'Prejudice in Young Children'

As the Editor
Views the News

A Pioneering Effort in
Intercultural Education

Courage Undaunted

President Truman's veto of the McCar-
ian-Walter immigration measure marked a
remarkable display of courage. He knew in
advance that he was joining a hopeless battle
for fairness. It was evident at the outset that
the temper of the present Congress was in
the direction of witch-hunting.
Senator McCarran, who labored for three
years with his committees to accumulate the
mass of rules which constitute the new
measure. which has been condemned by all
liberal .z•otips, by all the Jewish organiza-
tions. by the official spokesmen for Catholi-
cism, went so far, in his condemnation of
President Truman's veto, as to link our Chief
Executive with the Communist Daily 'Work-
er -because the Communists also opposed
his hill. This trend did not deter the Presi-
dent from taking a step in what he believed
10 be the path of justice. Perhaps such a
move will tend eventually to destroy the
bogeys and fears :nk'hi•h have blurred our
sight and have marred our thinking in re-
cent years.
The House of Representatives rejected
the President's veto by a vote of 278 to 113.
11 was overridden by a vote of 57 to 26 in
the Senate. We regret that Senator Fergu-
son has seen fit to align himself with the
.IVIeCarran group and we commend Senator
Moody for his stand in support of liberal
immigration. alongside with Senators Leh-
man. Douglas, Humphreys, Morse and others
--a minority of liberals among Republicans
as well as Democrats. .
President Truman agreed with the mi-
nority that the hill represents a discrimi-
nating policy which considers Americans
it.h English or Irish names as being bet-
ter people than those with Italian, Greek
or Polish sounding names. "Such a con-
cept," he said in his unsu&essful veto mes-
sage "is utterly unworthy of our traditions
a.nd Our ideals. It violates the great politi-
cal doctrine of the Deela,-ation of Inde-
pendence that 'all men are created equal'
1jo not approve of substituting totali-
tarian vengeance for democratic justice."
Senator McCarran differed with his own
church in sponsoring his bill and in reacting
so bitterly to the President's veto. The noted
columnist. Marquis Childs. in an analysis of
the unfortunate McCarran-Walter bill, point-
ing out how firmly Catholic organs had acted
in demanding its defeat, offered this expla-
nation:
McCarran is himself a Catholic and he
has a sister who is a nun. Yet in this in-
stance he was not influenced by the Pope's
belief in universal brotherhood. He talks
instead about how his immigration bill is
essential to the preservation of our way of
life. That the way of life in Nevada is
slightly different from the way of life in
Pittsburgh and Gary, Ind., does not con-
•ern McCarran."
Thus we have conflicts between ways of
life. But there also are conflicts involving
fears and unwarranted panic that has en-
tered our political system. It is something to
be fought with courage and determination. If
the poison can not be eliminated at once, we
roust strive for a cure in the years to come.
F'ortunately, there is the free public plat-
form, there is the ballot box. there is the
chance to elect men and women who will be
as courageous as President Truman in their
determined will to retain basic American
ideals. The battle for a return to the fear-
lessness . of the original American doctrines
and the rejection of the ideas incorporated
in the McCarran-Walter bill begins anew.

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THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
commencing with issue of July 20, 1951

Member: American Association of English-Jewish News
papers. Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg.. Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 5-1155.
Subscription 34 a year; foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6. 1942 at Post Office,
Detroit. Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.

Progress in Bonn-Israel Talks

It is encouraging to know that the negotiations for re-
parations to Jewry by the West German Government have
taken ajavorable turn. The mere fact that the Bonn aut hori-
ties have offered compensation in the amount of S715,-
000,000 is an indication that the Germans recognize their
guilt and are willing to make material atonement. While
Israel and the Jews of the world can nOt forgive or
forget what had happened. at the hands of the Germans.
the payment of just claims at least will establish the prin-
ciple that world public opinion does not condone murder
and does not permit the murderer to make an unchallenged
claim to his victim's property.
There remain many complications to be adjusted in the
course of the negotiations for indemnification by Germany
for the sufferings that were heaped upon the survivors
from Nazism after 6.000,000 Jews were butchered. There is
the question of a schedule of payments and \Nhether all in-
demnifications are to be in goods lir partly in cash. Fu•the•-
more, Israel's Knesset will have to act on the final decisions.

