Page 58 - 1964 VES Meteor

WHY STUDY HISTORY?
The Americen system by its very nature demands an enlightened citizenry. At some point in the na- tion's history, however, a double standard was allowed to develop and responsibility between official and citizen from that time forward flowed in only one direction. This two-way flow must be restowed. An alert, in- formed, discerning, di scri minating
citizenry capable of distinguishing be- tween what is possible and what is im- possible, what is workable and what is unworkable, what is wise and what is unwise, must replace a population that is frequently willing to let pass unnoticed the unwise or unworkable plans of well-meaning, but often ill- advised or unadvised, leadership at the local, state, national and inter- national levels. And to an enlight- ened American public a knowledge of history is an indispensable tool.
-F. K. Aldred. Naurn Jlfi.arouutr.s.a Astor
Nancy Langhorne Astor, a life-long friend of the School, died recently in her England home. The daughter of Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, she married W aldorf Astor, the grand- son of John Jacob Astor, at the age of twenty-seven. Upon the death of the first Viscount Astor, she ran for the seat in Commons formerly held by her husband. Her victory made her the first woman ever to sit in Commons. During her 25 years as a member of that body, she picked as targets of her sharp attacks fellow pol iticians, her fellow-wealthy ("the only thing I like about them is their money"), Communists, socialists, and
above all. liquor manufacturers and anti-femininists. She was one o f Win- ston Churchill's most ardent foes . She was well-known as household head of Cliveden, a ~DO-year old estate given to her and her husband as a wedding gift. Here during the thirty's she was host to one of Britain's most famous group of politicians, who believed in trying to stop Hitler without the use
of force.
Lady Astor was one of the earliest
contributors to Bishop Jett's fund to establish a school for boys in Lynch- burg.
On one of her visits to the school, she was persuaded by the then Rector Jett to give a large sum which enabled the Langhorne Chapel to be built, and resulted in the leveling of the upper field which was named for her brother, Buck Langhorne.
, If we may assume that for a par- ticular set of circumstances there is a "right" response, then the study of history can provide us with a rich storehouse of low-priced experience to supplement the costly experience we must purchase in the school of hard knocks as we daily respond to the challenges of a changing world. History is not an exact science, yet it takes on an eerie exactness, a logicality, when viewed in large seg- ments. History does not repeat itself, but Jatterns of history are often foun to repeat. History is a critiql)e of man's responses since the beginning of time, and it is at our fingertips, to be used or to be ignored.
The United States, after bearing a share of the awful oonsequences of Britain's nineteenth century flight into splendi~ isolation, made a wrong r~sponse by its unwillingness to as- sume a responsible role in world affairs after the First World War. Happily, a different response was
Jorthcoming when, at the close of the Second World War, the United States was confronted with an almost identical challenge.
not to bodies as well, as those un- leashed in 1861 be loosed again un- less the warnings of men possessing a keen understanding of history are heeded?
Is America's answer to the ques- tion of the admission of Red China to the United Nations based upon a careful consideration of all possible implications as see n from a long range historical point of view? Our present policr is undeniably sound from a mora standpoint, but is it sound from the standpoint of ex- pediency? In light of all that has transpired since 1933, was it wise or unwise for the United States to recognize Bolshevik Russia? Certainly the communist propaganda machine could be expected to seek immediate benefit from China's admission while the hearing of the uncommitted peoples is particularly acute. On the other hand, how much success in the long run can the United States and her friends expect from their attempt to hold the Chinese Communist regime morally responsible for its actions while at the same time deny- ing it even qualified membership in the family of nations?
Why does not the uverage Ameri- can have an opinion based upon a careful examination of historical facts and inferences on such issues as the social revolution going on in our
midst and the admission of Red China to the UN? We have reached and passed the point where leaders could b e reli e d upon t o make decisions without benefit of carefully arrived at opinions from the led. That Castro's revolution could at first be mistaken for a revolution in the old American spirit was an inexcusable blunder on the part of an entire adult popula- tion, not on officialdom alone.
Man has always possessed the power to destroy himself. This age differs from all others only in that the span of time required for total destruction has been reduced to a point where errors in judgement in 'olicy shaping must be disallowed. Twice during this century respected
men in high places have declared that a successful war against Germany would render obsolete the concept of war. Twice they have been wrong. A cynic might suggest that if World War Three is to come, and with it the risk of all being lost, we owe it to ourselves to make certain the right foe has been selected!
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W e Americans have not
learned so quickly, however, the lessons history can teach. The Japanese were quick to fill the power vacuum created by the withdrawal
of American
Pa~ific. in the
two world wars. The United States
should hove profited from the costly lesson that followed. Yet, an identical error in judgement was made by the United States and ~er ali'ies during and after World War rWO when a vacuum was allowed to form in c~ntral Europe ancf be filled by the
Soviets, an arrangement that has on more than one occasion since ap- peared likely to serve as a basis for a third world war.
How can Southern white leader- ship fail to see the frightening parallel between the highly charged atmosphere of 1861 and the equally highly charged atmosphere that pre- vails today? Is today's situation less explosive than was the situation a century ago? An affirmative answer carries with it the implication that mobs are more sane today than they were a hundred years ago, and there appears to be little historical basis
for this supposition. Can not forces just as shattering to men's souls, if
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