Evening star., 1949-06-27
By the
Rt. Rev. Msar. Fulton J. Sheen

North American Newspaper Autanee)
The Voice Of America beamed
10 Russia and the satellite coun-
txies Is doing much good to those
truth Impoverished lands, but at
the same time one wonders II 1t
Is as effective as it really could be.
Our propaganda to Russia is
based on two principles: The first
that as a freedom loving people
we are anxious that Russia should
enjoy freedom Of speech. religion.
worship and assembly; secondly.
that the Russian people would
like to have the same economic
prosperity that we enjoy.
In regard to our propaganda
for freedom, it may be that, when
the Russian people hear this. they
may consider 1t ironical that we
should talk Of their need Of free
dom after being silent about 1t
for almost 80 years.
People May Doubt.
Well. indeed, may they ask Of
us.
If you are so interested In
religious freedom. why did you
not protest against the closing of
$4,000 of our churches and
chapels? II you are anxious to
give us political freedom. why did
not the voice Of America raise
itself in protest against the liqui-
dation Of 100000 Of our Ku-
laks? Why. for almost 30 years,
has nothing been said for the re-
lease Of 100000 of our people
IN concentration camps? If free
dom Of conscience Is dear to your
heart. why no protest against the
murder Of 250. 900 Of our orthodox
clergy?
Did you not for almost three
decades look with a tolerant
amusement, false broadminded-
ness, on the tyranny which sup
pressed us as an economic ex-
pertinent? And did you not con-
denim as 'Red-baiters' and 'reac-
tionaries' those in your own land
who sought to tell the truth about
the evils Of communism? Did you
not allow the monster of COM
munism to grow fat in its iron
cage without ever giving q thought
to the people of Russia, until our
Communist masters began dis
turbing the world with their ma
terialistic ambitions? Is this sud-
den interest In our welfare a de-
sire to save your own skins or are
you truly interested in liberty?"
In regard to the comparison the
Voice Of America makes between
economic conditions in Russia
and the United States. and the
number Of automobiles, tele-
phones and washing machines
that we have in contrast with
theirs. the Russian Communists
might very we'll retort:
IT you are able to produce
such abundance of material goods
under a capitalistic civilization,
then how much better could we
do 1t when communism really
begins to function"
Propaganda Misses Fire.
More important still. our propa-
ganda is based on the false as
sumption that Russians want the
same things Americans want; that
comfort, ease. prosperity and
gadgets are the universal longing
of all peoples. It might be well
for us to realize that people who
have lived in fear for 80 years
cannot think in terms of eco
nomic prosperity Materialisticl
ideals Of capitalistic America are
not necessarily the ideals of other
peoples of the world. There are
many women. for example, in the
world who would much prefer to
have small painting hanging on
their walls than to have a perma-
nent wave a month-and, Incl
dentally. why are they not per-
manent?
1t is one thing to have material
wealth and lose it and quite an
other thing never to have had
1t at all. The average Russian
never has been economically pros
porous. But many. however. have
had all that they wanted. No good
can come Of propaganda which
arouses envy for wealth or a de-
sire to obtain things and moth
Ing else. The desire to live and
to think freely has made martyrs,
but the desire to live in a house
full OF gadgets is apt not to make
men martyrs but plunderers.
There is not a single mother
In Russia who would be willing to
give up her son In another war
IN order to enjoy some American
prosperity. but many a mother
would be willing to give up her
son to gain freedom Of the soul.
II the propaganda of the Voice
G1Z/2El1EI1)D(IDll1DLD 1DLDzlzGIIZIZIzINA.