Article November 27, 1965 Issue

Coexistence, Not Compromise

HOMER N. WALLIN

Peaceful , coexistence among nations and peoples is greatly desired. Valid reasons can be presented for the acceptance of it in human activities: in trade, for instance, in the arts and sciences, in material developments, and so on. But the supposed coexistence; of good and evil challenges high ideals and to accept it can lead only to the deterioration of peaceful relations and ultimate disaster.

There is merit in one's maintaining flexible attitudes toward other races, nationalities, civilizations, or even political and religious beliefs. But only fruitlessness and failure can come from wavering attitudes toward high standards of honesty, morality, and integrity.

Peaceful coexistence among nations, as well as among individuals, is a desirable goal in our modern world, but we should not be unaware of a growing tendency to extend the idea into fields of human relationships which involve compromise of personal virtue and probity. The argument seems to be that if coexistence is good in some aspects, it should be good in all. Such argument leads to the philosophical belief, for instance, that correct personal conduct, or morality, is adjustable to the current custom of a people or group.

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