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Show BBBBBBBBBBflfl fl'BTfl B88BBBBB B'BTB Cleaver visit Dear Editor: Last evening, I drove from my home in Neola to the high school in Vernal to hear a man speak. He was speaking about two important issues; the inherent greatness and freedom of America and the threat of Communism. Com-munism. When I arrived at the school I was greeted by a man bearing a sign proclaiming "F .Eldredge Cleaver." I admit to first being amused though afterwards this feeling faded to anger and disgust. You see, sir, it was one of the rare times in recent years that I listened! I was enthralled with what I heard. I heard the story of a man who rebelled heart, mind, and soul against the very spirit of our nation. Of a man so dedicated to the destruction of our way of life that he not only studied.. .but he lived communism! He was convinced, con-vinced, as so many are becoming convinced, that communism is pure and fair. He lectured, studied, and wrote about the countries ruled under communism. Then slowly. ..as he learned, he became aware of the realities of people deprived of privilege and freedom. Disillusionment crept in and he began seeing the true state of the common person who lived under rule of totalitarianism. He despaired of ever regaining that which he had scorned. ' I believe I understand what prompted the sign. The author of it looked upon Eldredge Cleaver as another example of the "justice" of our judicial system. He may have felt an anger that Cleaver was not behind bars. ..instead of enjoying en-joying the freedom which he had tried to kill. Indeed, I understand what motivated the sign, but let us pause in our logic for a moment. Eldredge Cleaver has a story to tell that should be told. Who is better qualified to speak out against the threat of communism than one who embraced it so lovingly then found it lacking? How many people of the Western World ever get the chance to see what really goes on in countries where our only contact with them is what their leaders allow us to hear? How better to learn than to listen to one who moved freely within those countries? How many of us have embarked upon a path that was wrong and found ourselves trying to justify it in any way possible? Mr. Cleaver did just that. He wanted so badly to believe in communism that he spent years trying to conquer the evidence of his own eyes. ..then defeated, he turned back and viewed his path. He found it littered and decayed. It would be difficult to not only give up a dream but to find you've been a fool in the bargain! I am not justifying any crimes he committed I'll leave that to the psychologists. But I am willing to learn from him and perhaps be instrumental in helping this country regain its place as number one.. .as it should well be. I feel that we, as a nation have been so afraid of communism that we have scoffed rather than faced this fear. Our shield from fear and worry has been deliberate ignorance and indifference. It's time that we faced this fear and learned all that we can about this threat and thus arm ourselves against communism. com-munism. We can confront communism and conquer it. It is a cancer. It is lethal. It will kill our way of life. I was told that there will soon be a seminar which will teach us about our Constitution. We, the people, can learn what our country was founded on. ..and perhaps what will make it flourish. I hope to see the man with the sign there. ..taking notes. ..minus his sign. NANCY G. BOSTICK |