Page:Minority of One September 1961.pdf/7

wait-a-minute-I-have-no-time-because-my-cake-is-burning-in-the-oven" group.

The pessimists, the most articulate of them being Dr. Robert M. Hutchins, acknowledge the correctness of the discernment of the Paper-and-Air-Wave Curtain. They also say that the projected program of action could make the difference, but they conclude that it "simply cannot be done." Dr. Hutchins finds it "hard to believe that a newspaper based on the appeal of peace would make the grade in a nation apparently devoted to entertainment and armament in equal measure" (TMO, August, 1961).

The question is, whether this is a call to battle or a rationalization for inertia. If it is the latter, which indeed seems the case, one must ask what would have been the effect had the Founding Fathers heeded reality as they found it and resigned themselves to the undesirable because it seemed unalterable? If their determination and resolution sufficed to carve out from the mass of seeming impossibility these United States, why cannot the determination of men like Robert M. Hutchins suffice for as relatively modest an undertaking as the launching of an alternative newspaper in America?

I fully agree with Dr. Hutchins that, were we to depend for initiative on those "devoted to entertainment and armament in equal measure," we could not expect the realization of the plan. I am, however, in the fortunate situation of knowing of one man (in fact quite a few men) who is not "devoted to entertainment and armament in equal measure." The exact opposite is true of this man: Robert M. Hutchins. The question is, what he and men like him are ready and inspired to do. Or, are they ready?

The program outlined in "For an American Alternative" was not presented as an exercise in materialistic dialectic. Whether what is presented as possible will become actual depends on the resolution of men, not all men, but those most likely to respond and those believing that the outlined plan, if pursued, could provide a National Alternative.

My optimism is certainly not so extreme as to contend that the launching of a progressive daily newspaper would necessarily save the world from war. But I do contend that this would be the minimal activity that would have a chance of becoming effective. The fact that previous attempts at launching a progressive daily have failed may or may not indicate that it couldn't be done, but it certainly does not reduce the means required to cause some reversal in this country. The unavailability of bulldozers does not indicate the potential strength of a tea spoon to lift a mountain. If we are incapable of producing the minimal means, why keep sacrificing for means that definitely have no chance of making the difference? I do not invite pessimism, but I do believe that as long as there is something within us that makes us rebel against what is going on, our first responsibility is for the effectiveness of our deeds. So inspired and so responsible, we may well stretch the limits of the possible.

Could it be that the role of the critic in America has become so taxing, tiresome and frustrating that no vigor is left in him to devote himself to the things that could make the difference? Are we so tired as no longer to possess the stamina to apply ourselves to very difficult tasks even when they alone bear the promise of success?

I pose these questions without any presumptions. Neither a negative nor a positive answer would surprise me. But the answer must be given with perfect honesty so as to provide those concerned with a realistic perspective of our function in a world at danger.

A more upsetting reaction came from those circles who, fully agreeing with the discernment of the Paper-and-Air-Wave Curtain as well as with the practicality of the outlined alternative, find themselves "too busy" to give the matter urgent and overriding consideration. These are groups totally absorbed in their own pet projects. Some of them have long since lost sight of what is needed to weigh in the balance of war and peace. They have developed some- thing of a sentimental attachment to and provincial narrowness within their organizational framework. As well-intentioned as these people are, they have found in their activity a social environment that imposes upon them quite rigid personal traditions. In this process of "socializing," the main external goal often becomes obscured. Or, rationalizations are born, which with thin logic, relate the sentimental involvement to an effective service for the overall external goal. It is little surprising, therefore, that the serving of the "Alternative Plan" is neglected in favor of some routine mailing, or a daily concern with raising small operational funds, or a "need" - never questioned to continue some relatively insignificant pet project.

