The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-05-04

In principle, few Americans
will quarrel with the idea Of
military aid to nations that
are ready and willing to de-
fend themselves against com
munism. In most instances the
alternative to such aid would
be to force us to make a
choice between letting the
Communists to pick off border
nations, one by one, or send
ing American troops to their
defense.
If we accept the principle
that such aid is useful, then
debate within our country
could center upon the wis
dom of individual commit
ments or the wisdom and i'm
agination we used in giving
aid. But failures in any given
case can and must be ex-
pected. To indict a necessary
program because it failed in
some areas is not sound pol
icy.
AS FOR ASSISTANCE to
developing nations, we might
well heed the words of Pope
John XIII. In the Encyclical
christianity and Social Prog
ress" (Mafer eft Magisfra) the
Pope made two points clear:
weather. nations have a NOR
al obligation to help those in
the process of development;
and this help must not take
the the form of a new colon
ialism. In other words, we
should have moral as we'll as
political reasons for such
help. 1t should not be merely
a bride to win these peoples
to our side in the Cold War.
People in Asia, Africa, and
Latin America, who patiently
endured poverty and priva-
tion in the past, are no long
err content to remain in mis-
cry. They are eager to have
their share of the good life
enjoyed by other people.
The Communist world is
willing to train their leaders
and to help develop their
economies along Communist
patterns. We have our chance
to assist and guide them in
patterns that harmonic with
freedom and respect for hui
man dignity.
Here is one Of the prime
battle areas in the fight
against Communist subver-
scion. If we lose this struggle,
hundreds of millions of peo-
pie, and valuable sources of
raw materials for world trade,
could be swept into the Com
munist empire.
Undoubtedly one of the
most difficult areas in the
struggle against communism
is the war for mems minds.
On the surface, one would
expect otherwise.
We stand for freedom. they
stand for tyranny. We seek
peace, they preach war. Our
economic system is success
full, their failures have often
been on a grand scale. Relig-
ion finds a hospitable home
on our shores, they are mil
itantly atheist.
GIVEN THESE facts, it
would seem a simple matter
for us to argue that, in every
essential point, our political,
economic, and social system is
superior to that Of any Com
munist nation.
But there is often a wide
difference between facts, and
how people see facts. The
Communists are busy distort-
ing the picture by blackening
our record and embarrassing
their own.
They cite the unemployed,
the Negroes deprived of their
right to vote or other basic
rights and the corruption in
our political life as indicat-
ing that our freedom is for
the few.
The fact that we have pow
erty in our midst is used to
discredit our economic sys-
tenn. Our racial tensions have
been worth billions of rubles
to Moscow in terms of
psychological warfare against
us.
The blatant sensuality in
many of our exports of mo-
ton pictures and TV films
gives a nortrait of American