DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 2 of 2) | Burlington Hawkeye Gazette Letters: "Defends City's Self-Survey"

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Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 2 of 2)

Burlington Hawkeye Gazette Letters: "Defends City's Self-Survey"

Defends City's Self-Survey

   The Hawk-Eye Gazette: I have listened to discussions pro and con regarding the Burlington community self-survey, and deem it necessary to air my personal opinion concerning the project.
   I believe a word of praise should be voiced for the persons taking the initiative in conducting the survey.
   They are pathfinders in a chaotic world of hysteria and mental frustration. Today, as the world faces a crisis, we must arm ourselves mentally as well as physically to meet the challenge of the menacing threat of Communism, or else submit to a fate of annihilation. There is no middle ground. Either we as a nation practice the democratic way of life written in our constitution, or allow our country to be weakened by corruption and evil to the point of oblivion.
   We are perjuring our souls - and for what? For an outmoded tradition of racial discrimination and disenfranchisement, we have allowed many fine and constructive points of our heritage to become dormant.
   It matters not how limited a minority we have in Burlington. The important point is the fact that all peoples of this nation are allowed freedom of speech, press, religion, pursuit of happiness, and the right to free enterprise. 
   Laws are constituted for a nation as a whole, not just a segment of the population. It takes all of us to enforce laws that will protect our nation, and consequently bring prosperity to each community. We are all Americans regardless of our superficial differences. But the spirit of Americanism is not in these God-given traits such as color, hair texture, obesity, etc., it is in the soul of the being. It is left with us individually whether we want our nation to remain indivisible.
   I'm certain that the survey committee was cognizant that repercussions would shade their efforts. There are always hindrances to worthwhile projects.
   But it is these persons, worthy of commendation, that I laud. That have shown by their aggressiveness that rational thinking people of Burlington want to lift the cultural level of our city.
   They have learned that a city of nation cannot thrive on ignorance and inhibitions and still consider itself an intellectual body. My hat is doffed to the understanding and leadership of such a group.

 HAROLD L. ASHBY
 513 S. 3rd.

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Defends City's Self-Survey The Hawk-Eye Gazette: I have listened to discussions pro and con regarding the Burlington community self-survey, and deem it necessary to air my personal opinion concerning the project. I believe a word of praise should be voiced for the persons taking the initiative in conducting the survey. They are pathfinders in a chaotic world of hysteria and mental frustration. Today, as the world faces a crisis, we must arm ourselves mentally as well as physically to meet the challenge of the menacing threat of Communism, or else submit to a fate of annihilation. There is no middle ground. Either we as a nation practice the democratic way of life written in our constitution, or allow our country to be weakened by corruption and evil to the point of oblivion. We are perjuring our souls - and for what? For an outmoded tradition of racial discrimination and disenfranchisement, we have allowed many fine and constructive points of our heritage to become dormant. It matters not how limited a minority we have in Burlington. The important point is the fact that all peoples of this nation are allowed freedom of speech, press, religion, pursuit of happiness, and the right to free enterprise. Laws are constituted for a nation as a whole, not just a segment of the population. It takes all of us to enforce laws that will protect our nation, and consequently bring prosperity to each community. We are all Americans regardless of our superficial differences. But the spirit of Americanism is not in these God-given traits such as color, hair texture, obesity, etc., it is in the soul of the being. It is left with us individually whether we want our nation to remain indivisible. I'm certain that the survey committee was cognizant that repercussions would shade their efforts. There are always hindrances to worthwhile projects. But it is these persons, worthy of commendation, that I laud. That have shown by their aggressiveness that rational thinking people of Burlington want to lift the cultural level of our city. They have learned that a city of nation cannot thrive on ignorance and inhibitions and still consider itself an intellectual body. My hat is doffed to the understanding and leadership of such a group. HAROLD L. ASHBY 513 S. 3rd.