Spring of 1950

In the spring of 1950 my grandmother graduated fro high school with the honors of salutatorian. This was a restless time in the political climate of America. It had been less than five years since the end of World War II, and the conflict in Korea starting to be noticed.  In the early spring of 1950 After Germany had been divided into East and West and after the Soviet Union had tested its first atomic bomb, MY grandmother gave her speech. A speech that preceded Truman sending air force and naval forces to Korea and passing of the McCarran Internal Security Act into law. This speech is nothing special, a salutatorian speech given at a small high school graduation in a small northern Michigan town.

“Sweet Land of Liberty

Parents, teachers and friends,

                We are here tonight to extend our sincere welcome to you who have helped us to have this great opportunity. We hope that some day we can repay you for your kindness. When you sing the words “Sweet Land of Liberty” do you ever think of the meaning behind those words? Or are they merely words to be sung or spoken and then forgotten?

                Liberty is more precious to us than many of us can ever realize. It is the symbol of freedom, hope, security, and happiness. You can find it in smiles, playing working or whatever you are doing.

Yet liberty has not come easily to our land and in order to keep it we have to protect and defend it. In our schools we were taught the fundamentals of government and we learned about the constitution. But too many of us read and study and forget—we forget how important and precious government is to each of us. 

We have made great strides in the world of today in every profession. We can make greater strides id we keep our eyes, ears and minds open.

We look forward to the day when we will be of voting age (which until July of 1971 was 21 years of age). Too any people approach this power with the ‘do-not-care’ attitude, and it is this attitude that we must fight. Education helps us exercise this power with care, thought, and caution.

The Makers of the original constitution were wise men. With very few changes, and those made largely because of the nation’s progress, the Constitution of the United States stands as brave and firm today as when it was made. They were wise enough to know that changes would be necessary and therefore set up rules for amendment, so that no change can be made without careful thought and the majority’s approval.

In the Unite States, to be a good citizen means something far different than it does in a country ruled by a dictator.  Under a dictator where personal freedom doesn’t exist, the job is a simple one. It’s just a matter of obeying the laws for fear of punishment. Citizens of a democracy obey the laws for a different reason, because they make them and know that they are for the common good. We have wrongdoers, but most Americans obey the law because of an inner urge and knowledge, rather than of fear. A good citizen will let their conscience and a desire to obey the laws control his actions.

One of our greatest liberty’s is freedom of religion. In order to stress its importance we have to see what a country without this freedom is like. Russia is our best example at the present time. If Russia’s constitution was supreme like ours hey would have religious freedom, because the Constitution of Soviet Russia, adopted in 1936, says in part: ‘In order to insure to citizens freedom of conscience, The Church of the U.S.S.R. is separated from the state and school from the church Freedom of religious worship and freedom of anti-religious propaganda are recognized for all citizens.’ Actually however the government of Russia persecutes religion. Te Communist Party is the only one allowed in Russia. People are punished for opposing it. In our country the constitution guarantees real religious freedom; and although freedom of speech permits individuals to speak against religion the Government does not support and encourage them. 

We have fear and insecurity in America, but do not dread to go to bed because we fear saying or doing the wrong thing and being declared guilty of something we have never done. Also in America we have equal opportunities and life is full of challenges.

Our forefathers made a written constitution because they knew that monarchs by a mere word could deny the fundamental rights of man --- freedom of religion, of speech, of assembly, of the press.

 America’s battle for the rights of man was won long ago, but we must be eternally watchful.  Evil men in every age and in every country will attempt to substitute their word for law. If they succeed the progress of mankind will stop for a time, and human dignity will be forgotten in the desire for power, for riches, and for false glory. Therefore we must study, listen, learn and think hard and well to solve our problems and to preserve this ‘Sweet Land of Liberty”

Thank You”

Upon first reading this I was both intrigued and a little offended. For the tolerance, understanding and progressive drive descried here is not the same words I’ve heard  from my grandmother, but upon a second reading I realized that I can’t take this speech she gave as her prevailing opinion, I can’t take it as the opinions of American’s in the spring of 1950. I can only take it as the youthful optimistic notions of one eighteen year old girl in small town America reflecting on the world around her and trying to inspire those around her.