more nm
derstanding wives. I'LL keep their
husbands on their toes. A woman
who has worked sets a standard.
You know that.
All the boys in our outfit feel
like | do the visitor said. They
aren't worried about what will hap
peu to them when they get home
again. All they want to do is 10
do their share Of fighting and get
back TO work. They appreciate
what they've got to work with and
for in this country. They know
there will still be a chance here for
SfNl = bONg " llldht Ebbil.
The seaman's boss down in Ala.
bama is an example Of what can be
done in the United States. He start
ell with $40 in his pocket. Last year
he had 10 pay $4,000 income tax
Was be glad he had been given the
opportunity 10 make enough to cal
Tor a $4,000 income tax? Was ht
grateful because our boys are fight
ing TO protect his country and the
property he owns here and the free
= dom he has? He was not grateful
He griped in way that made the
seaman sick.
NO matter what happens, we 90
TO stop gripping, concluded my Wis
itor solemnly as he rose TO 20. wv,
got TO remember every day how
much there Is 10 be glad about. AnC
that's why ! came out here TO SCI
you. There's good reason for ey
erybody to say and keep on saying
Happy New Year"
Washington Sen. Clyde ". Rec,
(C). Kans., assails new live cattl
price ceilings as another or!