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Show SIGNPOST October 22, 1965 our) kjeab Page 2 The Viet N am Protest In a baseball game, if ii is the last half of the last inning, the opposition is at bat, the score is tied, and there are no outs the situation is serious. Yet similarly in the world today the Communists keep stealing bases (nations) and are coming closer to home place (America), but never get picked off a base. Think of it! There is no recall. Once Communism takes over - there is no way to change back to freedom. Communist governments crush even thought rebellion (when detected among their subjects) with vicious, cruel, swift physical brutality. A very few years ago, there were very few Communist countries. Since the end of World War II, Communism has taken over a great many countries without giving the citizens any choice in the matter. Satellite countries of Russia were free before a dying FDR was deceived by Stalin at Yalta. China once had no epithet "Red" tacked onto its name. Cuba is devoid of free choice in politics. North Korea has been submerged. Trouble spots have been promoted all over the world by Communists, protest demonstrations in Africa and South America, Japan and India, merely a shield for the ultimate Communist proposition that a government be violently overthrown then dominated by force. And therein lies the essential difference between Communism and freedom. Freedom involves the consent of the governed; Communism involves rule by brutal, naked physical force without the consent of the governed. The world might be compared to life among youngsters on a city block. On most city blocks there are one or two who act like a big bully, plus a few smaller bullies. Usually, too, there is someone big enough, strong enough, and good enough to stop the big bully from picking on those smaller or weaker. America is the only one in the world who can stop the two big bullies Russia and Red China from picking on smaller countries. If America does not do it, no one will. And that is why we are in Viet Nam. We are there to stop the Chinese-Communist-supplied Viet Cong from subjecting the Vietnamese to rule by ugly, brutal force. We Americans are in Viet Nam to attempt to let the Vietnamese choose what form of government they desire. And we are in Viet Nam because if we do not stop the Communist big bully from stealing more of the world by force, we will soon find that Communism dominates the entire world. One does not stop a hungry predatory tiger by giving the beast part of one's arm. Then why, if Communism is this obviously vicious and dangerous, are so many young people protesting U.S. involvement in Viet am? Perhaps part dfthe answer is that a younger generation has arisen which does not remember World War II and the horrible atrocities that occur when two big bullies try to take over the world. The younger generation has not seen the horrible photographs, taken when Hitler's Nazi Army was defeated of tortured, maimed, starved, burned prisoners. Young people do not remember torture experimentation among the Nazis and what we then called the Japs: Burning splinters under fingernails, tongues cut out, and many brutalities too horrible to recount. Are the Communists different? Newspapermen tell of decapitations but often spare us description of other infinitely more horrible Viet Cong and Communist Chinese tortures. Russian concentration camps in Siberia, despite the silence of the Iron Curtain and the spread of glowing Russian propaganda, are not exactly picnic grounds. The NKVD and intelligence agents of the Russians are easily as cruel as the Nazi Gestapo was. In Russia many still literally dread the sudden knocking on the door in the night that precedes permanently disappearing. Nevertheless, protest against Viet Nam has seemingly become the current mode of rebellion against authority in America. Perhaps many feel they appear more "intellectual" if they do not accept the necessity of resolving that Communism must be stopped from enslaving more people. Yet were those same protestors under Communist Authoritarianism they could not protest without being cruelly and brutally suppressed. If there are some who resent the hand of authority under freedom, let them consider the crushing certainty of an iron hand under Communism. The real danger is not that America is in Viet Nam, but that America is not fighting an all-out war to win (at present excepting atomic methods). The only language a bully understands is fast and thorough force. J. Edgar Hoover and others have informed the nation that there is some Communist instigation behind much of the unrest in the nation. The DuBois Club, a youth group named after a Communist martyr, was involved in the Berkeley incidents. The best way to influence government is not as Communists encourage, minority protest marches, but through the traditional political means of electing candidates according to the goals they represent. One protestor would do more good running for office than a thousand placard-carriers, for there is always the proclivity toward breaking laws in protest marches and sign carrying. As for those who, to appear intellectual, are questioning and profaning the sacred traditions and heritage of freedom men like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Eisenhower have left us let such psuedo-iconoclasts look to Communism for peace, but they shall find only a fist of mail. It would be better to die fighting than end up underCommunism. Dear Sir, Although Ray London has done an excellent job of refuting many of the rather unintelligent statements of Boni Benton (PERSPECTIVE, October 15, 1965), I would like to add a few comments of my own. My comments are directed to Miss Benton's characterization of Socialism which is not only highly inaccurate but also quite simple minded. She writes: 'Socialism is ... an abandonment of the courageous pioneer spirit on which this country was founded.' I have always been under the impression this country was founded on the principle of democracy; I have always been under the impression the pioneer spirit was that of cooperation and equality. (Of course, this spirit has not always been realized.) Socialism is but an extension of democracy into non-political areas; it is the creation of COMPLETE democracy, for its major contribution is the idea that all men should have the opportunity to