In the interim, however, while the talks continue, there
are signs that the conference which has just been resumed
may make rapid progress. The return of Dr. Franz Josef
Boehm as head of the German delegation. after he had re-
signed in order to force hiS government into action in the
negotiations with Jewish spokesmen, and the specific offer,
even if it still is subject to discussion, are indications that
there is. seriousness in the matter.
Another report of special importance. made known this
week in a Jewish Telegraphic Agency cable from Bonn,
to the effect that the West German Government had re-
jected -the complaint of the Palestine Arab Higher Com-
mittee against payment of reparations to Israel on the
grounds that the Arab intervention was "incompetent," is
equally encouraging. There is firmness in the declaration
of the German spokesman who pointed out that if the
Arabs felt obliged to claim a share of German reparations
they should address themselves to the state of Israel. Ac-
cording to the JTA cable, the German spokesman said there
was no reason for his government to put a new strain on
the reparations talks with Israel or in any way to consider
the Arab protest.
Then there also is this encouraging bit of news, point-
ing to the seriousness of the German approach to the issue:
JTA reports from Bonn that Dr_ Bruno Weil, in a broadcast
over the Hamburg radio, said that claims of individual vic-
tims of the Nazis should be considered as equal to the re-
parations claim of Israel and should be given the same pri-
ority.
All of which points to a recognition of guilt and a desire
to atone for the great wrongs to Jewry. If there is compen-
sation in proper measure, at least the living will receive
their just due from a government whose people's record is
drenched in the blood of millions of innocent victims.

Magen David Adorn & Red Cross

Another attempt now is being made for the admission of
the Magen David Adorn—the Red Magen David—which is the
Israeli counterpart of the Red Cross for admission to the

International Red Cross organization.
While the Red Crescent of Moslem countries and the Red
Lion and Sun of Iran already have gained membership in the
world organization, Israel's movement remains unrecognized
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
and rejected.
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
When the International Red Cross meets in Toronto this
FRANK SIMONS, City Editor
month. Israel's membership again will be considered. It is of
Vol. XXI—No. 17
Page 4
July 4, 1952 the utmost urgency that requests should be made by or-
ganizations and individuals that the Magen David Adorn
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
should
be given due recognition. The Red Magen David op-
This Sabbath, the twelfth day of Tammuz,
erates Israel's only ambulance service. It supervises 36 far-
5712, the following Scriptural selections will be
flung first aid stations, blood banks and.a blood transfusion
read in our synagogues:
service and trains first aid workers in factories and immi-
Pentateuchal portion—Num. 19:1-25:9.
grants' settlements.
Prophetical portion—Micah 5:6-6:8.
Should Israel's application for membership in the Red
Scriptural Selections for Fast of Tammuz,
Cross be denied, it will be a grave injustice to a deserving
Thursday, July 10
movement. The Star of David, having gained a place among
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 32:11-14; 34:1-10.
the nations of the world in the United Nations, has earned a
Prophetical portion-Is. 55:6-56:8.
place in the International Red Cross.
Licht 1•4rnshert, Friday. July 4, 7:53 p.m-

