Evening star., 1960-08-04

OAllOCu SOoOSo Va 1AIlCI lSds
Since I had lived in a country
where individual freedom of
the common man and the
right to choose the country's
leaders meant nothing. you
can understand why I say
that American citizenship was
one Of the greatest things
that has happened to me.
Granted the right to vote, I
wanted to find the best way
that 1, as just one citizen,
could help keep democracy
alive through my one vote.
But how to do this? The Re-
publican Party? The Demo-
cratic Party? Which one was
for me? Which one did I
want to join? Or could I be a
happy and useful citizen with
out expressing political be-
liefs? And how could I judge
the differences between the
Republican and Democratic
Parties?
This year. thanks to the Or
ganizers of the conventions, I
found the party I think is
best for me. BY watching the
conventions, I was able to see
what each party had to offer
neither best assets. their
program. their platform, their
people, and their candidates.
I have chosen to be a Re-
publican.
Some people may think of
political conventions as mere
partying. a circus, or a gath
ering for showing off the ora
torical talents of some of the
party m e m bers. Moscow's
"Krokodil" takes great pleas
ure in ridiculing our conven-
tions through their cartoons
and calling them mockery.
But I say the conventions are
serious business. They help
determine national goals and
help the citizen decide which
party candidates are the best
for the country. And they
show the soundneSs of the
two-party system.
I believe they help shape
the minds of the voters who
are conscientiously trying to
help shoulder the responsible
ity for the future of our Ma
tion-and the whole world as
we'll.
Michael S. Clark.
Now that the Democratic
and Republican convention
circuses are out of the way,
we can sit down and give
serious thought to the plat
form statements and prom
ises of both parties, also the
qualifications and ability of
the respective candidates to
carry out their party's pro-
gram.
From what I've heard and
read. most of us will have
little to worry about the next
four years. Both parties have
offered exceptionally we'll
sugared plans that should
vastly improve our existence
and be of great benefit to
every citizen of the U. U.S.A.
and some non-citizens. The
parties are not too far apart
on such major issues as civil
rights, defense, health and
education. Regardless of who
wins, this could be the near
est approach to Utopia since
the inception of the two
party system.
If it weren't for the fact
that our welfare and the
peace of the world depend a
great deal on how well we
handle our international
problems. I'd make my selec-
tion by tossing a coin. How
ever. since such a problem
does exist, it's going to be
difficult to overlook the train
ing and experience of the
candidates Nixon and Lodge.
Herbert SOmmers.
y Il y Il
I congratulate Mary Nc
Grory for one of the most
expertly executed "hatchet
jobs" I have ever witnessed,
I refer to her account titled
"Goldwater Legions Droop
to the Right"
Having watched the mag
nificent demonstration ac-
corded Senator Goldwater on
the floor of the convention
proving concluSively that
conservatives are growing
rapidly in strength, I read
the McGrory piece with dis
gust. The effect was similar
to a dousing with cold water
1t was not even very good re-
porting.
Nowhere does the story
make it clear that this was 6