Speaking out is one privilege of living in a free country. To feel the pulse of current opinion, The Kennel polled 20 students, selected at random, on two questions: “What is your opinion on anti-war demonstrations?” and “What do you think about draft card burners?”
“They hurt our image abroad,” says freshman David Basye, a Texarkana native.
A Mobile, Ala. freshman Jack Weaver believes “demonstrating is a poor way to get a point across. That’s why we elect representatives to Congress.”
Jack added, “Although we might not believe the war in Vietnam is morally right, we have an obligation to our country and must protect her.”
“It is an act of treason to advocate violent opposition to our government,” pointed out Johnny Lawson, Atlanta. “Maybe we shouldn’t be in Vietnam, but we are there, and we need to be behind our men fighting there.”
Jack Martindale of New Boston wishes Vietniks would spend their time looking for a reasonable solution to finish the war. “Send the card burners to Saigon and let them see how quickly card-burning is permitted there.”
Jack speculated that, “If those 50,000 demonstrators in Washington each contributed a pint of blood for our wounded men in Vietnam, think how many lives might be spared.”
Texarkana freshman Marcus Mullenax doesn’t believe in draft card burning. “If someone is going to burn his, he should pay the consequences.”
“They have a right to disagree,” says Harold Landsdell, a transfer from Southern State, “but their protest should take a legal form.”
Sue Cryer, a Texarkana freshman, feels “Everyone should be willing to serve.”
“They can find some other way to protest, but not by burning the American flag. That’s unpatriotic.” So says Phillip Shelton, another local freshman.
Recently separated from the Air Force after service in North Africa, freshman Edward Ainsworth favors the American effort in Vietnam. “We’re fighting the spread of communism. Too many folks don’t realize why we’re there.”
Draft card burners rankle Ainsworth. “They ought to go to the head of the list.”
Sophomore George Schelkopf, Master Sgt., Ret. USAF, feels Americanism and patriotism is lacking in this generation. “I think that prosecution or perhaps the loss of exemption might be answers to the draft card burners.”