DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Timebinder, v. 1, Issue 2, 1945

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Timebinder, v. 1, Issue 2, 1945

who work in the diamond mines of South Africa are forced to work away from their families for years at a time and their families are forcibly kept away so that the company need pay only a single man's wage. The natives are not allowed to buy land, or if they own land it may be legally taken away from them if diamonds or gold or other valuable resources are found on it. The people are paid only enough to keep them strong enough to work but not strong enough to resist their treatment. By wearing a diamond or a gold ring I would be perpetuating such a system. Obviously, it is impossible in such a complex world to know all of the harm that one may be doing indirectly, but when one does know, he can certainly act as best he may to try not to exploit other men.

"Well, Brother, I don't know whether this will mean much to you or not. I hope it does help you to understand that we are sincere in the step that we have taken and that it is part of an entire philosophy of life.

"We would must prefer, for example, to work in an organization such as cooperatives or the Farmers' Union, or with some group that is trying to educate people to help themselves and not to depend on government care, with an organization that considers men of all countries as brothers and is not interested in national aggrandizement. If we are prohibited from such action at the present time, we can only study and think, and try to understand what is happening to the people around us, working at whatever we may do with as much love for our fellowmen as possible, and not asking for greater security and freedom for ourselves than we are willing to grant to others.

"I hope that you will understand enough from this letter so that you will not feel bad that you must lose faith in us. You boys who are suffering and giving so much for what you believe is right must have faith in those of us who want a good world just as much as you do but see that it must be secured in another way.

"If there were no people willing to live and work for such a better world in another way, there would be even less hope of your sacrifice not being in vain. It is not that we refuse to help to relieve the sufferings of those who are enduring the heat of battle, but we want to give our entire lives to preventing wars in future generations. Perhaps we cannot prevent war in the lifetime of our children, but we may do something to prove to some far distant generation that war is futile and that there is another and more humane way for men to live together in life.

"Again let me say that I am glad you expressed yourself so freely. Our action is not necessarily a criticism of your stand, but only an action which we must take.

"Good luck to you, Brother. Please know that we love you much and that we need your love and your understanding. We hope that we understand your position and our greatest feeling is regret that you and the other young men of the world must suffer

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who work in the diamond mines of South Africa are forced to work away from their families for years at a time and their families are forcibly kept away so that the company need pay only a single man's wage. The natives are not allowed to buy land, or if they own land it may be legally taken away from them if diamonds or gold or other valuable resources are found on it. The people are paid only enough to keep them strong enough to work but not strong enough to resist their treatment. By wearing a diamond or a gold ring I would be perpetuating such a system. Obviously, it is impossible in such a complex world to know all of the harm that one may be doing indirectly, but when one does know, he can certainly act as best he may to try not to exploit other men. "Well, Brother, I don't know whether this will mean much to you or not. I hope it does help you to understand that we are sincere in the step that we have taken and that it is part of an entire philosophy of life. "We would must prefer, for example, to work in an organization such as cooperatives or the Farmers' Union, or with some group that is trying to educate people to help themselves and not to depend on government care, with an organization that considers men of all countries as brothers and is not interested in national aggrandizement. If we are prohibited from such action at the present time, we can only study and think, and try to understand what is happening to the people around us, working at whatever we may do with as much love for our fellowmen as possible, and not asking for greater security and freedom for ourselves than we are willing to grant to others. "I hope that you will understand enough from this letter so that you will not feel bad that you must lose faith in us. You boys who are suffering and giving so much for what you believe is right must have faith in those of us who want a good world just as much as you do but see that it must be secured in another way. "If there were no people willing to live and work for such a better world in another way, there would be even less hope of your sacrifice not being in vain. It is not that we refuse to help to relieve the sufferings of those who are enduring the heat of battle, but we want to give our entire lives to preventing wars in future generations. Perhaps we cannot prevent war in the lifetime of our children, but we may do something to prove to some far distant generation that war is futile and that there is another and more humane way for men to live together in life. "Again let me say that I am glad you expressed yourself so freely. Our action is not necessarily a criticism of your stand, but only an action which we must take. "Good luck to you, Brother. Please know that we love you much and that we need your love and your understanding. We hope that we understand your position and our greatest feeling is regret that you and the other young men of the world must suffer 14