Milford chronicle., 1962-03-23
LOVELORN COLUMNISTS

In recent years the big daily-newspaper
syndicates have come up with the fippant
advice counselor, or columnist. These gals
have wisecrack and cute answer for ev-
cry problem.
1t never seems to occur to many Ameri-
cans that many of the people who write the
self-made counselors are battling with a
serious problem, or with situation in which
they badly need qualified help-nOt smart
answer, to make readers smile.
In the first place, it is absurd to think
that competent counsel can be given in a
few paragraphs or lines in a letter, on the
basis of what one person writes in an in
offered is to give generalized advice on long
accepted principles known to be sound =
while warning the inquirer that he should
seek qualified advice if he is really in SER
ious dilemma
1t is impossible to dispense adequate,
specific and serious counsel by letter, not
knowing the person inquiring, his environ
ment problems, and all details of his dilem-
ma, etc. Yet the new "fad" columnists do
not hesitate to offer specific advice to peo-
pie seeking an answer to serious problems.
A recent analysis by serious writer
showed that the most popular advice column
lists today are not at all qualified to advise.
Not only do they not have any training in
sociology or psychology. Many do not even
hold college degrees
The reason for their existance, to be
blunt, is that they make their columns en-
tertaining and breezy-selling them to the
newspaper reader, so to speak, and circula-
-tion-conscious editors buy them for the same
reason. The result is a nice racket for the
authors.
The great need in the United States to-
day, in the field of social work and psychol-
ogy, is for people with problems to realize
that they should seek help from competent,
qualified and trained sources. Generalized
advice from senior, reliable advice column
lists may be helpful; the fippant highly
popular later-day advice columnists are
harmful. Eventually, the public and editors
must demand that such counselors be quail
flied, by professional training.
DECLINE OF THE UNITED STATES
The first permanent settlements in what
is now the United States were made by nor
thern Europeans. Settlers came from Eng
land, France, Germany, and other nations.
But basically, what became the Colonies
were inhabited by people of northern Euro
pean stock.
1t is a historical fact that on up toward
the end OF the nineteenth century, when the
people of the then United States continued
to be of the same basic stock, great progress
generally this new nation.
The United States was not composed of
homogeneous people, in the normal use of
the word, but the vas majority had similar
if not Identical backgrounds and believed in
the same basic goals.
In the last century, however, the United
States experienced quite more advanced
application of the melting pot theory and
it will be seen, in the future, now this works
cI1f fbn l,or,fc fl,n
southern European countries began to flood
the nation. These were checked by an alarm
ed majority of Americans, to some extent,
in 1912, but the barriers are being broken
in every kind of way
After World War II, it was the humane
thing to favor the absorption Of refugees,
and in came new millions Then we foolish
ly allowed the Puerto Ricans to flood into
the country-On the theoretical principle
which is now being disproved in the French
Algerian dilemma. Puerto Rico was not
part of the continental United States in any
real sense of the word and the people cer-
tainly had little in common with the people
who had founded this nation.
The latest excuse to let in countless Lat
ins is the Cuban crisis Why is there no linn
it on the flood of Cubans the government
has been allowing to enter Florida?
The danger which every thinking person
must consider is plain to read in history.
When great countries or nations have
brought in slaves and various minorities,
and they have mixed freely with the native
born race, the empire has almost inevitably
crumbled
This does not mean that everyone should
not have the same rights. 1t does not mean
that all should not have equal opportunity.
1t does not mean that we are depreciating
anyone or any race. But history speaks for
itself and we must be concerned if we are
not to stick our heads in the sand and as
sumo that theory will make everything right
in the end somehow.