Service and Citizenship (1951)

[Music] dear Hoy so you saw a parade last week Flags Snappy uniforms and all that and it kind of got you huh so right away you think I got to [Music] enlist and all of a sudden you're filled with that I got to do my part feeling is that what happened howi is that it well I know how you feel when you're in high school but look take a little advice from your older and considerably more mature brother yeah I see you winse at that word advice but I also remember a number of times when you did come to me for advice so settle down and listen a little while to your big brother Bill wish I could talk to you instead of writing you this long letter from camp but I think I can cover most of the things I want to say try to get the picture now Howie I've been in the citizen Army for 7 months doing my part as you put it and you think enlisting is the only way you can do your part that's not quite so there are a lot of ways you can do your part and I don't mean enlisting before you're finished with school no doing your part is a full-time job that you can work at right now now fact is you've been working at it all along at home and at school know what that job is called good citizenship good citizenship what was that you said Howe oh I was just reading something here that Bill said in his letter mom yes what did he say in his letter well it's it's about service and citizenship it's kind of a serious letter oh never thought I'd be writing to you about C citizenship but it's a big idea don't ever forget it let me put it this way why do you think I'm here Howie me and thousands of other guys why do you think we're giving all we've got mentally and physically day after day what's the idea behind all this sweat and toil we're being trained to fight if necessary to defend our way of life that's the answer to defend our way of life it's as simple as that and you know what that way of life is like you've lived it but what good is defending a way of life tomorrow if we forget to practice that way of life today get it that's where the full-time job comes in that's citizenship that's where everyone can do his part all the time well you're practicing good citizenship now in your clubs and student associations you're learning the responsibilities of self-government you're getting firsthand experience with the Democratic process elections representation in your other activities you're learning about teamwork and OB obedience to rules another part of citizenship the idea of different fellows working together toward a common goal come to think of it you're getting the same training in citizenship that I got when I was in school only I didn't think of it that way at the time I can still see the definition of citizenship our class worked out citizenship is the earning of Rights by fulfilling responsibilities the earning of Rights by fulfilling responsibilities what was that Howie oh responsibilities mom in Bill's letter let me finish it oh may I read it when you're finished sure we learned what some of these responsibilities were from Mom and Dad remember the day you got a ride to school with Dad and had time to stop at the polls with him you told me later how much you were impressed seeing dad and our neighbors there well you said they seemed filled with a kind of Pride know what that Pride was hoe it was the pride of being good citizens and remember that one evening before I went into service when you came home and hello anybody home hi Bill how h still working on your PTA accounts yes books balance they will it takes a lot of time doesn't it why do you do it how this is my job maybe I'm not as skilled as I might be but when I accepted the office of treasure I took on a responsibility I have to meet it it's my responsibility to the group responsibility to the group that's a big lesson right there Howie we got more of that lesson the night we talked with Dad about citizenship it was right after I went into the service my first three-day pass we all learn those things one way or another well I've learned it this way you can't take things out of life without putting something in but I don't have to tell you that you know it we've got a good life here boys the way we live the Privileges we enjoy but these things aren't all free we pay for them in one way or another guess Bill's starting to pay now huh D well yes service is one kind of payment important too but it's only one of the responsibilities we have as good citizens there are a lot of them paying taxes mhm taxes defense bonds all part of earning the rights we enjoy and don't forget serving on the jury you griped but you went sure jury service and don't forget Mother's PTA work and my job with a better community group and your 3 years in the Navy in World War II that's right we both Saw 3 years of service now wait a minute you weren't both enough well Mom's right in a way hoe while I was in the Navy she served right here taking care of you and Bill working at The Uso giving time to the Red Cross all these things add up to service what did you learn from your Navy service dad well a lot of things bill but I think the big lesson I learned was this service in the armed forces is the heaviest responsibility of citizenship but I wasn't the only one who learned that after all I was just one of 15 million citizens who served in one way or another in World War II ordinary citizens called on to do a job and why not why were we fighting to defend our kind of citizenship Dad was right Howie service is a responsibility of citizenship and it's just about the heaviest responsibility I've ever had so far funny thing you know what helped me meet that responsibility practicing some of the very same ideas of citizenship that you're learning now working together as a team toward a common goal obeying the rules keeping informed knowing what's going on around you and accepting responsibility meeting your responsibility to the group well I hope you understand what I've been writing well it's pretty simple after all my job is to meet the responsibilities of citizenship in the service your job is to meet the responsibilities of citizenship at home my job to meet the responsibilities of citizenship at home [Music] in a moment you'll be discussing these films as you do we ask you to remember just two ideas first this is but one group in the series and second we ask you to consider how these films can help the boys in your school and in the schools you serve are they ready for service can this film series helped them as the dozens of leading Educators and advisers who assisted with the films believe could they help you help this boy I don't want to go into service now I'm not ready what can I do one boy out of millions and helping them can begin here now in your discussion