May 16 - New Page 1 [www2.vmi.edu] - Virginia Military Institute

Page 2, The VMI Cadet, May 16. 1»7$
Opinion Page
•'Whore nipn have Ihp habit of liberty, the press will continue to be the fourth estate: the
\ iKilant guardian of the rights of the ordinary citiien.".. .Sir Winston Churchill.
TTie Vietnam war is over. The Americans are gone
and the Communists are in charge. Hie war seems to
now be a part of our history even while the consequences
are still with us. It is hard to imagine a
Vietnam without war and I imagine that it will take
some time for the idea to sink in with a people who
seem to take war as a daily fact of life.
It is hard to recall the bitter fights and feelings
Vietnam caused not so many years ago in this nation. I
remember LeMay's suggestion that "we bomb them
back into the stone age" being countered by the antiwar
chants of "Hell no, we won't go." Even now these
two views have not be^n reconciled.
America's leaving Vietnam is much different from
France's leaving Vietnam. There is some
disillusionment in this country but I doubt it is equal to
the feelings the French lieutenants from St. Cyr must
have felt when the Viet Minh entered Hanoi. Also, the
United States has none of the feelings aroused that the
French did when, after the fall of Dien Bioi Phu was
announced in the French Senate, the Communists sang
the International in the Halls of the Assembly.
Even as we leave Vietnam we find ourselves involved
in another Asian struggle in Cambodia. This
time, however, our intervention is forced upon us by
the seizure of an American vessel. War is unpleasant to
speak of, in the mildest of terms, and even now I
believe this nation to be a nation of peace. Yet, there
comes a time when we must look at a situation and
realize that force is the only answer. Requests to
release American property has been met with scorn
and it seems that only brute strength will achieve
American safety.
Hopefully, America's gaining the ship's release will
close the issue. No one hopes otherwise, particularly
those who did the fitting. America is, in fact, bemg
tested. We are being asked will we allow Americans to
be manipulated when there is no cause or whether they
will be left alone. The answ r is difficult and at this
time we can only hope this affair will be only that —
one isolated affair.
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The VMI Cadet
BOX 7, VMI
LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA 24450
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ERC'76
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THE WHITE
HOUSE
WAS HIN GTO N
TO THE 1975 COLLEGE GRADUATES:
President Eisenhower once said that education is not only
the means for earning a living, but for enlarging life. His
words are especially appropriate for those who complete
college. Your generation's candor, sensitivity and desire
for creative involvement are heartening signs that you will
be doing more than just earning a living.
You are graduating in a particularly difficult year. You
will be faced with many uncertainities. But the opportunities
that await you are even greater than the challenges. It will
indeed be within your grasp to enlarge and enrich life in our
society. As you make the decisions that will shape your -
course and that of your country, I hope you will keep in mind
that one person can make a difference.
Times have changed greatly since I went to college. But
looking back on those days in the context of today's world, I
know that the same optimism and hope I shared with my
classmates is very much alive in you today. I want you to
know how much I admire your enthusiasm and determination,
and how convinced I am that you will make a difference for
Ame rica.
I wish each of you the satisfaction that comes from doing your
best at something you believe in.
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New System
THE TRANSITION
The Class of 1976 has now
become the First Class, and has
been given the responsibility of
running barracks. It seems as if
the time would never arrive.
But now we are faced with a
great challenge, possibly
greater than many other
classes before us have had to
face. Now we must establish a
ratline that will work and be
enforced, not only by the First
aass, but by the Third and
Second classes as well. We also
must work to build a class
system that will last and will be
meaningful to everyone.
I feel that the Class of 1976 is
more united than any other
class has been in the past two
years and we have promising
leaders emerging. We have a
potentially great future, and I
hope that the class will be able
to set some precedents for other
classes in the future to follow.
1 Keith Dickson.
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Published Friday afternoon. Entered as second class matter September
19,1946 at the Post Office in, Lexington. Virginia, under the
Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription,!$6.50 out of barracks. $5.00 In
barracks. Address: Box 7, VMI Lexlngtoh, Virginia 24450.
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