The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

16 The Health Bulletin December, 1951picture of county needs, weaknesses,strengths and resources.Many people involved in Civil Defensein the last war considered it awaste of effort because this countrywas not actually attacked, and becausethey were not helped to see preparationfor defense as a basic means ofstrengthening their communities andcounties for democracy as well as foremergency.By using our best techniques, we canhelp people to take a look at the wholeof what needs to be done to fortify acounty or community. Then, if disasterand emergency needs disappear, peopleare not left just hanging. They stillhave reason to unite for constructive,community action. If war does notcome, they will still be geared to moveahead.The emergency of national securityand preparedness is acute. We mightfind a correlary in the story of UncleBen, a native of western Carolina.Uncle Ben had a long white beard anda car almost as old as the beard. Bendrove the jalopy with all the trust ofa doting father, but one day, as hedashed down a mountain road, thebrakes suddenly failed. It was a questionof steering the difficult trail orjumping. Uncle Ben didn't desert theship.The car flew down the mountainsidein a roaring cloud of dirt and dust.Miraculously, Ben maneuvered it downto a level road and the car shudderedto a halt, as the tires screeched andtwo blew out as a fitting end to the episode.Ben pulled what was left of hisnerves together and got out of the carto survey the damage. Just then aforester came up. "Uncle Ben," he saidsternly, "you were going too fast, doyou know that?"Uncle Ben looked his friend in theeye and replied "I never was one tohold with dilly-dallyin'."We have started the roll down themountain and when public health folksare faced with an emergency the'venever been known to hold with dillydallyin'.The people we know—ourselves included—inthis atomic era need to cultivatesufBcient courage, unity, andinitiative to meet all challenges of theage. We feel the public health educatorscan help—by helping people tocome together on their common problems,by helping people to obtain informationthey need, by working withpeople as they take steps necessary toresolve their problems, by helping themto see that only as they help themselvesand each other can democracy survive.We believe that in making our contributionto Civil Defense we can, at thesame time, build a stronger citizenryand State. We believe that Civil Defensecan be far more than an emergencystructure, that it can strengthenDemocracy itself.