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Show June 25, 1971 The UTAH INDEPENDENT Page 5 VETERAN SPEAKS AGAINST APATHY I know America is becoming full of people who would liberalize everything. I know people who would like to change the Ten Commandments; I presume they would like to change the Commandment where it says: Thou shall not steal to Thou shalt not steal and get Yes, By Philip F. OBrien Mr. O'Brien is thePast National Commander of the Veterans of World War I. He delivered the following address to the Veterans of World War I of Utah at their 1971 State Convention held recently at Fillmore, Utah. Tonight I feel compelled to talk to you on the one greatest thing affecting our lives and our Nation. Medical statistics show that the greatest killers are heart trouble, cancer and tuberculosis among individuals, but, the greatest scourge of Nations is Public Apathy , and, to realize what it is doing to America is appalling. This Nation has got to find the cause of Public Apathy, and find a cure quickly. Of all the public apathy in America, it seems to be most prevalent among the retirees. Why this is true is beyond comprehension as the Retirees have more experience and time to devote to public Present Commander of the Murray Barracks 3089, Carl Doerfler with his wife , LaVina , and Past Commander Ira Oviatt with his wife , Myrtle. Shown while attending the Veterans of World War I annual Utah State Convention held at Fillmore , Utah. Oliver Hunter was elected by an overwhelming majority to be Department Commander of the State of Utah. ally , I have no desire to communi- cate with them we hardly have g - segment of our population. World War I was a long time ago many of us here were born a and as such, we long time ago have seen a lot of things and weve had many many experiences and have lived through probably one of the greatest eras in the history of these United States. So, we can look upon ourselves as being a valuable people people with a vast store of knowledge and experience and equally important maturity. Since we are the possessors of such valucable ingredients, it isnt becoming to us to sit on our coattails and not use them in behalf of the public or national good fearing that we might offend the younger and suffer being generation called old foggies with archaic ideas, etc. There are those, who try to cultivate the friendship and support, of the kind who have shown little evidence of being true Americans. These cultivator make senseless statements about how we of our time, must understand bomb throwing, rioting, brick throwing and g as general campus just a way of life and we must keep our lines of communication wide open. Person- with them hell-raisin- working, God-fearin- two-fiste- g, grand-childre- great-grandchildr- Americanism patriotism. Our educators except and refuse to take the oath of pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. Our American in all wars have fought to preserve freedom and liberty, and by freedom, I do not mean freedom to riot, loot, or kill while law enforcement officers look on helplessly, bound by orders not to interfere. Liberty is not a license for Freedom is not a hunting license to kill, bum and steal. Liberty or freedom is men-in-ar- self-indulgen- not lawlessness. Liberty Allegiance; yet, they are per-omitted to teach our children, This Nation was founded by a lot of Christians of all Faiths and it had prospered under all Faiths participating as individuals. They established ideals for America to follow and enforce, ' and these ideals are not compatible with d diplomats backed and bleeding up by hearts who think that every time the communists advance one step forward, that America should take one step backward to appease.' 1 cant go along with ut tyranny through violence. Personal freedom ends when it encroaches upon the rights of others. The looters and draft-car- d burners, the violent demonstrations taking place throughout our land are products of a general letdown of law and order in our country; a desertion of the traditions, values and moral purposes that made our country great. These are all symptoms of moral decay which have taken hold in our country today. Our heritage is based on a belief in God and in Divine guidance. Our heritage is based on values that should never -- sob-siste- rs this; its not American or Americansim. who say Im willing to obey this law, but I wont obey that law. Laws are Im sick of those en - ' change. Human values involve written to be obeyed whether you like them or not. I am sick of draft card burners; the young men who go to Canada to evade serving America; and, the service- men who desert and seek asylum in some foreign country thinking faith, hope and charity. These values also involve love of our country and our. fellowman. These values involve respect for law and order as the basic framework for progress. will even- that the Today we are facing a crucial tually get them returned to test as to whether America can Good Old America, to whom survive as we have known it, and they were traitors in the time of which has been handed down to us by past generations. stress. do-good- ers Hearing Service See the newest thing in Hearing Aids at DELL