The Phoenix Jewish news., 1961-06-09
Mans No. | Challenge


from address by Dr. Dumont Kenny vice pres
Christians the Annu al Brotherhood Dinner in
Phoenix, May
The calamitous events in today's world are grim
reminder of how chronological development has out
stripped mankinds moral development and political
institutions The wondrous achievement OF member OF
the human species orbng into outer space IS counter
balanced by a new gamut of hostlties and anXetes
across the world from Laos to Cuba Peace-ovng peo-
pie everywhere have their hopes tumble into an
abyss of renewed fears and increased tensions. Inc
problem of learning how to live with others is now man.
kinds number one challenge.
Mankind has throughout its history been scarce
ly more than few jumps ahead of starvation and
disease Yet in todays rapidly shrinking world it is not
the problem of mans relationship to the physical uni
verse which haunts u.s. it is mans relationship to man.
In 5000 years of recorded history we have only
had take the estimate of the editor of the Saturday
Review something like 292 years of peace No wonder
more and more observers of the current
minding us imperatvely that it is time began to
match our chronological know-how with little moral
know-why.
1t is SOLDERING thought to realize that in this atomic
age single government however strong, is capable
of protecting its citizens from war and its devastation
. if we look about us observe how the preliminary
work of international agencies is limited by the narrow
attitudes centuryold hates, and vruen preudices OF
citizens, delegates and governments
The conflict we are in has been termed idoo
gca because basic assumptions stand in opposition and
fundamental values being questioned. Communism
and the values of the udaeo Christian cultural heritage
which undergrad American democracy stand IN positions
which admit of compromise because the conflict is OF
utmates In this sort of situation prudence demands
that we maxmize resources and make the most eff
fective of them. The most important the char
acter brains and skill of citizens Authoritarian soce
ties wastefu and later dissipate Sc
most precious resources by permitting only traction
of the ctzenry, the elite, to make themselves felt.
free society," by giving full play to human character and
talent has in the long struggle for survival the basic
advantage Freedom and justice are dealistc uxur
les in realistic cold war; they are the indispensable
ingredients for victory.
These considerations ought to serve as a reminder
for all free citizens of free democratic society that
to the extent violate the human and civil rights of
any of free citizens to the extent we bear malice
or discriminate against any of brothers in this
pluralistic American society," do at mortal
peril In this age of anxiety let not be impatient
for security that trampe freedom of thought and
the rights of
today world is the mistaken belief that all of prob
lens will be solved by material and military
alone We must be miltariy strong. But what is often
overlooked that military strength cannot effectively
change the thinking of people.
A second in refusing to face up to
sponsbtes citizens is the tendency to rely on the
expert am speaking of the political sphere where
this tendency goes along with the creation of elite
and the concept of paternalism know elderly for
German countess who used to end all our discus
mark: Poor Germany, how badly she needs wise and
kind father When individual citizens refuse to shoul
der the burden of that citizenship including the difficult
and painful choices and rely instead the supposed
1 submit that of the strengths of our American
democratic tradition is that keep the expert tap
and not on top.
The third fallacy is the current excessive preoccu
patton with negative aims. Our aims and aspirations
must be affirmative The glory of society is not that
it is antiFascist antCommunis anti-anythng else.
It's glory tied to the recognition of certain positive
values stemming out of the brotherhood of under
the Fatherhood of God Here indeed is the theological
foundation for the unity diversity that is the keynote
of OurA me-