DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Burlington Atomic Energy Week, 1947 | Burlington Hawk-eye Gazette Article: ""Opinions of Others""

Transcribe
Translate

Burlington Atomic Energy Week, 1947

Burlington Hawk-eye Gazette Article: ""Opinions of Others""

Opinions of Others

The Hawk-Eye Gazette invite signed letters for publication from its readers. 
Church People Grateful
The Hawk-Eye Gazette: On behalf of the Methodist churches of this city. I wish to thank you or your splendid co-operation in publicizing the observance of the Week of Prayer and Self Denial" The service was greatly appreciated. 
MRS. W. W. VAN OSDOL, 
1022 S. 7th

The Church & Atomic Energy 
The Hawk-Eye Gazette: The churches of Christ have been glad to cooperate in atomic energy week because we sense the religious significance of the problem. 
God trusts us human people with all created things, including the atom. He intends that we have dominion over all things on earth, and so grants us freedom - a freedom filled with terrible consequence. We are free to use atomic energy to prolong human life and enrich it; and free also to devastate the earth with this same energy. God keeps saying "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose life, that you may live.." God will not compel us to be wise with the atom, nor prevent us from committing suicide with it. He trusts us with our freedom. 
Therefore, we must solemnly renounce atomic warfare. Atomic energy week has taught us its horrors. Atomic bombs wipe out not arsenals only, but schools, churches, homes, for miles around. Atomic bombs kill armed soldiers, but also unarmed children at play and women in their homes. Atomic bombs turn a vast city into a flaming incinerator. You must strike first, and mimic Hitler and Hirohito if you want to win atomic warfare, otherwise you are paralyzed. This is too big a price to pay to win the third war. We must design not to win in, but prevent it. 
That calls for international control of atomic energy, so that its peaceable uses may be explored and its vast benefits be made available to enrich the life of mankind. Adm. Strauss sketched out the thrilling prospects before us. If nuclear energy can be harnessed peaceably in a peaceful world. To that end, Christian people must now push vigorously for genuine world government, and be willing to [?] our sovereignities into a [?] safer and most lasting sovereignty of mankind.
Atomic energy week has alerted [?] to the issues at least and [?] us anxious for their solution [?] We Burlington people have begun to be more responsible citizens. 
ROBERT H. HAMILL,
President, Burlington 
Council of Churches. 
(Editor's note: Mr Hamill, also pastor of Grace Methodist church, delivered an able sermon last Sunday on the significant bearing of atomic energy upon the world.)

Likes "Labor Opinion" 
The Hawk-Eye Gazette: We have found Peter Mennen's articles in the Hawk-Eye Gazette very informative and of particular interest not only to our members who are interested in labor, but we find much material in his column for general study. We just wanted you to know how much we look forward to "Labor's Opinion."
MRS JOSEPH BRAUN
National Council of Catholic Women. 

May Change Government
The Hawk-Eye Gazette: The atomic bomb makes it necessary for our security that we change our constitution. Congress, with presidential approval, now is the sole authority to declare war. In a democracy such as ours with a free exchange of information, if congress is likely to declare war, the enemy powers will know about it and will act before congress acts. Certainly if our relations with any nation become strained to the point where war is likely, they will strike first if they have to atomic bomb. It is a matter of national survival. It was bad enough to have Japan striking with ordinary bombs during 1941, but a nation striking with atomic bombs at some future date might conceivably, it would seem to me as a layman, do so much damage that we would be licked before we started. 
I cherish our constitutional form of government and I shudder at the thought of putting power to wage war in the hands of a few men, But what else can we do? I hold no definite views as to the size of the group to whom such power should be delegated or exactly who it should be but it seems obvious that some such delegation is vital. Possibly the group should consist of the president, secretaries of state, and defense, one senator and one congressman; the later 2 to be chosen by vote in their respective houses. The constitution should further provide that these 2 cabinet officers be elected and not appointed . Power to wage war simultaneously with a declaration of war should be provided so that we may be sure to strike first if we are going to do this job we should do it right. 
As a layman I have no means of knowing whether any other powers now have the atomic bomb. My guess would be that 

Cutting Grain to Distillers 
The HawkEye Gazette: We have been hearing quite a bit recently about eggless and meatless days, and the scarcity of foodstuffs. Why can't the same people require or demand that corn and other grans used in the manufacture of liquor be saved to feed the starving of Europe?
We thank you for the publicity you gave the WCTU convention last week. It was a great convention. We thought it quite a joke when the Chamber of Commerce sent out 2 buses to take us on a tour of the city and more women were left standing at the church than got to go. However, we all enjoyed our stay in Burlington. 
MRS BRUCE MILLER
Hillsboro, Ia 
(Editor's note: It was announced nearly 2 weeks ago by President Truman and other administration leaders that grain will be diverted from the distilling and brewing industries to help feed Europe. This program is being worked out.)

Questions To Be Answered 
The Hawk-Eye Gazette: Is war inevitable or dispensable? 
Is the discovery of atomic energy a threat or a promise?
What shall the United States do about Europe's 800,000 displaced persons?
Must we have peace-time conscription?
Is restriction of world trade beneficial to any nation?
These and other vital questions must be answered correctly and at once. Time is running our and we cannot wait, as in former days, upon slow evolution in thought. Our people must throw off prejudice, must learn to think in concepts of a shrinking space, an increased population and life span, and a rapid dwindling of natural resources. 
Not long ago the writer and scholar John Erskine delivered a provocative address entitled "The Moral Obligation to be Intelligent." In this lecture he exclaimed, "When the foe arrives as an arrow that fileth the night, what avail the old sinews, the old stoutness of heart!" And he continued "When we consider the nature of the problems to be solved in our day, it seems that intelligence is the virtue we particularly need. No people can be great who are not intelligent.
Now intelligence is compounded of many traits such as alertness and sound judgment; and sound judgment is based upon wide and accurate information. To give this information such service.

