The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1951-04-06

the certainty OF Cne ufa1C, battle and
possible death or injury in foreign
lands. is fast developing in our youth
whats the use" philosophy.
Thus it is that we reprint the fol-
lowing short talk given at the Amer
lean Legion Child Welfare School at
Grand Island, Nebraska, last month
by a teen-aged youngster by the
name of Burke who was Governor of
Boys State in Nebraska for 1850.
He sums up this attitude of futility,
as only teen-aged youth facing the
future could so do.-EDITOR.
When | was asked to speak today,
| was informed that the talk should
in some way enlighten you about
the way in which the young citizens
of today are taking the bit"-are
accepting their responsibilities. AL
ways, adults are worried about the
attitudes of young people. Afraid they
are not up to par-worried for fear
they do not uphold the things which
ought to be upheld, and attack the
things which ought to be attacked.
To you who wonder what the youth
of today think about their future in
terms of the citizens duty to his
country, | can only say-the outlook
is pretty grim.
Ask them yourself. Ask Jim there
the tall young senior about to grad |
uate from high school. Find out what |
he thinks of the job he finds on his
shoulders. He says:
$50, if the Army doesn't get me
right away, I'll go to college. If it
does, and war breaks out-well, |
may not have to worry about what
I'm gonna do for an education. A
bullet'll take care of that"
Question Jack-the schools top
athlete-want to hear nice outlook
for 17-year-old kid? Listen
Gas far as Pm concerned, I'm
gonna have one devil of a good time
till I'm IS. I'm gonna do all the
things that are wrong, SOS l can say
at least lived for a little while. BY
golly. I'm gonna live for year. After
that-what's the difference"
Talk to the school "brain"-a boy
with brilliant mind, capable of do
ing innumerable things. How does he
regard his duties as a citizen?
$50, what good are my brains-and
all the knowledge I've accumulated
and the desire l have to learn, and
to do great things? With a uniform on
you don't look much different than
the town bum"
Exaggerated? Scattered examples?
Suggestions? No.
Before writing this paper, l sat
in on a lot of "bull sessions" and
heard a lot of opinions expressed.
These were only three. They all ran
about like that.
WHY THESE ATTITUDES?
Why do they have this outlook?
What has happened to the pioneer
spirit and determination to keep this
country free?
Why have these attitudes per-
vaded the minds of the young folk
whose duty it is to preserve democ-
racy?
Here's my opinion, formed after
listening to a lot of friends and ac-
quaintances expound on the subject.
Reason No. 1: The kids of today
are tired of wars.
True, they never have fought on
the front lines-they may never have
seen military service. But consider
the fact that the youngsters of II
and Is today have never, never,
known a year in which there was
not war, or rumors of war, or hatred
in the air.
This young person is not the in
nocent that went off to serve with
the AEF in World War |. Neither
IS he the young heroic who marched
off to save world peace in World
War II. He has seen war, read war,
heard war, since he was old enough
% understand what it all meant. And
because of this vicarious experience
Understands what war does.
Don't get me wrong. These same
lids realize that there are nations
n the world where the young people