Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-10
Pro and Con GriswoId

Griswold's comments regard
ing the school prayer case
and absolutism in the Su-
preme Court. They represent
perhaps the first bit Of logic
to escape from Harvard Uni
versity since the Kennedy in
auguration.
1t is difficult to realize
that even in the contempt
rary political context of fis-
cal and sociological mad
ness his remarks could come
as a distinct shock. They
made complete sense, a COM
modify supposedly outlawed
by that substantial contin-
gent of Harvard's faculty and
alumni now operating the
United States Government as
If 1t were an institution for
the mentally retarded or i'll.
One may wonder how long he
will retain his berth.
One also might wish that
Dean Griswold had covered
other areas Of judicial aber-
ration such as the desegrega-
ton order. Here he might
have cited absolutism, as he
did in the prayer case. or
have questioned the legiti-
macy of the Fourteenth
Amendment, never legally
adopted.
What would have been the
Deans reaction to depriving
the majority Of its civil rights
in order to provide minority
equality? He may well have
cited the Cleveland hospital
case, in which racist organi-
cations claim hospital wards
are segregated and demand
that the Ohio Civil Rights
Commission force their inte-
grafton, to warn the Negro
against Unsuitable demands
far in excess of the courts
order. He might have sug-
gested moderation lest the
Negro bring about a revul-
sion of feeling that would set
him back decades in his prog
ress.
Dean Griswold has per-
formed a signal service in
partially debunking the IN
vincibility Of the present
members. I hope any future
analyses Of high court fol-
bles will be reported by The
Star for his thinking is as re-
freshing as a summer shower
anu IluCH lllOIe rare.
Charles w. Carter.
Dean Griswold Of Harvard is
absolutely against absolutes.
He speaks Of ours being q
Christian country. What his
church is, or whether he at
tends any. / do not know;
but whatever his notion of
what Christian means, it is
quite safe to say that 1t is
different from mine and that
Of many processing Chris
tians. But then what the
Dean means is itself an abso-
lutte, and we must not bother
with thatl
I can assure him that
nothing In the Supreme
Courts decision in Engel VS..
Vitale requires (the believing
church to- give up its cultural
heritage and tradition" The
Dean may not know that pray
ing Christians do not depend
on public prayer joined In
with others Of various be-
liefs. We recognize the eff
cacy Of prayer In our own
closet" and with others OF
like faith; this is historical
Christianity.
Curiously Mr.. Griswold'I
address as printed does not
even mention the Fourteenth
Amendment. The Supreme
Court has cited that amend
ment as linking the States
with the provisions OF the
First Amendment, which he
cites.
Even more strangely Tn,
Dean fails TO recognize thai
chaplains In prisons and In
the armed forces are specia
cases dependent on totalitar.
ian situations. Prisons anc
armies are necessary: buI
they are totalitarian by ne.
cessity. Surely we do not IA.
vor transfer Of their total.
tartan attributes 10 society
as a wholel
Lloyd Buchanan.
Editors Note: Dean Girls
void included a lengthy ref
erence 10 the Fourteenth
Amendment, deleted by The
Star In It's condensation OF
his addressO