The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-05-16
On Being American

structive programs and action, both
at home and abroad.
| Whether or not we can avoid World
War III, don't know but I do know
that if we don't try to avoid it, moth
ing else is worth trying or doing. If
we don't at least try to avoid it, every
thing else is futile and ludicrous, and
worse-devastating
1t is futile to bear and rear chill
dren. 1t is vain to wonder about the
kind of curtains you'll hang up in the
spring. It is futile to write and read
books, to go to lectures or to church
or school. 1t is silly to worry about
being called a Red or a Communist,
or whatever; or about being hauled
before the un-American committee.
1t is futile to work at your job, what
ever it may be. 1t is worse than futile
to worry about keeping on the good
side of whoever can take that Job
away from you.
Destruction or upbuilding? l don't
know. I can merely suggest a line
of thinking that is necessary if it
is to lead to any sort of sound action,
any sort of future. I can do no
better than to stress the American
tradition. "All men are created
equal" That may be a prophecy
War or peace? l don't know 1t
depends largely on us Americans.
Whether or not we can extricate our
selves from the complex crisis of our
inner national life, 1 don't know. In
this uncertainty, only one thing seems
worthwhile regardless of what we are
in for l am for being an American
in the best tradition, which is to
say being man or woman openly |
opposed to what he or she regards |
as wrong or unsound being openly
for what is sound and true. There is
no thrill in being worm, in allowing
oneself to be stepped on, to be in
undated by propaganda.
We need to help each other A few
nights ago l was leafing through
Nehru's latest book, "The Discovery of
India, and came on this: "There is
only one thing that remains to us,
that cannot be taken away; to act
with courage and dignity, and to stick
to the ideals that have given meaning
to life" I picked up another book,
Herman Melville's "Moby Dick", and
came on these words: Nothing can
lift the heart of a man like manhood
IN another man"
What I am saying here and else
where are one mans ideas in the
process of being formed | belong to
10 political party. I am connected
With several organizations which de-
scribe themselves as progressive, but
speak for none of them Lately ,
we adopted the motto of Joseph t
Vinegar Joe") Stillwell who toward
he end of his life last year, while a 7
general in the u. S. Army, wrote to a
riend that he felt like giving up his i
our stars and grabbing musket and f
dining the peoples revolution in
lima His motto was 'IIlegitimati {
on carborundum" in Latin, which he b
translated Don't let the bastards A
rind you down. From Trends and /;
'ides," January-March 1947. C
Editors Note: Louis Adamic, author [
f Dynamite, my Native Land, k
in the Jungle, Dinner at a
he White House, and many other "
Op ranking nOn-fiction best sellers, C
lso publishes the quarterly, Trends a
nd Tides. In your editors estima-
hi T. G Al |
act sheets on current international Il
lends and events presently availa- il
lie. Should you be interested, send o
our subscription to Louis Adamic. "
Iilford, New Jersey. The cost per p
ear is one dollar.