DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student demonstrations correspondence, 1965 | 1965-11-01 Mrs. Robert F. Acheson to President Howard R. Bowen Page 1

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Student demonstrations correspondence, 1965

1965-11-01 Mrs. Robert F. Acheson to President Howard R. Bowen Page 1

November, 1, 1965
Ollie, Iowa

President Howard Bowen
State University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Dear Mr. Bowen:

I would not impose upon your time except the proposition of whether or not we shall allow our, supposedly, Democratic government to destroy a good man's life and reputation is of paramount importance to every true American.

I refer to one of your students--Steven Smith. I agree with Jon Van's editorial in "The Daily Iowan" that our government should be more magnanimous and high-principled than to ruin a God-given life for the sole reason that he disagrees in policy with Washington politicians.

As much as Steve has done for his country by risking his life in the "lawless" South--being beaten, slandered, spat upon and other abuses, it would seem that some honor is due him, instead of bringing disgrace upon his head. A military state spat upon, beat and crucified another young man nearly 2000 years ago. (The following is a quote from a cartoon by Art Young in "A Quarter Century of Un-Americana" edited by Charlotte Pomerantz.

JESUS CHRIST
Wanted--for Sedition, Criminal Anarchy.
Vagarance, and Conspiring to Overthrow the
Established Government. 
Dresses poorly. Said to be a carpenter by trade, ill-nourished, has visionary ideas, associates with common working people the unemployed and bums. Alien--believed to be a Jew. ALIAS: 'Prince of Peace, Son of Man'--'Light of the world, etc. etc. Professional Agitator. Red beard, marks on hands and feet the result of injuries inflicted by an angry mob led by respectable citizens and legal authorities.
'TWAS EVER THUS
*************************
An equally pertinent cartoon on the following page is titled: WANTED! For disloyal & seditious utterances against His Majesty's government, & for advocating the overthrow of said gov't by force & violence!   Sam Adams--Patrick Henry--Geo. Washington--Tom Jefferson--Tom Paine. By order of His Majesty--King George III. July 4, 1776
****************************
What will it profit men to conquer the whole universe and lose their souls--their ability to love one another? We fear "Communism" which can only destroy the body, but we not fear God who has power to destroy our souls forever.

"The penalty good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by the people worse than themselves."--Plato--

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November, 1, 1965 Ollie, Iowa President Howard Bowen State University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Dear Mr. Bowen: I would not impose upon your time except the proposition of whether or not we shall allow our, supposedly, Democratic government to destroy a good man's life and reputation is of paramount importance to every true American. I refer to one of your students--Steven Smith. I agree with Jon Van's editorial in "The Daily Iowan" that our government should be more magnanimous and high-principled than to ruin a God-given life for the sole reason that he disagrees in policy with Washington politicians. As much as Steve has done for his country by risking his life in the "lawless" South--being beaten, slandered, spat upon and other abuses, it would seem that some honor is due him, instead of bringing disgrace upon his head. A military state spat upon, beat and crucified another young man nearly 2000 years ago. (The following is a quote from a cartoon by Art Young in "A Quarter Century of Un-Americana" edited by Charlotte Pomerantz. JESUS CHRIST Wanted--for Sedition, Criminal Anarchy. Vagarance, and Conspiring to Overthrow the Established Government. Dresses poorly. Said to be a carpenter by trade, ill-nourished, has visionary ideas, associates with common working people the unemployed and bums. Alien--believed to be a Jew. ALIAS: 'Prince of Peace, Son of Man'--'Light of the world, etc. etc. Professional Agitator. Red beard, marks on hands and feet the result of injuries inflicted by an angry mob led by respectable citizens and legal authorities. 'TWAS EVER THUS ************************* An equally pertinent cartoon on the following page is titled: WANTED! For disloyal & seditious utterances against His Majesty's government, & for advocating the overthrow of said gov't by force & violence! Sam Adams--Patrick Henry--Geo. Washington--Tom Jefferson--Tom Paine. By order of His Majesty--King George III. July 4, 1776 **************************** What will it profit men to conquer the whole universe and lose their souls--their ability to love one another? We fear "Communism" which can only destroy the body, but we not fear God who has power to destroy our souls forever. "The penalty good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by the people worse than themselves."--Plato--