"They Learn What They Live: Prejudice in
Young Children" by Helen G. Trager and Marian
Radke Yarrow (Harper) is a study in inter-
cultural education. It is a revealing report of
survey made among kindergarten and primary
school children to determine their attitudes as
members of several groups (Jewish, Catholic,
Protestant, Negro) towards one another.
This volume. whose contents show that a
very serious effort has been made to gather
opinions that will provide a basis for action in
schools, creates a program for effective activities.
It proves that intercultural efforts are the con-
cern of communities.
In the course of study. the authors report on
this experience: While the class was putting on
clothing, the following was overheard:
Stanley (explosively): "Can you have an Ital-
ian cousin and a Jewish sister?"
Teacher: "Yes, it is possible."
Stanley (scornfully, but still excited) : "Joe
says he is Italian and has a Jewish cousin."
The teacher noted that Joe really is Jewish.
The social episode tests reveal interesting
experiences. There are identifications of Hebrew
school attendants, the joy that accompanies
being Jewish. the feeling—by the same token—
of some Jewish children that Christians can not
be happy because they are not Jewish.
Environment and* family background show
strong influence upon the thinking of children.
In a summary of the findings of the study,
we are told by researchers about •the complex
learning in young children's reactions to race,
that: "Their concepts and feelings about race
frequently include adult distinctions of status,
ability, character. occupations. and economic
circumstances which may become justifications
for further discriminations . . . The factor of
race is inextricably related to their lives."
There is immense value in this study which
represents a great pioneering effort in the field
of intercultural education.

'Fighter for Freedom'

The Peter Zenger Story

"Peter Zenger: Fighter idr Freedom" by Tom
Galt. published by Thomas Y. Crowell 'Co. (432
Fourth Ave., NY161 is a fictionalized story of the
hero of the 18th century whose courage estab-
lished the foundation for a free press in this
country and in England.
While written as a novel for young people,
all the details of the story are true to facts. The
factual Note from the Author which concludes
the book gives names, dates, places, where the
events told in the story occurred. •
The book relates a most interesting story
about a cruel governor of New York who at-
tempted to stifle free speech. Zenger defied him
with his Journal. He was sent to jail in 1734
and less than a year later he was freed, winning
a victory for a free press.
His wife Catherine conducted his paper while
he was imprisoned. • She was the first woman
newspaper editor and publisher. She also was
the founder of the first religious Sunday Sch000L
Benjamin Franklin plays a minor role in the
story. The detftils of the battle, the triumph of
the libertarians. will enchant the readers. Zenger
occupies an important place in American history.

'The Eagle and the Roots'

Adamic's Story of Tito

"The Eagle and the Roots," the last book by
Louis Adamic, published by Doubleday, is an ac-
count of the life of Marshal Tito and the story
of Yugoslavia, the author's birthplace. In a
sense, it also is the romantic story of Adamic,
whose tragic death a year ago removed from the
American scene an able interpreter of inter-
group and inter cultural activities.
Tito emerges the great hero. Adamic himself
comes through in good light. But the reader
often is left in confusion over the earlier Yugo-

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slav loyalties to Soviet Russia and the more re-
cent break between Tito and Stalin.
The title of the book stems from a story re-
lated by Adamic. Walking through the Sloven-

ian woods, he saw an eagle caught by a protrud-
ing root, its beak clamped so that it could not
free itself. Its desperate efforts were fruitless.
A couple of crows were ready to pounce on the
helpless bird. Adamic came closer, attempted
to help the eagle, but the trapped bird suddenly
jerked and flew past the author. The eagle
flapped his wings and went with the wind.
To Adamic this symbolized Yugoslavia's break
with Stalin, its freeing itself from the Soviet
Russian roots. The story is well told and has an
interesting bearing on Adamic's analysis of YU..
goslavia and her heroes.
Tito's associates are viewed interestingly 132
this book. Among those described is "the most
noteworthy" in the group, Mosa Pijade, descend-
ant of Spanish 'Jews who fled to the Balkans

during the Inquisition. Ptiade, who did not grow
more than five feet tall, nevertheless became a
giant in Yugoslav politics. "Masa," Adamic ex-
plains, "is the Serbian form of 'Moses' ". "His
father wasn't especially conscious of being a Jew
(there was almost no anti-Semitism in Serbia?
and Mosa grew up a Serbian." He also dev • •
into Tito's right hand man and one of the most
influential Yugoslavian leaders.
"The Eagle and the Roots" is brilliant writi/41.
It is a bile testament to Adamic's work.

