Evening star., 1946-11-05
Letters to The Star
Proposes New National Theater
Pledfed to Freedom

TO the Editor OF fne btr:
1t is in respect to the admittedly
un-American tensions and resentments
incident to prejudicial and discrimina-
tory policies Of the OAR, the Ma
tional Theater and more recently the
Lisner Auditorium that this writer pre-
sumes to suggest remedy that would
make all of us happier. Attention should
be called to the fact that these tensions
are for the most part at the social level
rather than the political or economic.
At the social level many Of us who would
die for Negroes rights at the political
and economic levels are admittedly snobs
and, If the term is applicable, un-Amer-
ican. Many Of us would be utter hypo-
critics II we encouraged the belief that
our concept of economic and political
justice included social attitudes toward
Negroes different from those both races
habitually practice between their own
kind. Whether one Is white or colored,
it is almost instructive to make cultural,
religious, fraternal and business prefer
ences which per sc are discriminatory.
Furthermore, 1t is this writer's opinion
that the average colored person is too
intelligent not to challenge the sincerity
of forced social attitude 80 out of keep
ing with ancient tendencies OF all man
kind to make social distinctions and
preferences admittedly incongruous to
the broadest concepts of pure democracy.
Because this controversy over discrim-
inatory policies of Washington theaters
deals essentially with ancient psyche
logical patterns of human nature, this
writer was disappointed with the letter
to the editor from that eminent cham
pion of human rights, the dean Of play
wrights, Robert E. Sherwood. It seems
that even his brilliant genius has joined
the thoughtless ranks Of those who hold
that the proper solution of all our dim
culties Is to join q picket line until boy
colt reduces an offender to unconditional
surrender. He proposed that it Is the
duty Of all of us who work In the Amer
ican theater, playwrights, producers,
actors, to protest against this 1ntolerable
situation by agreeing that we shall keep
our productions out Of Washington until
the ban against Negroes Is abolished"
There Is little argument that it is
within the power of Mr.. Sherwood to
implement these proposed sanctions, but
1t il more probable that such reprisals
would only compound existing Ill feel
ing. Playwright Sherwood Of all people
should know that good or evil passions
within the human breast show little
advantageous response to punitive meas
ures or crack downs.
1t would appear that q new national
theater dedicated from its inception to
the -Four Freedoms in their most literal
sense would resolve our difficulties.
Mediocrity and an. inadequate paucity
of existing facilities catering to the lib
eral arts too long has exercised a frus-
trating monopoly in this Nations Capt.
tai. We should have the best, as properly
becomes the capital Of democracy.
The Star long has exercised civic lead
ership in sponsoring cultural projects
reflective of the highest traditions of
performance and excellence. Would 1t
not be in keeping with that high tradi-
ton Of public service for The Star to
use its prestige to enlist the aid of such
liberal thinkers as Mr.. Sherwood to build
. new theater that would be worthy Of
this Nations beautiful Capital? Mr..
Sherwood has the, creative genius, and
the finest tribute he could pay to the
author Of the battle cry of the Four
Freedoms would be to%erect in Wash
ington suitable national memorial to
his beloved friend and CO. worker, Frank
lin D. Roosevelt. This Is one project
about which people all over the Nation
would forget politics. Let us have such
a truly national theater where it really
belongs, and In building 1t all OF US can
get a fresh outlook and q new resolve
to rid our hearts Of everything that is
un-American.
THOMAS E. MATTINGLY, ND.