Milford chronicle., 1957-05-31
MORE rood: MORE WORK

MORE FOOD; MORE WORK
The idea of the world as a welfare state
has been decried by scientists, who think that
it is wrong to believe that the world will pro-
vide food simply out of sense of duty. This
research scientist believes that if more food
is to be produced, more work must be done
to earn it.
We think that it is about time someone
took occasion to emphasize this fact. We
have been hearing about the great increase
Of population in the world which, statistics
tell us, number some $4,000 persons day,
and been warned that unless g great increase
is made in production of food, millions of
people will starve to DEATH
1t has been pointed out that food is grow
ing on only seven to ten per cent of the
worlds land surface. This means about eleV-
Ell billion acres of the total land surface of
37,500,000,000 acres are dramatically suited
to crop growth but the present area in use
is between three or four billion acres"
This food-producing area represents a
world per capita average of about one and
one-half acres, whereas if all the suitable
land area was in use for the production of
food, it would mean about five acres for ev-
cry man, woman and child in the world.
Continued conservation of soil and pre-
vention of erosion, avoidance OF waste and
other preventable losses and the intensive
cultivation of land already in use should be
carried on.
The scientist found, however, that the
farmer himself, and the environment which
influences him, often lags behind the oppor
ttunities that natural, science offers. A pro-
gram of education in modern agricultural
methods, with modern equipment, would do
much to increase the production of food in
the world, and such ali educational program
swill do more for the people themselves, in
raising their standard of living and better
ing their physical conditions, than almost
any other type of assistance which may be
given them.
PACIFISM is NOT PEACE
The Over-emphasis that some religious
leaders place upon pacifism is unfortunate
because this tends to develop an erroneous
attitude on the part of young men as to the
duties and responsibilities that rest upon
them as citizens of great nation.
This effect can be seen in the number of
young Americans, who, during our recent
wars, proclaimed their conscientious objec-
tions to war. Surely, no man in his good
sense, would suggest that we submit supine-
ly to the attack of barbarians and permit
them, i'm their ignorance and avaTice, to de-
stroy the civilization that we think has been
created very largely by the Christian philo-
sophy itself.
While we realize that every person, pro-
Tossing any religion should follow its teach
ings, there is nothing TO be gained by allow
ing a miSinterpretation of great principles
to cause one to turn his back upon the prac-
tical problems Of human life. The idea that
pacifism is the way to peace has never been
established.
The example of India, often praised for
its nOn-viOlence campaign for independence,
is Of little value because what gave the people
of India their freedorl was the conscience of
the British people. This conscience was based
upon the character developed under religious
influence.
If anyone thinks this is mistaken con-
clusiOn, let them think of what happened to
those who stood in the way of Adoph Hitler,
and those who now face the might of Com
munist Russia.
WHO'LL LEAD THE ARABS?
The Jordanian crisis exposes fact which
has long been evident. Except on the queS-
tiOn of Israel, the claimed unity of the Arab
world has been, in the main, a sentiment
which was oVer-emOtlonalized The issue of
power and leadership has not been resolved
Events in Jordan reflect this.
The JOrdanian stake is high for Egypt'S
NaSser and the NasSerites because one of the
gravest dangers to NaSSer is failure. Fail
ure in the Arab world could be catastrophe
to him. And in Jordan, Nasser is one of the
issues. Either King Hussein wins, or else
the victor behind any defeat of Hussein will
be the Egyptian dictator
The crisis also involves East and West
the Soviet Union and the United States De
spite the claims of Nasser and other Arab
leaders, there cannot, at this juncture OF
history be a purely Arab way. 1t appears
that sooner or Liter the Arabs will have tC
go East or West and model change in theil
world on the pattern of one or the other.
Until the issue of leadership is settled
crisis will continue. The present Jordaniar
crisis constitutes a chapter in the struggle
for power and leadership in the Arab world