At times the social environment of such groups becomes their particular mental suburbia, fully equipped with its own brand of snobbishness and mental compensations. Typically, in reaction to a talk I delivered on the "American Alternative," one group indulged in something of a contest of intermural flattery about the "great" job being done by one member or another. As if they had actually secured peace on earth... To the credit of that group, I must mention that others of its members have displayed a better sense of proportion and a greater degree of relevance.

At times one appears before such groups as an "outside applicant." No matter how convincing the program he presents, no matter how much verbal support it elicits, the program is seen as "his" program in contrast to "their" program. There is even a pride and jealousy of sponsorship involved. It is as if one were told: "Well and good, but you peddle your program and we will keep peddling ours." And the life of the little bureaucracy returns to "normal"...

If these groups constantly hold before their eyes the paramount goal of averting war; if they consider every minute that nothing short of achieving this goal will do, the great discrepancy between their verbal goals and practical lethargy will cease to exist.

It is encouraging, however, that in each of these groups a single determined individual would suffice to snap the others out of their little dream world. This presentation is indeed intended to invigorate such lone wolves to in turn invigorate the others.

To conclude this incomplete report, it is important to state that enough interest has been generated by the plan for a National Alternative to continue efforts to enroll further support for the necessary initial steps. As of this moment, however, the project has not yet aroused enough support to proceed to the stage of preliminary execution. I am far from being certain that it will be executed. I am, however, confident that it can be executed. The endorsement and pledge of personal involvement on the part of such individuals as Ava Helen Pauling and Linus Pauling lend the project desired stature. Its fate depends solely on those groups and individuals who have pledged themselves to work for peace. There can be no passing of the buck; the possibilities and the impossibilities are strictly properties of the mind. It is up to the peace devotees to act. The responsibility is theirs. This responsibility they can rationalize out of existence, but not escape.

An Answer to "What Can I Do?"

For Political Information Committees

By Annot Jacobi and Louise Samoiloff

We have received a communication, telling us about a highly effective project of political education. The project is conducted in Long Island, N. Y. We believe it to be an example of what concerned individuals can do virtually single-handed to counteract the suffocating conformity of our society, a conformity which may ultimately result in disaster to all mankind. Mesdames Jacobi's and Samoiloff's project is the more realistic because it is conducted on the community level and requires relatively small financial means. We reproduce their communication in the hope that it will encourage other individuals to undertake similar projects in their communities. In particular we wish to encourage our friends to use such projects for introducing copies of The Minority of One. For this purpose we are making bulk shipments of copies of back issues available at the nominal charge of $15 per 100 copies. - Ed.

The most effective curb to the prevailing threat of war would be a politically informed public.

It is not necessarily true that the American people are politically indifferent and apathetic. Contentions to this effect may well stem from the fact that so many Americans are unaware of the dangers of the present world situation or of the fact that these dangers can be counteracted. Most people read no more than daily newspapers, and from them it is virtually impossible to gain a true picture of the world problems. The few liberal weeklies and monthlies that are published in America have a small circulation and usually get into the hands of those already well informed.

Most people, however, like to receive mail. In every household there is at least one person who reads literature received by mail. It there- fore seems to us that if we could spread some of the excellent literature that although published does not reach the general public, we would be helping to create a new political climate in this country.

To organize such an activity is a relatively simple project. In our town of Huntington, for instance, there is a population of about 100,000. Counting on an average of four to a family, 25,000 households need to be reached. If we could mail to each of them selected literature each month for 4-6 months, this would surely have an effect upon them and gradually build here a body of informed opinion. While our financial means do not enable us at this time to start with mailings of 25,000, we do retain this figure as our goal. We shall start with mailings of 1,000 and build up from there. Inserted in each mailing will be an appeal for financial support of the project, which allows us to hope for a snowballing effect. We shall also ask the mail recipients to pass on the literature, which will further increase the circulation.

We hope that also others throughout the country will find this activity worth trying. Many people ask: "What can I do?" Many liberals are defeated by frustration and a feeling of helplessness. The project here outlined may relieve many such people of their frustration; it is one that can be carried out even by a single individual and even in a small village.