Saving...

Opinions of Others The Hawk-Eye Gazette invite signed letters for publication from its readers. Church People Grateful The Hawk-Eye Gazette: On behalf of the Methodist churches of this city. I wish to thank you or your splendid co-operation in publicizing the observance of the Week of Prayer and Self Denial" The service was greatly appreciated. MRS. W. W. VAN OSDOL, 1022 S. 7th The Church & Atomic Energy The Hawk-Eye Gazette: The churches of Christ have been glad to cooperate in atomic energy week because we sense the religious significance of the problem. God trusts us human people with all created things, including the atom. He intends that we have dominion over all things on earth, and so grants us freedom - a freedom filled with terrible consequence. We are free to use atomic energy to prolong human life and enrich it; and free also to devastate the earth with this same energy. God keeps saying "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose life, that you may live.." God will not compel us to be wise with the atom, nor prevent us from committing suicide with it. He trusts us with our freedom. Therefore, we must solemnly renounce atomic warfare. Atomic energy week has taught us its horrors. Atomic bombs wipe out not arsenals only, but schools, churches, homes, for miles around. Atomic bombs kill armed soldiers, but also unarmed children at play and women in their homes. Atomic bombs turn a vast city into a flaming incinerator. You must strike first, and mimic Hitler and Hirohito if you want to win atomic warfare, otherwise you are paralyzed. This is too big a price to pay to win the third war. We must design not to win in, but prevent it. That calls for international control of atomic energy, so that its peaceable uses may be explored and its vast benefits be made available to enrich the life of mankind. Adm. Strauss sketched out the thrilling prospects before us. If nuclear energy can be harnessed peaceably in a peaceful world. To that end, Christian people must now push vigorously for genuine world government, and be willing to [?] our sovereignities into a [?] safer and most lasting sovereignty of mankind. Atomic energy week has alerted [?] to the issues at least and [?] us anxious for their solution [?] We Burlington people have begun to be more responsible citizens. ROBERT H. HAMILL, President, Burlington Council of Churches. (Editor's note: Mr Hamill, also pastor of Grace Methodist church, delivered an able sermon last Sunday on the significant bearing of atomic energy upon the world.) Likes "Labor Opinion" The Hawk-Eye Gazette: We have found Peter Mennen's articles in the Hawk-Eye Gazette very informative and of particular interest not only to our members who are interested in labor, but we find much material in his column for general study. We just wanted you to know how much we look forward to "Labor's Opinion." MRS JOSEPH BRAUN National Council of Catholic Women. May Change Government The Hawk-Eye Gazette: The atomic bomb makes it necessary for our security that we change our constitution. Congress, with presidential approval, now is the sole authority to declare war. In a democracy such as ours with a free exchange of information, if congress is likely to declare war, the enemy powers will know about it and will act before congress acts. Certainly if our relations with any nation become strained to the point where war is likely, they will strike first if they have to atomic bomb. It is a matter of national survival. It was bad enough to have Japan striking with ordinary bombs during 1941, but a nation striking with atomic bombs at some future date might conceivably, it would seem to me as a layman, do so much damage that we would be licked before we started. I cherish our constitutional form of government and I shudder at the thought of putting power to wage war in the hands of a few men, But what else can we do? I hold no definite views as to the size of the group to whom such power should be delegated or exactly who it should be but it seems obvious that some such delegation is vital. Possibly the group should consist of the president, secretaries of state, and defense, one senator and one congressman; the later 2 to be chosen by vote in their respective houses. The constitution should further provide that these 2 cabinet officers be elected and not appointed . Power to wage war simultaneously with a declaration of war should be provided so that we may be sure to strike first if we are going to do this job we should do it right. As a layman I have no means of knowing whether any other powers now have the atomic bomb. My guess would be that Cutting Grain to Distillers The HawkEye Gazette: We have been hearing quite a bit recently about eggless and meatless days, and the scarcity of foodstuffs. Why can't the same people require or demand that corn and other grans used in the manufacture of liquor be saved to feed the starving of Europe? We thank you for the publicity you gave the WCTU convention last week. It was a great convention. We thought it quite a joke when the Chamber of Commerce sent out 2 buses to take us on a tour of the city and more women were left standing at the church than got to go. However, we all enjoyed our stay in Burlington. MRS BRUCE MILLER Hillsboro, Ia (Editor's note: It was announced nearly 2 weeks ago by President Truman and other administration leaders that grain will be diverted from the distilling and brewing industries to help feed Europe. This program is being worked out.) Questions To Be Answered The Hawk-Eye Gazette: Is war inevitable or dispensable? Is the discovery of atomic energy a threat or a promise? What shall the United States do about Europe's 800,000 displaced persons? Must we have peace-time conscription? Is restriction of world trade beneficial to any nation? These and other vital questions must be answered correctly and at once. Time is running our and we cannot wait, as in former days, upon slow evolution in thought. Our people must throw off prejudice, must learn to think in concepts of a shrinking space, an increased population and life span, and a rapid dwindling of natural resources. Not long ago the writer and scholar John Erskine delivered a provocative address entitled "The Moral Obligation to be Intelligent." In this lecture he exclaimed, "When the foe arrives as an arrow that fileth the night, what avail the old sinews, the old stoutness of heart!" And he continued "When we consider the nature of the problems to be solved in our day, it seems that intelligence is the virtue we particularly need. No people can be great who are not intelligent. Now intelligence is compounded of many traits such as alertness and sound judgment; and sound judgment is based upon wide and accurate information. To give this information such service.