New England bulletin., 1949-04-02
SOUND OFF The Dept. For Vets and CTS
 By Glenn Douglass


 the United States Army to discriminate against Commu- nists in it's plans 50 provide American-type education for foreign students.
 Beginning with the fall of next year, the Army will be transport ing German, Austrian and Japanese students here for a years so- iourn in American colleges and un- iversities. Three hundred students from those countries have been successfully screened and will share Tn the program as part of Amer lca's reconstruction program in these former enemy areas.
 1t is irOnic to recall the praise which was heaped upon the gallant courage of the Red armies which fought by our side in the European cam paigns-especially irOnic when it is announced by Donald J. Shank, acting president of the Institute of International Edu- cation, that former Nazi party members will not necessarily be excluded, but that Commu- nlsts will not be permitted to take part in the program. Maybe 1t is a smart plan to n1ay mtelIectual and economic footsio WlIn the supposedly now-conyerted followers of Hitler and Hirohito put 1t seems to us a bit short of brilliant to deny these educational and cultural benefits to neon1a Wno were our allies and of whom Ie are aIWays crying that they uo nos understand and appreciate true freedom, American style.
 Sound Off believes that most Amerlcans-the so-called com mon people, who, unfortunately nave nothing to do with the conduct of our mi1itary-are confident enough in the basic worth of the American way of lfe to withstand any challenge Of any fascist or communist theology, whether it be foreign made or homegrown.
 1t IS sort of comparable to saw Ing that a man ought not be al- lowed in ones church because he believes in gambling (more) on Sundays-or just in gambling. At the same time, we are welcoming into the front pews the people we were condemning no longer than yesterday, because they actually tried to wipe our temples off the face of the earth.
 There Is a question as to the real worth of any institu- ton which cannot provide the opportunity for scrutiny and which cannot answer questions.
 Another Iron Curtain?
 We have been hollering ourselves hoarse about some manner of Iron Curtain which a1legedly shields the foul designs of the Soviet beast from the innocent eyes of the world.
 Evidently, we believe that the way to penetrate one iron curtain is to set up another.
 It is all part of a pattern which sees an American na- tiOn pouring out it's hordes of wealth to keep men and women on the other side of the world believing in democracy because it feeds them this year, while an utterly insane bunch of Sen- atOrs gang up on real demOc- racy by the participation in or tolerance of filIibuster against civil rights.
 In addition to handling the trans portation of students to this coun- try, the Army will use, s11O,0O0 in reconstruction funds to aid in the American-style education of the former Nazis and Nips.
 We have arrived at a stage of international fantasy which could be humorous if it were not so dangerous.
 It seems to us that one of the answers is that we must get as many more Americans as possible to get into the habit of thinking logically, formally and for themselves in order to prevent happening here the very thing which we were supposed to be thwarting on Luzon and at Anzio.
 Certainly, one of the best me- thods of training people in the use of their own beans is college and university instruction. The value of the exercise of academic freedom is one of the values which is dramatically emphasized in such training.
 American veterans, many of