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THE DETitorr

3 0

JEWISH CHRONICI,E and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE

OUR LOYALTIES AND ANTIPATHIES

Paper Presented at the Paterson, N. J., Seminar of Prot-
estants, Catholics and Jews, Sponsored by the
National Conference of Jews and Christians,
289 Fourth Avenue, New York City.

their proper place. There will be

titian and allaying the consequent riots, so a religious group is stul-
antipathies. titled by its narrow loyalties. The

little or no room left for antipath-

3. As a third principle I offer smaller loyalty must ever he sac-
Hiked to the higher, not merely in
MIN&
respect between
this:
the interests of the higher, but even
groups wino l or h osed on „„d,.„.
for the integrity of the lesser group
Professor, Union Theological Seminary
xhilid Illy, Hot 00 if inOrUllee. There
This paradox has escaped
By BRUCE CURRY, Ph. D.
is a superficial respect possible on it'elf•
the
basis
of
ignorance.
This
is
the
notice
of many. It is in es-
Our problem as cultural groups, tantism. This very variety forces
easily shattered upon first acquain.1 sence, the principle of losing life in
-religious, raci8I, and national— each group back upon what is es-
past
that
first
order
to
find
it.
lance. We must get
is to eradicate antipathies while sentiul in its system, causes crea-
What are these higher loyalties
stage of shock and on into real un-
holding to what is of value in our live growth, and prevents prem.- derstanding if the more genuine . which give meaning to our lesser
group loyalties. All too often we
cupation with non-essentials. Rac- respect is to be achieved. Too often loyalties, and whose recognition
hum[ loyalty to'
a% (
would minimize the present anti-
• as: ,
our own group necessarily involves Tally and nationally this principle we have gone on i facile
pathies between religious and ra-
antipathy for the groups that differ has always been recognized. No tion that if persons of differing cut. vial groups? We suggest four of

ies.

-I. Loyalty to the highest spirit-

ual ideal, loyalty to God, if you
please. When we realize that the

common fume of all religion is the

materialism, secularism, and athe-
ism so wide-spread in our modern

world; when we commit ourselves

wholeheartedly to the ideal of a

spiritual universe, a friendly uni-

verse governed by the great God

who is Father of all, then shall we
demand that all religious groups

make this loyalty paramount, drop-
from our own. So deeply is this one wishes to see all men of one tures could just be brought togeth-
ping the na ITO wer antipathies in
er a deeper understanding and mu- them•
impressed upon us that there is race or believes the world could be
I. Loyalty to the American ideal one comon effort on behalf of
'
little chance for healing antipath- combined
into one nation. The prin. late
lust result.
respect Not
would
be the immed-
necessarily.
Ex- of freedom—religious, political and spiritual oneness.
ies unless we can bring ourselves
Theoretically, we are all devoted
no t been conce de d as ap- perience shows that first contacts economic freedom. It is obvious
and others to accept a new set of cipl• has
to these higher loyalties. No one
principles for the governing of in- prying to religions. Is this not the usually reveal more fundamental how far we are from the full
has would arise to debate the priority
tergroup relations. I venture to next step? Its acceptance would differences that had been suspected, achievement of t
al. Itcare d : of their claim upon slur allegiance.
ide we
e cau
been smothered b his
suggest four such principles, not • not prevent a large degree of shar- making respect, for the time being,'
I more about smaller group loyal- • the question is whether we care
yet accepted or even grasped by ing among religious groups of those even more difficult. If people have
enough about them in very truth
the majority of people. This is to values developed within the pecul- ' the patience to move through this • ties.
2. Loyalty to the world-neighbor- to demand that our religious and
disconcerting interval until they
admit that they are debatable. But ia• culture of each group.
racial groups shall so lessen their
2. The second principle follows: can really put themselves in the hood ideal, which calls for the
if true, their general acceptance,
It is claims upon us as to leave us free
other person's place, they may conic transcending of barriers.
may prove revolutionary in improv- Loyolty to one ' s o Ira groups does
to a mutual respect much deeper now realized that there is no life to dedicate ourselves to the achieve-
ing the relationships between re- not necessarily involve antipathy
for our modern world unless the ' ment of these higher idols in co-
toward other groups. We have too and Over than the genial but spur ,
ligious and racial groups.
the barrkading process is checked and operation with all men, regardless
I. The first principle might be long been taught that it does; that , ious respect which existed a
' rev ersed. Some of these barriers of nation, race, or religion.
g.
.
group loyalty is built up by ani- I beginnin
.1. The fourth principle yelling are artificial, have outlived their
stated thus: Variety, not uniform-
mosity toward and conflict with op-1
liut antipathy for recognition today is this: day and must be abolished. Some
ity, of cultures is enriching and posing groups.
them are natural barriers, has-
hence to be desired. The world has comes only when our first principle. Group loyalty is validated only by of
stronger loyalty to something ing a genuine value is not raised
lie sat upon my
labored mistakingly on just the op- is ignored and each religious group a
greater than the group itself. too high; these must be lowered .
Daddy's knee,
posite theory. Yet it can be proved feels that it must impose its culture Croup culture and group-develop- sufficiently to permit friendly in-
And Daddy never
on the entire world, leading to cut-
Looked at me,
from history that uniformity car- throat competition. This policy is ed values lose their meaning ex- tercourse. But we shall not hear e
But danced him up and
.
ries in itself the seeds of dry rot. sure to bring a natural resentment cept AS they contribute to the in- to work at this greater base if we
Danced him down,
And never even
To the extent that any nation or on the part of those whose own dividual's higher loyalties. When cannot learn to begin at home by
t
e'
immedia
Saw
me frown—
•
l
religion has succeeded in impos- culture is invaded and disparaged one's religious, racial, or nationa
And yet it couldn't
in the process. Religious groups loyalty causes him to forget or harriers of class, religion, and race.
Really be—
ing itself universally, it has begun
3. Loyalty to the human ideal of
, deny his loyalty to something high-
My Daddy had forgotten me!
•
to dig its own grave. The most mu st come to learn what national
s are just begin- er, he becomes untrue not only to respect for personality, su ton n
Zelda Medvedov Landsman.
•ia I group
worthy and splendid cultures have and rut
ur-
developed under the stimulus of ning to comprehend, that there is the greater ideal but also, whether, ing all else to the meeting of
live and let live policy whereby he knows it or not, to the smaller gent human need. When we unite
Some women don't seem to care
contact with others unlike itself. a
Just as a nation is crippled . in loyalty to such a great cause we I who does the thinking just so they
This can tie shown in the life of groups can co-perate to the best' group.
shall
find
lesser
loyalties
put
in
are
permitted to do the talking.
1
Judaism, Catholicism, and Protes- Merests of all, minimizing compe-1 by its one hundred per cent pat-

INTRUDER

The Romance of Service'

1881

From the clay this store was founded in
1881 it has endeavored to be of genuine and
helpful service to its customers and to the
community.
The remarkable growth of this institu-
tion from its beginning as a small clothing
store might well be called "The Romance of
Service."
And in contemplating the history of our
own city during the last half century we are
grateful to have had such a goodly part in
its enactment.

1934

THE

J. L.

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HUDSON COMPANY