Evening star., 1948-08-23
Protecting DPS Who Come

To the Editor of The Star:
letter to the Editor in The Star Of August
II, arguing that DPS are poor material" shows
such narrow prejudice and limited Judgment
that it is certainly not characteristic of the
prevailing attitude of the majority of our fell
low citizens.
During recent stay in Europe had the op-
portunity to encounter numerous displaced
persons, coming from all walks of life. Most of
them were of superior education and of above
average intelligence. Some of them had enjoyed
the blessings of democracy before. To many of
them it was new concept and new expert
ence. And nearly all of them had only one de-
sire: to come to the United States and to
round out their lives in peace and in service to
those ideals which they were denied an oppor-
tunity to serve during the recent holocaust.
All of them are potential material for good
citizens. Those of us who had an opportunity
to do our modest share for the war effort in
the preceding chapter of world history, are
fully aware of the great contribution our fel-
low citizens of foreign birth have had in help
ing us to preserve those foundations upon
which our republic has been built. 1t is un-
necessary to reterate details or to recall the
names of foreign born citizens who have con-
tributed their share in achieving our present
status in the world. If we extend hospitality
rope, we must establish safeguards, so that
they will not become ready victims to easily
misinterpreted slogans; otherwise, in despair.
they may seek refuge within those ranks which
would receive them with open arms.
If they will find that once again they are vic
TINS of discrimination, that they are at ma
terial. physical or moral disadvantage, they
will likely look for shelter. Lacking the foun-
dations and the moral discernment provided by
intelligent training in the democratic ways OF
life, they will swell the ranks of those who now
proclaim that their program calls for the
abolition of those differences which make them
second rate citizens; they would not realize
that once again they are mere pawns in a
mightier game for power. G. W. S.
To the Editor of The Star:
Franklin Highborn's letter to The Star con-
cerning the character of DPS seems to border
on hysteria. He exaggerates an isolated
instance where an individual went wrong.
When persons have to live under wretched
conditions, there are times when they become
desperate. 1t would have been just as foolish
to condemn our own American POWs If they
swiped potatoes while working in the fields
to augment the starvation rations that the
Germans were giving them.
It is amazing to me the way that DPS
nave neld up under the condltlonS that they
have to cope with Some of the countries
that have taken them In have found them
to be capable, industrious workers. OF course,
you will find some troublemakers in any
group, but these are small minority With
all the screenings that the DPS had to 60
through. certainly our Allied governments
should know by now who are the desirables
to be accepted as potential immigrants.
1t may be well for us to talk big and tell
the Arabs that there should be an unlimited
immigration into Palestine, but 1t behooves
us to take the lead in absorbing fair share
of the DPS that have been victims of Nazi
and Red Fascist aggression.
Let's welcome those that are most needed
in our rural districts and in building up OF
Alaska. L. E.