One 15-year-old boy who
understands rightly
[Letter submitted to the Holland Sentinel, 2 February
1980]
In Strength, Freedom
I address myself not to those who understand the necessity for military superiority if our freedom is to be maintained, but to those of our citizens and elected representative who vacillate between hopes for disarmament and half-hearted support for military strength. These I only can ask whether they read history and observe world events? Do they not remember that Hungary, for the crime of seeking freedom, was crushed by the same Russia with which we today seek a rapprochement? Do they not know that Czechoslovakia's attempts at some degree of liberty were nipped in the bud by the very Russia they would have us trust? Do they not understand that China even now is increasing its nuclear arsenal at a dangerous rate?
"Let us never fear to negotiate, but let us never negotiate out of fear." There are few who would disagree, but there are many who do not understand that we never successfully can negotiate peace with honor from a position of weakness.
It is these who would have us seek peace with Russia as Carthage sought peace with Rome — by disarming. It is these who would bring on our heads the fate which met Carthage — being leveled to the ground with the inhabitants. Indeed, it is these who do not see what woe shall be ours if the United States, outstripped in the arms race and subject to the conquerors, has to give up its freedom.
I sincerely hope that the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks will reduce the tempo of the arms race, but I hope, just as sincerely, that these talks will not be an occasion for a unilateral American cutback in defense capabilities, an occasion for a sellout.
Never, never, may we renounce the military superiority that keeps us free, that permits me to write this and you to read it.
The above was written by a 15-year-old boy. It was printed in April 1970 in the Chicago Tribune and then reprinted in another Chicago newspaper.
Invited by the Chicago Tribune to a luncheon, the boy was congratulated by the editor for his good writing, but at the same time the editor made the comment that "he should leave room for discussion" in his writing. The boy's answer was: "I think that, where the security of the United States is at stake, there is no room for discussion"....
I only want to add my belief that America would not be in the situation it is now if all Presidents, Congressmen, and Senators had had the same understanding as this 15-year-old boy.
[Signed as Stefan Zachartowicz. CC: Sen. Henry Jackson, Rep. Guy Vander Jagt.]