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THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
February, 1966
The SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
Editorial Staff
FRIEDA E. WILLIAMSON, Editor-in-Chief
PATRICIA A. KING, Associate Editor
HENRIETTA TURNQUEST, Business Manager
NEWS EDITOR — Andrea Williams
FEATURE EDITORS—Cheryl Birchette, Melba Davis,
Grenda Greene, Melody McDowell
LITERARY EDITORS—Cynthia Smith, Patricia Col
lins, Maggie Davis
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS —Anna Belle Porter,
Juanita Price
PHOTOGRAPHER CARTOONIST
Janis Mills Margaret Mills
FASHION EDITOR EXCHANGE EDITOR
Carol Webb press Carolyn Clark
TYPISTS—Carolyn Reynolds, Marjorie Rich, Marilyn
Wilson
Dr. Richard A. Carroll— Faculty Advisor
Out of the Mouths of Babes...
What is honesty? Julie says honesty is “to bake the cookies
I promised to bake, on time . . . and always.” Julie is a six
year old little girl who had an open letter written to her in
a Spelman chapel service by her grandfather, Dr. Kenneth
Brown, formerly executive director of The Danforth Founda
tion. Her definition of honesty certainly is not adequate, and
can easily be dismissed as one of those “cute” children’s say
ings. But just a little thought reveals that the definition, in
spite of its lack of generality and other immediate shortcom
ings, is loaded with implications which convey the true nature
of honesty and more. Julie’s definition shows, among other
things, a child’s innocence, sincerity, and determination, all of
which are good and which, according to many, are not present
after childhood, or at least never to such a great degree as
in childhood.
Julie has begun to differentiate and associate things and
ideas; but she has not yet learned to play with these differentia
tions and associations. Her cookies are now good cookies; for
she has not yet learned to use artificial or substitute ingredi
ents to make them only seem to be the real cookies—she has
not yet learned to lie or to twist and distort the truth.
Primitivists would seize the example of Julie to support
belief that things in their original, primitive, uncultivated state
are closer to truth, beauty, and perfection than after they’ve
become cultivated with reference to people, civilization breeds
corruption.
Hence we are actively engaged in the process of becoming
corrupted. We are continuously being given better tools with
which, if we choose, to disguise the beautiful truth which we
learned in childhood.
More tragic even than this, is the fact that occasionally
the facsimile of cookies which we bake with these tools we
are unable to distinguish from the real cookies. We become
so accustomed to distorting the truth to fit our needs and de
sires that our lies and the real things become indistinguishable
to us.
The brighter side of this situation reveals that, though the
primitivists’ theory too often proves to be true, it is not of
necessity, but by choice that it does so. We do have an al
ternative. We can use this more specialized training which
we’re gaining to further expound those basic truths and beauty
which we’ve known for so long. We “can bake the cookies we
promised to bake.” We can bake them as best we can, when
we promised to bake them . . . “and always.”
. . . Great Society (Continued from Page 1)
decide which of the many proposals he has suggested are most
urgent. Much care should be taken to insure that the Great
Society programs do not become bogged down in bureaucratic
paper work and squabbling. This has been the major handicap
so far. The War on Poverty must be better organized for it
may conceivably have to fight its battles with fewer funds.
But until the war in Viet Nam is resolved, there can
actually be no Great Society. For as long as America’s most
promising young men are being shot on the battlefield, there
can be no ideal society in America. For to build any Great
Society peace is a primary prerequisite. As long as the leaders
of the United States are preoccupied with war, the solution
to domestic problems must necessarily be held in abeyance.
—A. Porter
Still Viet IS am:
oCetter to the Editor
WHERE WE STAND
The escalation of the Vietnamese war has provoked specu
lation about the ultimate circumstances by which the end of
the conflict will be finally achieved. Both the East and West
remain adamant in their demands for a peaceful settlement,
and neither side evinces an inclination to slacken its military
offensive. The thirty-seven day lull in bombing resulting from
the truce observed during the Christmas season has been all
but forgotten. President Johnson has requested that our nation
be declared “in a state of war”, and concomitantly, ordered the
resumption of the bombing of North Viet Nam.
Despite the recent series of peace missions sent to the
various Allied heads of state to initiate negotiations, it seems
apparent that the United States will maintain its present
position. The repercussions are being felt internationally as
well as locally, as increased numbers of battalions are moved
to the combat area, and apathy is replaced by the realization
of the proximity of the battlefront. On the opposing side, Hanoi
has instigated stepped-up Viet Cong warfare, to insure the
protection of the Chinese borders which lie a little more than
thirty miles from the zone currently being bombarded.
