The compulsory military training plan now before congress, but with little chance of immediate consideration, is one of great importance to us all. The fact that we were thrown into war, and were definitely unprepared, has made us fully realize that we should give some deep thought to the problem of future military training for our boys

McGoldrick, Rhea

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be included in their curricula requiredcourses that will give a sound basis forcodes of life.Most intelligent young people be-tween the ages of seventeen and twentydesire an explanatiqn of many 'of theaccepted ethical principles. Many youthshave worked out their own codes of liv-ing, which may be in direct conflict withaccepted ideals. An individual's idea ofright is not all that is necessary; society'sdemands are also important. If collegesrequired students to take courses in whichwere studied the "why's and wherefore's"of ethics, many young people would haveless difficulty in adjusting themselves tolife.These courses should cover thorough-ly the basic questions that arise in theminds of youth. Most young peoplewonder if there really is a God, if a goodlife is worth the effort, if the world isworth the supreme struggle of doing right,and, finally, just what the purpose of lifeis. All of these are answered fully inthe Bible. Therefore why not use theBible as a textbook? The examples inthe New Testament in the form of para-bles are applicable to every-day life. Theproblems that faced the people of Jerusa-lem are no different from those whichhave to be faced today. Christ's life wasan example of perfection to all. Hetaught by example. Therefore the in-structors of these courses should exemplifytwo types.The first should be an older personwhose code of life has been mellowed bymany years of living. He should be abrilliant man with universal knowledgeand experience, whose word would berespected by students. He should beadmired for his ability to solve the pro-blems presented by students. It is thistype of man who should lead the youthof today into a more graciOUS way ofliving.The second should be a younger manwho is known to be a "regular felloW."If he has seen the right way of life, peo-ple will want to follow him to a betterway of living.Most Christian colleges require coursesin Bible. If taught in the properway, this can be the most interestingcourse offered because it deals with thestudent's own problems. In Christian. colleges this is almost a necessity. If thestudent objects to the forcing of religionon him, let him go to a state universitywhere nothing of this kind can be requir-ed. In a college founded by the church,why not have religion a factor?Many answers to social questionshave been found in this Book which hasoffered a solution to every problem sinceits writing. Why not educate the collegestudents with a workable knowledge thatwill help them solve the problems thatwill confront them in future life?Compulsory Military TrainingRHEA MCGOLDRICKThe compulsory military training plannow before congress, but with littlechance of immediate consideration, is oneof great importance to us all. The factthat we were thrown into war, and weredefinitely unprepared, has made us fullyrealize that we should give some deepthought to the problem of future militarytraining for our boys.We Americans are divided intogroups on this subject. There arecompletely opposed to compulsorythreethosemili-42 -tary training, those who are in favor andyet believe a decision should be delayeduntil after the war, and those who believethe plan should be modified and adoptednow as an element in the nationalsecur-ity,Let us consider the first group, thosewho are completely opposed. They givethe following reasons for such a stand:First: Such a plan would interruptthe student's educational program, com-ing at the time when most boys are goingfrom high school directly to college.Second: Most decisions are made forboys in the service; they have too littlechance to use their ingenuity.Third: Life would become very seri-ous for these young men with prepara-tion for war beside them every minute.Fourth: They are likely to becomelazy.Fifth: Some would feel a lack of in-terest in the program, since there wouldbe no immediate crisis. They might feelthe training was not necessary and thatthey were wasting their time.Sixth: They would be temporarilYdetained from getting started in theirlife's work.The second group are those who arein favor of the program and yet believethe decision should be delayed until afterthe war. Their reasons for such a standare:First: The men would .be fully pre-pared in case of another war.Second: In the service discipline isenforced and many boys at this age arein need of such supervision.Third: The competitive spirit canprove stimulating with the men eager