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State YMCA of; Georgia Youth Assembly Banquet Atlanta, Georgia April 7, 1967 M O T I V A T I O N F O R G O O D CITIZENSHIP E v e r y person in this room, young or old, occupies a position of leadership, whether he realizes it or not= you in this position. Your accomplishments place People look to you for guidance. This responsibility will not vanish regardless of h o w long you look the other way. W e live in an age of almost terrifyingly rapid change. In the two decades since the end of World W a r II -- in one generation -- w e have seen the world's population increase by 54 percent and our o w n country's population by 47 percent. W e have seen m a n build the capacity for destroying his world with all its millions. With no region left to explore on this planet, our o w n generation is exploring the great e m pty spaces around it and expects soon to explore the moon. Not inconceivably, our children or grandchildren m a y explore Venus or Mars. This is a revolutionary age, whether w e like it or not. The m a p of our o w n planet has been changing so fast that last month's Atlas is out of date. The colonial empires w e once k n e w have all but vanished. place approximately 70 n e w nations have c o m e into being. In their In these n e w countries, and in m a n y older nations too, profound social changes are also taking place -- what has been called the "revolution of rising expectations. " People long ill-fed and ill-housed are beginning to d e m a n d a share in the better life which a n e w technology m a k e s possible. People silent for - 2 - centuries are making themselves heard. Which road the n e w nations, and s o m e of the older nations, take depends to a considerable extent on us, It depends on whether w e in the United States can demonstrate that a free society can solve its pressing problems both democratically and efficiently. The once relatively simple functions of government have necessarily grown and expanded into a bewildering and complex variety of activities. In the process the individual, whose integrity as a person is under constant assault, b e c o m e s increasingly detached and isolated f r o m the political forces that govern his o w n affairs. Albert Einstein w a s asked h o w he explained the outstanding progress achieved in the intricate and unfathomed world of physics and yet there appeared to be little progress in politics. H e replied simply: ’’Physics is easier. " T h o m a s Jefferson first m o s t clearly expressed the role of the A m e r i c a n citizen. "He is jealous of his o w n integrity and independence, informed on matters of public concern, capable of exercising reasoned judgment in the light of this information. ” Participation in political life first requires this identification with and sharing of s o m e c o m m u n i t y of values. But it is this very relationship which is being eroded and chipped a w a y by the growing complexity and specialization of m o d e r n life. - 3- Too m a n y of those w h o have the full rights and privileges of firstclass citizenship have withdrawn f r o m the responsibilities in the face of the growing complexity of government and the increasing distance between the individual citizen and the decision-making process. There are far too m a n y people -- s o m e of t h e m in positions of great influence -- w h o s e e m to believe that the individual as a positive force is obsolete in our complex society. E a c h individual m u s t reaffirm his personal belief in his ability - - a s one person --to influence the course of history to s o m e degree and in s o m e manner. Without being critical of our space effort, it is not unfair to state that the venture is primarily one a i m e d at increased national prestige. ; For our purpose, it is also valid to ask whether the United States will gain as m u c h in international respect f r o m a successful m o o n voyage as would be ours through an eradication of s o m e of the m o r e pressing h u m a n problems of the age. Appropriate recognition would c o m e if w e m e t with realistic action the problems of slu m clearance and low health standards, educational opportunities, adequate housing, the tragedy of juvenile delinquency, and $ the climbing crime rate. It is never easy to see through a glass darkly. T w o variables are involved in trying to play the role of Janus, the two-faced R o m a n god w h o looked both back and forward -- outward circumstance and internal alteration. -4- The future is_past, in the sense that what has been determines what will be. M a n y have wondered h o w it w a s that Americans, so prone to be "realistic, " should nevertheless have launched and maintained the m o s t idealistic f o r m of government ever attempted on this earth. is not obscure. The explanation It w a s the deeply religious faith of m o s t of the early colonists, long before the Revolution, that inspired t h e m to base their society squarely on Christian principles. E a c h year on George Washington’s birthday, his Farewell Address is read aloud to the Congress. Included is the passage which says, "Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. " U p o n that caution depends the future of this republic. Fortunately, m a n y of its citizens are well aware that collective material wealth will not indefinitely accumulate, if individual spiritual strength decays. It is increasingly argued that there are no absolute values; that people create their o w n standards and that these alter as circumstances change. It is a development sharply symbolized by the saying " G o d is dead, " even while every depreciating dollar bill continues to bear the inscription "In G o d w e Trust. " I suggest w e might consider in every city, town and village, the formation of study groups in churches, schools, service clubs, Y M C A , other organizations. The groups should really study and discuss: and first, the problems of their o w n communities -- schools, jobs, housing, crime; and -5- then m o v e on to m o r e complicated matters like international trade, foreign aid or United Nations bonds. They should get the facts, analyze the different possible courses of action and intelligently support -- or intelligently oppose community, state, and national programs., This is in the best A m e r i c a n tradition. about us that impresses foreign visitors. Indeed, it is one of the things The y mention the frank criticism by A m e r i c a n s in all walks of life of abuses or unhealthy situations. But our responsibility is not limited to analysis and criticism, however intelligent, nor to supporting or opposing through the ballot box. It is also our responsibility to play an active part in improving our c o m m u n i ties -- and responsibilities beyond our c o m m u n i t y and the nation. They reach out to the student in Nigeria, the farmer's wife in India, the rural school teacher in Chile, the leper in Viet-Nam. In this world precariously balanced between autocracy and freedom, what each one of us does m a y tip the scales. between defeat and victory. It might well m a k e the difference It is a challenging responsibility of free citizens - a responsibility w e are fortunate to have. A s Benjamin Franklin left Convention Hall w h e n the final draft of the Constitution had been agreed upon, a citizen approached h i m and asked, "Dr. Franklin, what have you given us? " H e replied, " W e have given you a republic --if you can keep it. " H e didn't say, if the President can keep it. H e didn't say if the Congress can keep it. To that citizen, he said, "If you -6- can keep it. " A well-known football coach placed over the door of his team's dressing r o o m this motto: " W h e n the going gets tough, the tough get going, " It is not sufficient that w e of today just preserve the great heritage that has been ours, but w e should so nurture and improve upon it that w e leave it to future generations richer in advantages and opportunities and fr e e d o m than have been ours to receive.
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