Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-19
Inteurotion Views

tel purpose OF our free PUBIC
school system and what APP
pears to be a misrepresentation
in the minds Of many citizens
as to the rights Of each indi-
vidual in relation to the pub
lie schools.
It has never been, nor
should It be, the right of any
American to exercise his right
Of freedom Of choice as far
as public or unsupported
institutions are concerned.
No American has ever had
the right to exercise his free
dom Of choice as to his asso-
ciates in q free public school
system. Our traditional free
dom Of choice is truly a right
to be constantly cherished
and defended: God grant
that we shall always have it.
But it has no place in our
American way of life insofar
as the availability Of public
facilities is concerned. It Is
surely the right Of any Amer
lean parent. who. for any
reason, does not wish to util-
lie the public schools for his
child, to choose some other
method Of educating his child.
But, surely. no honest person
believes that it shall become
the responsibility Of the pub
lie tn paw the cost Of this in
dividuars right of freedom of
choice. Let us keep the proper
perspective on what consti-
tutes a right Of an individual
and what constitutes the vio-
lation Of another individuals
rights. Barbara NJ. Parker.
The picture Of l5-year-old
Dorothy Counts being jeered
by a gesticulating, shouting
mob of students Of the
Harding High School in
Charlotte, N. c., and pictures
Of National Guards at Little
Rock. Ark. preventin g
colored children from enter
ing public schools because Of
their color. have brought
shame, condemnation and
disgrace upon the States and
communities involved.
These acts have belittled
and weakened our claim Of
democracy in the eyes Of
foreign nations whose friend
ship America so badly needs
to avert a possible world
tragedy. Fortunately. the
best tradition of the major
ity Of the American press
prevails. supporting law and
order and compliance with
the law Of the land.
To the parents and the
children whose noble poise
and self-restraint rates them
as American citizens far
above their shouting, insult
ing un-American tormentors.
] quote for their emulation
the following words engraved
on the front of an ofiicial edi-
flee in a Far Eastern nation:
BE so proud Of the race
to which you belong that you
will be as jealous of its hon.
or as you are its safety. and
that you will fight for both
with equal determination.
THE struggle will be ar
duous. it may be long. and it
will certainly demand Of our
nation that 1t should with
hold nothing that may con-
tribute to our strength"
May the above quotation
be shared and supported by
all who love our country and
believe in law, order and
justice.
William ID. Nixon,
President, Oldest Inhabi-
tants, Inc.
80
In the midst Of all the To-
ment about indignation, isn't
it true that the American
Indians were the aborigines
Of our land? Also were not
many tribes friendly Wasn't
1t in many cases the white
mans treachery that caused
much of the trouble?
The rightful home Of the
Indian is Americal
So where. pray tell, is the
National Association for the
Advancement Of the IndianP
Are they not confined to
reservations? And what is
that but segregation for the
original inhabitants OF the
United States OF America?
NOnplussed.
- So
Segregationist arguments
seem to have three themes:
ID States rights are being
violated; ca emotionalism-
II we let them integrate, inter-
marriage will follow; and CD
separate but equal facilities
ought to satisfy everyone.
In the face Of history which
has heaped every kind Of ar
abuse on the head Of the
Negro from social ostracisn