BUSH, the only hearing aids with 22 patents Analog computer circuits O Free Testing Hearing O O Repairs Aid SPICIAL COTS AVAILABLK MAST-THION-DMIM-- Pay All Makes to pl wUh Dial lta. Whgpsi & Am fcr Lsdon evaluation Computer Hearing Aids O Ear Molds Manufactured in Our Own Laboratories Fm Offoriog Ym Choice Utah Gem Pooltry Fvoo Pno Drugs, Chemicals, Honoo - & FrvsS Utah Turkeys la Season WHOUSAU RKTAIL Phono 100-320- 3 Mu Who Worp Qn" 364-12- 78 668 East 4th South . ' is free- dom within the framework of law and order. Freedom becomes anarchy and anarchy becomes soft-fingere- n, lllllllllll 9EILL BUSH r ism d men and women with iron wills and determination to make a home, a future and a Nation for themselves and future genera- tions. When I was bom into this world, I inherited what I thought was a rather good America; that was my birthright, and I would like to leave the same for our our children, our and genera- tions yet unborn. When I get tothinking of this, I begin to get a little bit sick, and you will too, if you are a good American. When I get to thinking of the schools and colleges and the trend of teaching, I get sick. I am tired of College Professors who tell us that our enemies are not our real enemies; the same Professors who We as veterans have not fought to preserve chaos, we have fought to preserve the way of life in which all Americans engage in the tell our children that when they apply to our' Government for a loan to attend, that they dont have to take the Oath of Alle-ou- r giance. Yes, its sickening to know that under the guise of what they call a liberal education our children are taught every time enough to do the right thing element of by the students and young people time to properly praise and to en- courage them on their way by making available to them our knowledge, and the resources of our experiences. I get to thinking back about our ancestors who came here, and of a wilderness carved the greatest Nation of all time. Yes, when we look back on the old recorded history, we find the ink rather dim, but the record exceedingly clear. This image was carved by men and women who tolerated no foolishness. The records show they were hard right-thinkin- affairs than any other aim caught, or they might pick out the one where it says Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife. I suppose they would like this changed to read Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife except on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Yes, we are getting a little liberal in our thinking, far too liberal for me. 2415 S. MAIN The Veterans of all wars should take more active part in Americanism and in preserving the traditions that have made our country great. It is not enough that a Veterans organization demand everything and give nothing. We must turn our attention to the real values of life. It is just as important, if not more important, that we fight to uphold the traditions that have made our country great, and that we do not allow Communist influences to infiltrate our schools, government, and our universities to the end that our grandchildren could very conceivably be ruled by a dictatorship. America has freedom. Freedom for those who will have it, take it, and love it and use it wisely, for freedom is like an investment. Our forebears invested their lives so that we could enjoy the benefits. What we do with these benefits will determine the destiny of the entire world, and the destiny of Americans, for we are the future, and we are America. We must retrace our steps if we are to preserve America as we have known it. We must again have government by the people and for the people. We must insist that the laws on the statute books should be enforced, for these laws do not change with the passage of time. Then we must request through our representatives in gpvernment that these laws be amended. We should insist that the Con- gressmen whom we elect as Representatives should have the courage of their convictions, and bring legislation onto the floor of Congress even though a chairman of that Committee does not approve of it. This would be representative government. Freedom: there are two kinds of freedom. Freedom to do what you want to do, which is a mask; a fraudulent pretender which must be exposed. Freedom to do what you ought to do which is a glorious reality, proven by Christs gospel and our Bill of Rights is our Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. To do what you ought to do included the freedom to do what high duty and solemn responsibility dictates after due consideration. Fundamentally, it is righteousness that exalts, that guarantees freedom. When loss of character so weakens a nation that its people no longer are concerned about doing, under God, what they ought to do, whether a tyrant conquers or not will be of little moment. What we need in the United States . . . is love and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our own country, whether they be white or black. Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago; to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of the world. Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for .our country and for our people. |