The Maroon tiger. (Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia) 19??-current, October 01, 1933, Image 4

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Page 2 THE MAROON TIGER ^he Students Say Editor’s Note: We feel that a student paper should express student opinion; and student opinion is student opinion, however brilliant or naive it may be. The opinions printed below are not necessarily the opinions of the staff. Here they are! WHY HAVE A Y. M. C. A. Thomas Kilgore, ’35 The numerous activities on the campus afford great opportunities for students to develop a number of use ful qualities that would be untouched in the regular course of studies. Therefore the value of student acti vities cannot he ignored. In speaking in terms of student activities, I am under the impression that each organization should make a grave attempt to develop more social personalities in its attempt to bring about better understanding within the college communities. There has been considerable discussion about the campus as to whether or not the Y. M. C. A. should participate in the student funds. Along with this discus sion come also others, namely: that the “Y” is a dead organization, that its out-worn ideas do not meet the demands of the modern student, and that its program is not constructive enough to warrant recognition in the student budget. Such are the accusations brought against the “Y”, and far be it from me to waste time and space to refute such thoughtless arguments. But with the as sumption that this article will be read by a fair-minded group of intelligent men, in the next paragraph or so I shall attempt to explain the purpose of the “Y.” The “Y”, as it exists now, is composed of men whose ideas and trends of thought are on a parallel basis with those of men constituting other activities that play a greater part in our student life. In view of his fact, it seems highly impossible for it to be an antiquated organization. The vitality that the “Y” has added to the campus life for a number of years should by no means be ignored. You may say that it no longer plays this vital part because other organizations have usurped its power. This is not true: the fundamental purpose of the “Y” has been from the beginning an attempt to develop better relationships within the college community, and a closer affinity between the colleges and the communi ties with which we are surrounded. The latter is effec tive to a great extent by the assistance of the community Sunday school, which meets each Saturday night, and sends representatives from the “Y” to work in the city Sunday schools at the several churches. Besides the principles mentioned above, the “Y” will also promote a program that will play a great part in student life. This program includes group meetings with the Spel- man “Y”, and various other attractions such as plays and chapel speakers each first Sunday morning. Space will not allow me to enumerate the entire pro gram of the “Y”, but I am asking that every More house man will think clearly and conclusively as to whether or not an organization which is a vital part of life should be supported by the student body, or that it should be allowed to die as a result of some shallow-minded conclusions that brand it as a dead, fogy, antiquated, and religious organization. GAN AMERICA AFFORD TO CONDEMN HITLER FOR HIS RACIAL POLICIES? Henry E. Banks. ’36 Towards the end of last winter, a tidal wave of hor ror and disappointment swept over this country in re action to the persecution of the Jews in Germany by Adolf Hitler. Newspapers throughout America carried editorials and columns eloquent with expressions of righteous indignation toward the iniquities of the Nazi movement. Pulpits of national influence thundered against the new reign of terror. The ever alert spokes man of the hour, the Reverend Harry Emerson Fosdick, in his pulpit in Riverside Church, assailed this act on the part of the Nazi movement in this manner: “As for Hitlerism in Germany outlawing Einstein, put ting a ban on artists like Toscanini and Gabrilowitsch. and trying to run a large area of its own population . . . that is an exhibition of stupidity which, alas, as all friends of Germany will regret, has in the esteem of the world lost that nation in fifteen days a large part of which it has been trying to recover for fifteen years.” Now no sane man would condemn nor belittle such an attitude of regret as has been expressed by America’s outstanding religious leaders. When primitive passions are let loose and justice is placed by brutal tactics for the accomplishment of selfish aims, a man finds it im possible to hold his peace. Such an attitude is proper for three reasons. First, social oppression of the weak by the strong is not only a sin against the Eternal Spirit of the uni verse, but it is a peril to the best interests of civiliza tion. Secondly, the wonderful contributions of the Jews to the financial, cultural, and religious life of the Ger man people do not warrant for them such treatment as is given them by Hitler. Thirdly, the promotion of German nationalism as promulgated by Hitler is a men ace to world peace. Nationalism, when pushed too far, is an incubator of fears, apprehensions, animosities, rivalry, and contentions which so easily lead to misun derstanding and open conflict. Rut, when I wonder, can America, so conscious of the faults of other peoples, afford to condemn too severely the outrageous campaign of the Nazi? Are we guiitless of this sin? Is our record above reproach? If we were without sin in this regard, we would be eligible to cast the first stone. Contrary to the sentimental prattle and charming myths of our grammar school histories, Ameri ca has not been as pure in motive and as exalted in al truism as they would have their children believe. On the contrary, we have been selfish and hypocritical on many occasions. We disclaim any aims at imperialism but during the War of 1812, we started out with a bold determination to capture Canada from the British and even now we insist on holding the Philippine Is lands. We fought the Central Powers “to make the world safe for democracy" but we do not belong to the World Court. We advocate the policy of “America for the