control their own destiny in all matters of importance.Miss Benton then decides that Socialism should be avoided because it has never worked; she then goes on to show that Socialism has been responsible for the downfall of the major civilizations. Oh, come on now Miss Benton! The truth of the matter is, Socialism has never come close to being achieved. Spartan civilization was based on slavery and this is in complete contradiction to the principles of Socialism. Western Europe was kept in the dark ages because of Feudalism and an authoritarian church NOT because of Socialism. And in addition, the modern nations working towards Socialism are doing very well indeed: Britain, Australia, Norway, and Sweeden are good examples.Finally, Miss Benton says that Socialism would violate human integrity and initiative. True initia-time comes from freedom and security, for this is when man can truely pursue goals and develop in many dimensions. Little initia-time and integrity can be developed in the man who is exploiting others or struggling for identity in ahostile world of savage competition.There are several other points T would like to make but space and time do not permit. Suffice to say, the next time you consider Miss Benton for an article in the Signpost find out if whe really knows what she is talking about. Sincerely, Del Griffin PS: I really hope you will print this letter, I had one hell of a time trying to type it. Dear Editor, The Homecoming activities at Weber State last week were in many ways a tribute to the college. The Coronation Ball ruled by a beautiful queen and her lovely attendants was a success. The activities accumulating in Weber's impressive victory over Whitworth College showed that Weber is a growing and progressive college. Some concern however has been expressed as to the Homecoming Parade. What is the purpose of the float competition? Is it to inspire different organizations to build a beautiful float worthy of representing Weber State College? The men of Excelsior believe that this is so. With this in mind we presented such a float, which we built worthy of a progressive club and college. We believe other organizations also thought this was the purpose, but after the parade many unbiased spectators expressed some surprise at the outcome of the competition. The judges, without condemning their objectivity, were not to well-versed in the finer points of float construction and beauty. Men of Excelsior Pooh was certainly confused, to say the very least. He decided to bery quiet. Quiet people are never embarrassed when they are confused because no one can ever tell what they're thinking. That's because they're usually not thinking anything at all. Pooh decided it would be very mature of him to stroke his whiskers casually with one paw. That's very collegiate, you know. Anyway, there was still a lot of confusion all over. "We must, of course, get out of Ores," shouted Ommlett, a political science major. "Our National image stinks." "That's quite true, but really Orez couldn't be all that trouble," Pooh thought, being sure not to change his expression of Great Intellect. "War is for uncivilized war-mongering people," Ommlett was shouting again. He sure was angry. And no wonder war is so messy and barbaric and quite uncouth. Sometimes it's just plain dirty. That's enough to make any Civilized Intellect shout. Although, sometimes even uncivilized people shout, but not often, it's too civilized. Eyesore opened his mouth. There was instant silence. "War is hell!" He said with the Typical Feeling. "That is why we must free the South Orezes from the North Orezes. Besides War is fun, it's more fun than burning your Selective-Selective card." Piglet was even more confused than Pooh. But he couldn't act as well. So everyone knew that Piglet was confused. Amidst booing and hissing, (people have a need to do those things, that's why melodramas were so loved, and demonstrations are so popular.) Piglet asked, "Just how do you tell a North Orez from a South Orez?" Eyesore laughed uncouthly. (He was pro-war.) "Silly Piglet, the ones who fight against the King Cong are South Orez. It's quite simple" "See!" shouted Ommlett "See the War Monger talk. See the barbaric War Monger Kill." "I haven't killed a single person." Eyesore was really upset. "Dear me, I can't even stand the sight of blood. Although I did kill a fly, once." "War monger!" Ommlett was waxing antagonistic. "Smotherer of life. He can't even stand the sight of blood but he would have our innocent young men kill the freedom loving, peace loving Orezes." I can stand the sight of blood and I don't want the Orezes killed." "Burn your Selective-Selective cards, storm the Light House, we will peacefully resist by killing the War Mongers," shouted Wise Owl, who was leading a Feather-In. Pooh could not be silent any longer. He turned to a group of Demonstrators, "Why are you demonstrating?" Hammlett stepped forward, "Friends, Romans and Countrymen. I come to bury the war mongers not to praise them. And to tell to all the world that the Theatre Arts Department is putting on "Stop- The World I Want To Get Off." This is free advertising, especially if I can get arrested.""Oh," said Pooh, "then you're against staying in Orez." "Definitely." Hammlett glowed with pride. "The Orezes should have the right to choose their own government And we should get out and give them that freedom." "Like the Hungarians," said Pooh quietly, "We'll not help or get in their way any more and help them, just like we helped the Hungarians." "Don't be obtuse you silly cat," said Ommlett, "Just think of these Orez Day Demonstrations as an experience not like the Hungarian incident. After all what does Orez, north of south, spell backwards?" And besides that Hungary didn't nave anything to do with our Selective-Selective cards." "Oh." said Pooh. Published weekly by the associated students of "Weber State College. Letters to the Editor for the Signpost must be typewritten and not exceed 300 words. Any material must be submitted no later than noon Monday of each week. Editor-irvChief Associate Editor JACK SUTTLEMYRE JOE S. WRIGHT Managing Editor Bill Cooper Layout Editor Merrillee Nielsen Business Manager Mark Zeller Society Editor .' . Penny Furness Sports Editor Rlck Hassett Feature Editor carol Deegon Columnists Cheryl Lorenc, Ray W. 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