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Editorial
November 21, 1940
The Western News
Libby, Lincoln County, Montana
What is this article about?
On Thanksgiving, the editorial contrasts American food abundance with starvation in war-torn Europe, citing Herbert Hoover's plea for U.S. aid to occupied nations like Holland and Belgium using surplus food, urging action to prevent famine despite wartime obstacles.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
What Shall the Answer Be?
All over America today our people were called on to answer a most perplexing question before they could sit down to their Thanksgiving dinners.
The question that has confronted our housewives was whether to serve a well-browned turkey or a fat goose; should it be a tender chicken or duck sizzling in its own fat, or should it be a juicy pork roast with sweet potatoes? Of course, there will be cranberry sauce, but how many vegetables should there be? What tasty salads should be prepared?
Should we serve mince meat or apple pie smothered in whipped cream, or perhaps rich plum pudding in a sweet sauce would be better! Here in America we sit down today to tables loaded with a superabundance of every desirable food. Our only trouble is our capacity in partaking thereof. What a contrast to what is taking place elsewhere in the world! We feast; others starve.
Today millions of men, women and children in war-torn parts of Europe are facing actual starvation. This is no excited comment of an emotionally swayed person. It is the considered judgment of sober men. As proof, note press items of recent days telling of regulations concerning the eating of dog meat in Germany. In the countries overrun by German armies it must be worse.
The other night former President Hoover pleaded with the people of rich America to take steps to prevent this awful thing from falling upon the people of Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Norway. Mr. Hoover said those nations had available funds with which to buy food. There is a great surplus of such foods here and in South America. There are ships to carry the food. All that is needed is the consent of warring nations to permit the work of succor. So far that consent has been refused.
Speaking from his wide experience in feeding the people of occupied lands during the World War, Mr. Hoover said it would be easy to set up an organization to distribute the food and yet keep it from falling into German hands. That was done successfully during the World War; it could be done now, he said.
Mr. Hoover said leaders in the occupied countries had appealed to him to aid them.
He pleaded with America not to fail them in their great need.
It is difficult for us in this land of teeming abundance, even to imagine real starvation. But pause and think! Suppose that little girl of yours should crawl into your lap with her little body bony and skinny from malnutrition, with eyes sunken and the look of hunger in them, with cheeks pale and pasty, with the marks of starvation and death on her! And suppose you were powerless to do the slightest thing to lift the awful curse that was destroying what was far more precious to you than life itself! Suppose you stood by with the pangs of hunger gnawing at your own vitals and watched your loved ones slowly dying from malnutrition and disease brought on by lack of food! And that is the hellish thing that war is bringing on innocent people!
Today America feasts. Tomorrow millions of men, women and children in Europe may starve. Is rich America going to do anything about it?
All over America today our people were called on to answer a most perplexing question before they could sit down to their Thanksgiving dinners.
The question that has confronted our housewives was whether to serve a well-browned turkey or a fat goose; should it be a tender chicken or duck sizzling in its own fat, or should it be a juicy pork roast with sweet potatoes? Of course, there will be cranberry sauce, but how many vegetables should there be? What tasty salads should be prepared?
Should we serve mince meat or apple pie smothered in whipped cream, or perhaps rich plum pudding in a sweet sauce would be better! Here in America we sit down today to tables loaded with a superabundance of every desirable food. Our only trouble is our capacity in partaking thereof. What a contrast to what is taking place elsewhere in the world! We feast; others starve.
Today millions of men, women and children in war-torn parts of Europe are facing actual starvation. This is no excited comment of an emotionally swayed person. It is the considered judgment of sober men. As proof, note press items of recent days telling of regulations concerning the eating of dog meat in Germany. In the countries overrun by German armies it must be worse.
The other night former President Hoover pleaded with the people of rich America to take steps to prevent this awful thing from falling upon the people of Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Norway. Mr. Hoover said those nations had available funds with which to buy food. There is a great surplus of such foods here and in South America. There are ships to carry the food. All that is needed is the consent of warring nations to permit the work of succor. So far that consent has been refused.
Speaking from his wide experience in feeding the people of occupied lands during the World War, Mr. Hoover said it would be easy to set up an organization to distribute the food and yet keep it from falling into German hands. That was done successfully during the World War; it could be done now, he said.
Mr. Hoover said leaders in the occupied countries had appealed to him to aid them.
He pleaded with America not to fail them in their great need.
It is difficult for us in this land of teeming abundance, even to imagine real starvation. But pause and think! Suppose that little girl of yours should crawl into your lap with her little body bony and skinny from malnutrition, with eyes sunken and the look of hunger in them, with cheeks pale and pasty, with the marks of starvation and death on her! And suppose you were powerless to do the slightest thing to lift the awful curse that was destroying what was far more precious to you than life itself! Suppose you stood by with the pangs of hunger gnawing at your own vitals and watched your loved ones slowly dying from malnutrition and disease brought on by lack of food! And that is the hellish thing that war is bringing on innocent people!
Today America feasts. Tomorrow millions of men, women and children in Europe may starve. Is rich America going to do anything about it?
What sub-type of article is it?
War Or Peace
Foreign Affairs
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Thanksgiving Abundance
European Starvation
Food Aid
Herbert Hoover
World War
Humanitarian Relief
Occupied Countries
What entities or persons were involved?
Herbert Hoover
People Of America
Holland
Belgium
Denmark
Norway
Germany
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Plea For American Food Aid To Starving Europeans In War Torn Countries
Stance / Tone
Urgent Moral Exhortation For Humanitarian Action
Key Figures
Herbert Hoover
People Of America
Holland
Belgium
Denmark
Norway
Germany
Key Arguments
America Enjoys Abundance On Thanksgiving While Millions In Europe Face Starvation Due To War
Regulations On Eating Dog Meat In Germany Indicate Severe Food Shortages
Surplus Food Available In America And South America, With Ships Ready, But Warring Nations Refuse Consent For Aid
Hoover Proposes Organization To Distribute Food To Occupied Countries Without It Falling Into German Hands, As Successfully Done In World War
Leaders In Occupied Countries Have Appealed To Hoover For Aid
America Must Act To Prevent Starvation In Europe