Seward seaport record., 1954-10-29
Stress Dignity of Man As American Ideal
By -- Donald A. Dal5erg

l racy is based upon the one great principle and ideal that every per. son is important and has a dignity and a worth Merit, real or potent ial is ascribed to every individual. This is diametrically opposed to communistic doctrine which sub. ordinates the individual. Under co. mmunism the state is all important and the individual must sacrifice his own interests for those of the state, which usually consists of a few selfish, powerful, and ruthless persons Under democracy, how. ever, the interests of the individ- ual are important ones and the government exists for the preser. walton and protection of the life, liberty, and property of the individ- ual. as we'll as guaranting him the undeniable right to the pursuit of happiness. Man is placed first ; things are subjugated to the wei. fare of man. Our nation, founded upon this assumption, has the hi ghest overall standard of living of any nation in the world. Its cit izens as well have more personal freedom and are closer to attaining real dignity than in any other cou. -ntry of the world.
 The best society is composed of individuals who achieve their best their fullest potential. The differ. ences among individuals make each at his best, desirably in many re- spects from other individuals. The aim of education then should be to develop each individual to the utmost of his ability. The progress of science and humanity as whole is dependent upon the realization of the worth of individuals. Each person must be encouraged and properly guided to develop his particular talents that he alone possesses. His dignity must be fully recognized and he must have freedom of thought. In commun- istic state the individual must con- form or be liquidated but in a dem ocratic state the right to differences of opinion is recognized and pro- tected. Absolute conformity, as under communism, can bring only eventual mediocrity because the intelligence of only few, and usu- ally selfish, individuals. is used. Under democracy just laws are arrived at through honest differ ences of opinion and no one group can dictate to or subjugate another group.
 The great democratic principle that every person is important also implies that mans problems can be solved through his own intell- actual and spiritual efforts. This does not seek to minimize the i'm portance of emotional drives and habits in mans life, or the heritage of the past; it does emphasize the importance of intelligent utilization of his drives. habits. and lessons of the past. Man. standing before God, can solve his own problems without appealing to any other authority except that of the Almighty.
 Through the recognition of the importance of each individual the necessity for cooperative use of in- telligence in the solution of prob lens common to the group is real ized. This element of cooperative action brings the individual intel ligence of each member of the gr- cup to bear most fully and appro- priately in the solution of a com mon problem. The ideal solution then is to arrive at concensus of opinion so that all elements of the group are recognized and represen- ted. The recognition of the dignity and worth of each member of the group provides a basis for cooper ative action. Come let us reason together" is, then, the watchword of the great democratic ideal.
 The future of our democratic form of government and our way of life. and therefore the preserv- ing of the liberty and rights of the individual. is dependent upon each of us. In recognizing the importance and worth of every individual and
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