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Editorial
September 3, 1948
The Powder Keg
Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska
What is this article about?
The editorial warns that nations' rapid development of destructive weapons risks annihilation unless matched by moral re-armament, emphasizing that moral inadequacy, not science, is humanity's greatest threat, and urging adherence to the Golden Rule.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
Either Progress or Regress
All nations of the world are feverishly expanding their efforts and research in the development of physical and bacteriological weapons to be used in conquering their fellowmen.
How can we subdue our potential enemies by psychological or economic warfare and our actual enemies by annihilation? seems to be the thought for the day.
This mental and physical expansion certainly brings forth the philosophy, and the question oft times asked by the old timer, Are we getting too smart and if we are what will the harvest be?
Certainly there is no way of foretelling just when our expansion and intellectual development will suddenly turn into economic and physical annihilation for the nation giving it birth. Power is the result of intellectual and physical development. Power may be utilized for destructive as well as constructive purposes.
It is true that nations like individuals must either progress or regress, they cannot remain stationary.
Therefore we cannot permit ourselves to take a backward course but must learn to control those factors that are potential destroyers of civilization.
We must turn our forces into constructive fields because: we cannot retreat and barricade ourselves against advancement and new ideas.
The question is then, What are we going to do about it? The answer is: Let our moral re-armament be equal to that of our scientific rearmament. The towering enemy of man is not his science but his moral inadequacy. If some final Nemesis overtakes modern man, it will not be his intellectual development nor his weapons that have betrayed him but the complete prostration of his moral and spiritual values; it will be man's complete failure to live that good old Golden Rule:
Do unto others as ye would have others do unto you.
All nations of the world are feverishly expanding their efforts and research in the development of physical and bacteriological weapons to be used in conquering their fellowmen.
How can we subdue our potential enemies by psychological or economic warfare and our actual enemies by annihilation? seems to be the thought for the day.
This mental and physical expansion certainly brings forth the philosophy, and the question oft times asked by the old timer, Are we getting too smart and if we are what will the harvest be?
Certainly there is no way of foretelling just when our expansion and intellectual development will suddenly turn into economic and physical annihilation for the nation giving it birth. Power is the result of intellectual and physical development. Power may be utilized for destructive as well as constructive purposes.
It is true that nations like individuals must either progress or regress, they cannot remain stationary.
Therefore we cannot permit ourselves to take a backward course but must learn to control those factors that are potential destroyers of civilization.
We must turn our forces into constructive fields because: we cannot retreat and barricade ourselves against advancement and new ideas.
The question is then, What are we going to do about it? The answer is: Let our moral re-armament be equal to that of our scientific rearmament. The towering enemy of man is not his science but his moral inadequacy. If some final Nemesis overtakes modern man, it will not be his intellectual development nor his weapons that have betrayed him but the complete prostration of his moral and spiritual values; it will be man's complete failure to live that good old Golden Rule:
Do unto others as ye would have others do unto you.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
War Or Peace
Science Or Medicine
What keywords are associated?
Moral Re Armament
Scientific Advancement
Destructive Weapons
Golden Rule
Progress Or Regress
Moral Values
Spiritual Failure
What entities or persons were involved?
Nations
Modern Man
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Moral Re Armament To Counter Scientific And Military Advancement
Stance / Tone
Advocacy For Balancing Scientific Progress With Moral Values
Key Figures
Nations
Modern Man
Key Arguments
Nations Are Developing Destructive Weapons For Conquest.
Intellectual And Physical Expansion Risks Self Annihilation.
Nations Must Progress Or Regress; Cannot Stay Stationary.
Power From Development Can Be Destructive Or Constructive.
Moral Re Armament Must Equal Scientific Rearmament.
Moral Inadequacy, Not Science, Is Humanity's Greatest Enemy.
Failure To Follow The Golden Rule Will Lead To Downfall.