Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-12
Security:
The Great Illusion
IAN EDITORIAL
By WALTER H. ANNENBERG
Edition Of I'VE PhiIadeIphia inquirer

By WALTER H. ANNENBERG
Editor Of The Philadelphia Inquirer
We, the people of the United States, are engaged
in struggle not only to maintain position great
Democracy but for our survival as well
We have been challenged before by autocratic gov
ernments but never in our history have we been in
competition with socety in such deadly earnest Com
munist Russia.
Let us make no mistake about it. The leaders Of the
Soviet Union are determined to conquer US by over
wheming superiority in every field Of human endeavor.
Most of us feel that we possess security because we
have beaten down chalengers in the past But this
concept of security has created in many of attitude
of being mpregnabe and this has led to dangerous
degree of over-c0nfidence.
Permanence of national position simply does not
and cannot exist The relative position of any nation
is subject to the ambitions and policies Of other nations.
To prepare as carefully and thoroughly possible
for every conceivable emergency is the sensible ogeal
answer to what must do to maintain the supremacy
enjoy, to protect our freedoms and to safeguard
peace
The United States Government, In properly making
monumental appropriations available for defense and
oense is doing only part Of the job that has 10 b do0e
Every citizen must be awakened to his her respon
bity in this total struggle.
HAVE WE THE NATIONAL CHARACTER TO
MEASURE UP TO THIS RESPONSIBILITY
Too many Of our people are soft SNUG, spoiled,
addicted to pleasure-seedng and easy living.
more concerned
day work week than with q sevenday a-week survival.
Organized Labor in instances is carrying on much a.
Capital in instances did half century ago-ang every
advantage without thought Of equity Of fairness to
others.
Far too many of our citizens are becoming such
devotees of the Cult Of Indviduasm that they regard
their rights and privileges ignore their
duties in behalf Of the common welfare.
Our greatest natural resource, the youth Of oar
country needs before the sober supervision and
~I~RAl all
training of youth is too frequently concerned with aea-
demic credits in archery or fencing.
We must organize and direct these young people
into educational channels that will best At them TO meet
the emergencies of the future The Sputnk Age brought
in by Russas scientific achievements demands serious
reappraisal of our entire educational system
Each citizen must feel an awarenass Of tbs grave
responsibility to those who will inherit the Unleed
States If fail in this we will not have met the Soviet
threat
The ideas here expressed have been written and ~
tered many times the last but they have be
reiterated and underscored 1t Is much later than we
think
LET US NOT FALL BEHIND THE TIMETABLE
OF THE KREMNi
Important Western leaders with whom the writer
recently discussed this broad subject In London Paris
Brussels and SPANS summer capital San Sebastian, are
as gravely concerned own leaders These infu-
entail persons keeny aware Of the job to
be done by every citizen if Khrushchev and Company
to be contained. It Is problem not too complex to
understand but the mechanics Of meeting 1t extra
ordinarily difficult to set in motion.
Consider as q smsI-scaIe example the dedication
Of Russian workers to the stupendous tasks to which
they have been committed by their leaders.
In the United States pavilion at the Brussels
Worlds Fair the personnel was could be expected,
pleasant calm and courteous But in the Russian pavil
ion the attendants displayed an intensely aggressive
eagerness explain the exhibit and to make favorable
impression upon the visitor particularly if he
American.
persistent and enthusiastic in describing the many Dishes
the borscht and chicken Kev the caviar and Of course
the vodka When he had successfully sold" the order,
with air Of Individual accomplishment he literally
to the kitchen to fetch and serve it.
We dare not delude ourselves. On all fronts-mili-
tary scientific industrial agricultural scholastic intel
lectua-the Russians resolved to master us and the
arts and sxills in which have long enjoyed leader
ship They are dedicated to this goal We cannot afford
softness or compacency We cannot afford aggardness.
We cannot afford mediority in our thinking or in our
doing.
Nation secure in our time? Have the willingness to
work and to accept the disciplines required!
/ REPEAT, HAVE WE THE NATIONAL CHAR.
ACTER TO MEET THE CHALLENGE?
Reprinted from The September 2, 1858 edition Of
Ght Philadelphia Enquirer