toadvance in rank.Fourth: The physical training pro-gram would be especially beneficial forall boys. Healthy bodies are the basisfor happiness and success.Fifth: Men would be taught the abil-ity to get along with all types of peoplefrom every walk of life.'There are in the last group thosewho believe that the plan should be modi-fied and adopted nOW as an element inthe nationai security.Of the last grouP t quote Dr. E. C.Elliott, president of Purdue University.Writing in the 'current issue of theAmerican Legion magazine, he has this tosay:"At the moment I have the con-viction that, as a nation, we mustface the tragic· and realistic fact thatconditions approximating an enduringpeace in the world are beyond earlyattainment _human natures, peoples,their governments and moralities be-ing what they are, and are likely tobe for many years to come. Mean-while, we have the task of dreamingand energetically doing for peace.Meanwhile, too, we have the solemnand continuing obligation of beingfully prepared for W (War) Day.Such preparation requires a compre-hensive and closely knit program ofnational sectirity. This programnaturallY includes industry, com-munication, transportation, food, nat-ional health and finance. Universal mili-tary training must be regarded as apart of a program of national securityand must be carefully fitted into thewhole of that program. The time toadopt the universal military trainingpoliCY is now and not later."1Upon discussing the opinions of thethree groups I have reached the followingdecisions: I believe in military trainingof a limited degree, an intensifiedR. O. T. C. program working through theeducation systems. I would favor a pro-43 -._------_- --_. .zz: ~gram intensified enough to make surethat we could defend ourselves. againstfuture aggression, could at all times pre-serve our independence as a nation, andcould preserve a world in which demoej-;acy may live.IDr. Edward C. Elliott, "An EducatorLooks at U. M. T.," American LegionMagazine, Vol. 38, No.5, p. 19.My Brother's RecitalThe big night had arrived. My eight;year-old brother was to perform on the"eighty-eight" in his first recital. Tonightwas the climax of a month of madness.Four long weeks had seen the rise andfall of the neighbors' patience. Day andnight, night and day, all they heard waspiano, piano, piano! They, as well aswe, almost went mad. It would nothave been too bad if Al could have playedthe piano without making it an instru-ment of torture .. But his brand of musicinvolved no more than two fingers, oneon each hand.When AI's music teacher first toldhim of the coming recital, Al had almostpassed out of existence from nervousness.He play in a recital? Ridiculous! Wethought so too. But the teacher convincedhim otherwise. As time marched on, hebecame more confident of his abilities:the family gave up trying to discouragehim.Tonight all the parents and friendsof the students had assembled to endurethe agony with these budding virtuosos.I came prepared to enjoy myself. In onepocket was a deck of cards and in theother a pocket edition of "Captain Hora-tio Hornblower." I had been to theseaffairs before.The choice of the place for the recitalbordered on the sacrilegious. A fine oldMethodist church was chosen as the vic-tim. A majestic organ maintained itsdignified aloofness in the left corner nearBILL DYEthe pulpit. The piano, unaware of itsimpending disgrace, was placed non-chalantly in the right corner. Dogwoodstared open-eyed from the front of theauditorium at the audience.When all was ready the pupils march-ed in from the right of the hall. Theline started with the youngest and smallestand climbed up to the tallest -- a girl-who brought up the rear. They took theirplaces gingerly on the front rows andstood until all were in place. Then theyu Iall sat down as one body. The reci awas about to begin.In spite of my apparent unconcern,ti dI began to get nervous. I had no Icethat evening before leaving the housethat AI's confidence had left him. HeCaptainwas scared. So was I now.k t·Hornblower lay neglected in my poe e ,the cards were still in the box. I sat onthe edge of the pew and dug my finger-nails into the wood in front of me. I amanxiety.sure my parents shared myRegardless of my slighting remarks aboutmy brother's -pianistic accomplishment Ireally felt proud of him and was eagerto see him do well.AI, in the front row, was as pale aswas Brutus upon beholding Caesar'sghost. And I noticed that in his righthand he clutched his music: This recitalwas supposed to be conducted entirelyfrom memory. Why should AI, then, have.his music? He must have gone to piecesso completely that he was afraid to play44 -

Compulsory Military Training

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Compulsory Military Training

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