| Show What We Think By Frank Dixon It is not the most convenient philosophy to have at the present time with w th rationing in force but I believe that the degree to which one to the letter and the spirit of the rationing program is isa isa isa a pretty safe and sure indication of ones one's patriotism It is is' is not difficult when the flag is s snapped onto the screen at the movies whipping in the breeze to applaud with the others It is not difficult to cheer when hen the boys at athe atthe atthe the he front achieve a a. signal victory such uch as the one over the Jap fleet fleetin in n the Bismarck archipelago the theother theother other day when two twenty-two war- war warships warships ships hips and transports were sunk That is the natural impulse It is not difficult to cheer when pictures of columns of marching men the flower of our civilization trained rained to precision and uniformed to o perfection are arc flashed on the screen as scenes from Annapolis and nd West Point and our our great army camps amps are arc shown of the men in training raining To cheer c eer wildly at such a time is an act almost involuntary I It t requires no effort no urging While this is commendable and desirable it does docs not it seems to tome me express the patriotism that is called ailed for by the quiet orderly and less ess spectacular and dramatic de de- devotion devotion de- de devotion to the war effort as compliance ance to the letter and spirit of the rationing aliening rules an honest days work vork at the war plant or the pur- pur purchase purchase chase of war bonds to the full ex- ex extent extent tent ent of ones one's ability There is no hypocrisy in the pa- pa patriotism of the man who gives up his lis home and friends and business and his future and shoulders a gun for or his country He is dealing with things top to real too earnest to in indulge in- in indulge in- in indulge in iq if hypocrisy He may never come back If he docs does come back he ic may may be maimed for life incapacitated incapacitated incapacitated for the task that he left or oror for or which he is fitted There is no hypocrisy in such a service There should hould be no hypocrisy in the ser ser- service service vice of those at home T J r r l t f j o I The man in the defense plant who himself without just cause from his work and then cheers the passing flag is a hypo hypo- hypocrite hypocrite hypocrite crite at heart and he knows it He doesn't know what true patriotism is Such a genuine thing has never stirred his selfish indifferent soul The man or woman who chisels then on the ration program and seeks to gloss it over by doing a turn at the Red Cross room isn't a patriot at heart He or she is only a common cheat and a petty hypo hYPo- crite I saw sat a picture the other day of an American soldier slumped over the side of a jeep He hung there still and lifeless In his helmet were two ragged holes mute mute and tragic evidence of the enemy machine guns gun's gu s 's deadly aim This lifeless bew didn't quibble about the measure of service he would give He He didn't think of hold holding holding holding ing back this or that He didn't try to chisel In the blazing heat of an African desert he gave ave all He went all the way |