The United Nations Security Council will presently debate
the issues of the war through the prompting of President John
son in his new strategy for effecting peace. Among the points
to be considered will undoubtedly be the present and future
status of the National Liberation Front, the proposed elections
in South Viet Nam, the presence of U. S. forces, and the
neutralization of the entire area into a series of buffer states
between Red China and the West.
The ostensible unity between Moscow and Hanoi in sup
port of the Viet Cong is belied by reports of marked disagree
ment between the two powers over the tactical mechanism of
the North Vietnamese offensive. Such reports, as well as the
recent details published about the conferences among the
Communist leaders, have precipitated conjecture on what terms
the armistice will be instituted. Will Red China be recognized
by the United States as a political entity, so that the Liberation
Front may be dealt with more directly in its role in the estab
lishment of a stable government in South Viet Nam, or is
another power, such as the Soviet Union, to continue to act
as mediator between the two? Will the Soviet influence cause
Red China to soften its belligerent demand that the United
States withdraw its troops before consenting to negotiate at
all? It seems that the latter supposition, at least, is inevitable.
Pragmatically, the Hanoi government will eventually have to
be officially and formally recognized by the United States, its
relationship with Nationalist China notwithstanding. Because
of its growing potential to wield a major nuclear power, it is
unrealistic to ignore its existence, simply because of a previous
alliance. The political ideal of loyalty to Nationalist China, and
maintenance of the integrity of its pledge of support would
not be necessarily compromised, since the frame of reference
for the action has changed.
If there are no concessions from either side, the impasse
will never be resolved. It is an inescapable fact that the mount
ing tension will eventually erupt into a situation which will
force a settlement, in one direction or another, should it con
tinue unchecked. Whether the world will be able to survive
such an event is a moot point. Perhaps the only other re
course would be to instigate another trouble spot, somewhere
else, to distract world attention from the final peace settle
ment. Removed from the spotlight, the respective nations
might resolve their differences and, at the same time, retain
their prestige. This would only be postponing the actual con
frontation; some other tact would have to be followed to
formulate a lasting, effective armistice.
—Cheryl Birchette
. . . Pittsburgh Project
(Continued from Page 1)
drama, recreation, or other
areas may write or send one of
the applications available on
campus to Pittsburg Commu
nity Project, c/o Chip Mar
shall, 985 Smith St., S.W., At
lanta.
Further information may be
obtained during the day by
calling Chip Marshall, Bill
Wolovsky, or Pete Poliak at
522-5792, or at night by call
ing 522-7326 or 874-0010.
Lonely Genius
is looking for an understand
ing friend. The curious may
obtain a copy of “Are You
My Friend?” for $1 by writ
ing c/o Box 505, Portland,
Oregon 97207.
Correction in The Spelman
College Christmas Issue
The Spelman Spotlight
Dear Madam:
Because all students enrolled
in classes taught by home eco
nomics faculty members, and
meeting in the Home Economics
Building during the first semes
ter were involved in the making
of the Christmas wreaths for
Sisters’ Chapel and Reynolds
Cottage, corrections are herein
made mainly out of respect for
the help of these students, and
as an expression of gratitude.
The article titled “SISTERS’
CHAPEL BEAUTIFUL IN
CHRISTMAS SPLENDOR”
was a thoughtful and timely
entry.
Approximately 50 non-home
economics students (representing
a cross-section of the Spelman
student-body and enrolled in
child development, behavior pat
terns and the family) worked
side by side with the home eco
nomics staff and majors. Mrs.
Jenelsie Holloway, Chairman of
the Department of Art, worked
as Co-chairman with (Mrs.)
Sadye Young, (who was appoint
ed by Rev. Rates) Chairman of
this Annual Activity. Rev. Rates
serves annually as coordinator
of all plans for the Christmas
activity in the Chapel.
Mrs. Henry F. Shorter, Jr.
(Atlanta) made the dresses for
the new Glee Club members and
uniformity of hemlines was
checked by Mrs. Henderson,
Clothing Teacher.
—Sadye Young
A First. . .
To my knowledge, this will
mark the first time that a mem
ber of the opposite sex will be
permitted to write a continuing
column in the Spelman Spot
light. Of necessity, we, the
editor of the Spotlight and
myself, must look upon this
venture not only as a new in
novation, but primarily as an
experiment.
I am Egan Scott, or shall I
say for all practical purposes,
this is the identity I shall as
sume. Needless to say, I am a
brother from across the way,
and my primary puropse in
writing this column is to an
swer some of the limitless
questions concerning the “Men
of Morehouse.” I must qualify
the point that this is not a
glorified “rat system.” But in
an effort to help the gracious
ladies of Spelman develop a
better understanding of More
house Men, and consequently
perpetuate a more harmonious
relationship, this column shall
serve as a problem-solving in
stitution, in addition to the
frequent exposes. So fire away
ladies. Send all questions and
problems to:
Egan Scott
Spelman Spotlight