Evening star., 1962-02-22

Being a student, I ask if
perhaps there isn't something
drastically wrong with me
that I shouldn't rush to con-
struct and display a sign
bearing a cliche or some omi-
nous warning of impending
doom. And then I realize that
there isn't anything wrong
with me, that there is some
thing tragically wrong with
these picketing students" so
zealously engrossed in their
cause.
The achieving of peace
with all it's component prob
lems-the cessation of arms
testing, disarmament, the es-
tablishment of a universally
acceptable system of inter-
national justice, the recon-
Cling of extreme ideologies.
diverse cultures and value
systems, etc.-is such a vast
single problem that it's reso-
luton can only be based upon
years of study and work by
the wisest of leaders and sub
ordinates.
And so one is left with a
preliminary answer to the
problem of securing peace
study and more study, and
then work and more work.
But one looks at the crowd of
patrolling picketers, "stu-
DENTS" passionately partici-
pating in their procession of
peace, and asks the inevita-
BILE question, "Why aren't
these students studying?"
Philip John.
Surely, because young peo-
pie picket for nuclear dis
armament with inspection
they are not "radical,"
bearded artists of surren-
der" naive" 'cowardly," or
even "wdfmongers."
1t just might be that these
students are as sincere in
their belief as the Young
Americans for Freedom; at
any rate, they're hardly de-
serving of outlandish purple
prose.
Tom Slinkard.
" X X y
Many misguided souls
think an agreement can be
reached with the Communists
on nuclear controls and dis
armament. Are these indi-
viduals naive or is there a
tinge of red in their make
up?
Passing by the White
House, I accepted a leaflet
printed on green paper which
was handed to me by one of
the pickets; it should have
been printed on bright red.
1t said to "Take the initia-
tive in disarmament and con-
tinue to disarm regardless of
what other nations do"
"Stop bomb testing; stop
missile and jet-bomber con-
struction and research" In
other words, this organiza-
ton wants us to stop every
thing that would enable us
to repel an attack and to
strike back at the Commu-
nists.
Another paragraph states:
Begin generous, large-scale,
non-military aid programs to
the poor and underdeveloped
nations of the world" Where
have they been? What has
the United States been doing
for more than a decade but
giving food, money and aid
to almost every country in
the world?
Still another paragraph
reads: 1--WE ask men every
where to oppose militarism,
the belief in the power of
fear generated by threats of
violence. Some will refuse
to work in military indus
tries; not serve in armed
forces and not cooperate with
the draft; refuse to pay taxes
that will support military
programs" Here they are
urging men to become slack
erS, to rebel against anything
that would aid the United
States in her fight against
communism.
If these various groups had
hoped to soften the Ameri-
can public by their frequent
and large demonstrations,
they may find the exact op-
poSite taking place. and the
determination of the Ameri-
can people in their fight
against communism will be-
come stronger than ever be-
fore.
L. A. BealI.
I commend you on your
cOverage of the student DEM