Show PRIMER FOR AMERICANS You live in the United States of America You are an ' Real Americans like their country They are proud of it f They think it is a good place to live And they want to keep it good— to keep it getting better all the time Why is America the way it is? What makes it a good place to live? The answer is simply this: Throughout our history most Americans have believed that every person has certain rights and duties ' and responsibilities Americans have believed that there are certain things people should do and things they should not do They have also believed in certain things that people are and are not These things that people believe are called principles 'f This book is an attempt to state the Principles of America in simple primer fashion so that you can understand 18 The Right to Manage his Own Affairs them learn them and remember them 19 The Right to Make a Profit or to Fail This is important It was because earlier Americans believed in these principles and guided their lives by depending on his Own Ability them that America has grown to be the good place it is There are other similar rights of individual action which If all of us learn and remember these principles— if we are Principles of America but all of these individual also guide our lives by them— then we can help to keep rights may be combined in these two broad principles America growing better and better and better 20 Every Man is entitled to Freedom and EqualAnd if we follow these Principles of America we can ity of Opportunity in live world make a better to the too help place 21 Every Man may Earn his Living When Where and How he wants to The Principles of America are these There are also Limiting Principles 1 Each Person is of Importance and Value as Principles of individual freedom sometimes clash with an Individual those of individual equality Therefore our rights as inThis is the cornerstone dividuals must be limited and those limitations are themthe foundation of all our other beliefs in a person's right to live his own lif: to speak tor selves principles himself to choose and change his leaders 22 The Rights of any Individual shall not InFrom it comes our hatred of those ‘isms’’ under which the individual has no value or importance as a person but is only terfere with those of Other Individuals one of many unimportant people who have to live the way Your right to swing your arms stops where the other fellow’s their leaders tell them to nose starls Coming directly from that first principle arc two others 23 The Rights of any Individual shall not Inthat arc also of the foundation of Americanism part 2 We Believe that All Men should Enjoy Personal Freedom 3 Wc Believe that All Men are Created Equal It is worth noting that the Declaration of Independence expressed the belief that “all men arc created equal” It did not state or imply a belief that men develop equally or have equal ability or that they should ever be forced to an exact equably of thought speech or material possessions That would be equality without freedom Americans have always believed the two should go together In our Constitution and in other laws of our land there are set down principles to protect the rights and freedoms and equality of individuals 4 The Right to Freedom of Speech This includes freedom of the press of radio of motion pictures of every means by which man may express his thoughts 5 The Right to Freedom of Assembly As we believe In the right of individual action that individuals should be free to act together 6 The Right to Freedom of Worship Not only is the individual free to worship as he believe will but to Security of Person and Property Not just one but three Amendments to the Constitution (4th 5th and 14th) protect against Illegal search and seizure or loss of life liberty or property without “due process of law" 8 The Right to Equal Protection before the Law As individuals are equally important so laws must apply equally to all without special privileges for any group 9 The Right to Freedom from Slavery This includes “the right to forced to work for another quit” for no individual may be 10 The Right to Petition the Government The right of the individual to "petition the government for redress of grievances’ is evidence of the American belief that government is the servant not the master of the people 11 The Right to Vote for people of your choice This is the individual’s most potent weapon in the protection a weapon that to be effective of his rights and freedoms must be constantly and w isciy used Other Principles hold that every man has 12 The Right to a Good Education 13 The Right to Live where he pleases 14 The Right 5 The Right to Work where he wants to to Belong to an Organization 16 The Right 17 The Right to Own Property to Start his Own 1 Freedom of speech does not give shout “fire’’ in a crowded theatre The individual has the right to talk against a law to work and vote to change that law but NO T to disobey that law other general rules of action and conduct that have grown to the status of principles And these too are foundations of Americanism ? " man must stand on his own feet 31 Add to “willingness to work the ability to produce results and the combination is the basis for most individual achievement in our country has the Right to a Fair Share of the Results of his Work and his Ability 29 Every Man Because of this belief America has not only produced more goods but they have been more fairly and more widely shared by more people than in any other country 30 Security is for himself Printed as a dividuals or groups encourages greater effort which brings greater benefits to all The Garland Times for Americans was conceived and developed Copies in illustrated booklet form may be obtained Primer a II9UP0 in lum 34 Cooperation among Individuals is Vital Prfsidfnt Eisenhower has said: “The freedom to compete vigorously accompanied by a readiness to cooperate wholeheartedly for the performance of community and national functions together make our system the most productive on earth” Principles of Individual Responsibility Freedom for individuals carries with it an equal responsibility to use that freedom wisely If wc wish to remain free we must faithfully fulfill this responsibility 35 The Individual and his Family is Responsible He must protect them and provide future 36 for their present and The Individual has Responsibilities Groups of which he is a Part He must employer cooperate 37 for himself give his for to the of his best to his community his church his union and to every group in which individuals their mutual benefit The Individual has Responsibilities to his Country He must be an active citizen interesting himself in local state and national government voting wisely thinking and speaking and acting to preserve and strengthen freedom equality and opportunity for every individual The Individual World has Responsibilities to the Man’s horizons have expanded What happens in the world affects him and his actions can affect the world Today therefore each man has a responsibility to act— and to encourage his country to act — so that freedom and cooperation will be encouraged among the people and the nations of the world For America’s Future Most of us have faith in our country’s ability to move forward to improve to grow to provide more and more individuals with more and more of everything they want and need in life If we the people of the United States want to have more material benefits we must believe in and follow these two principles: 39 The only way we can Have More is to Pro- duce More and 40 As we Produce More we must make it pos- sible for More and More People to Enjoy that which we Produce If we the people of the United States want to have a better life spiritually as well as materially 41 We must stand firmly for our Beliefs Rights our Principles our There are those who would chip away our confidence so that their special brand of tyranny might creep into America They must not succeed So let us ask of every plan or act or idea Public Service by 1119 When an Individual cannot Provide his own Security the Responsibility should be Assumed by Others 33 Fair and Free Competition is a Good Thing Americans have alw'ays believed that competition among in- the Ability of a Man to Provide The only true security for any individual isjhe opportunity the ability and the determination to work and plan and save is vital to indifor his own present and future vidual independence and personal freedom No man can be his security on others w for free” ho depends “proud and - Honesty fairness and personal integrity are virtues that help free and independent individuals get along with each other without losing their independence 38 upon the Ability tesPlL- 32 Each Individual must Deal Fairly with others ing to Work 28 Achievement also Depends to do a Good Job I I We believe that no one should starve or be without adequate clothing and shelter so those w ho have more than their basic needs share the responsibility of providing the essentials of security for those who need help 26 A Man is Free to Achieve as much as he can We believe that where any boy may become President where any man may achieve greatness there is the greatest incentive for every man to do his best 27 To Achieve anything a Man should be WillAmericans have always know n that “you don’t get something for nothing’’ that to get anything takes a willingness to work Js x ' 25 A Man shall be Judged by his Own Record his race or his religion is not as A man's family background impoitant as what that man himself can do for Americans a s'? - if Principles that are Patterns of Behavior Many of our principles of individual freedom and equality are guaranteed to us by law But we have other beliefs COPYRIGHT Business the individual the right to v t 24 Every Individual owes Obcd ience to the Laws under which he Lives believe so we religions themselves are free and equal 7 The Right terfere with the Welfare of the People r Is it With or Against the Principles of America? LAftMON by Sigurd S from Primer Larmon Dept Yc sident of Young & Rubicam Inc and hi & Rubicam Inc 285 Madison Ave N Y associate 17 Pncc Thomas W per copy Lapham postpaid |