Article March 23, 1946 Issue

Discharge from the Service?

[Of Special Interest to Young People]

CHARLES MENDICK

"Now that the war is over, I want to get out of the service."

This thought is often expressed by service men and women. The statement is intended to mean that the terrible human conflict being over, the individual is desirous of being discharged from the branch of the armed forces to which he or she is assigned. But it would be wise for us to re-examine the statement to see whether it harbors any subtle implications.

For instance, does the statement mean. "Now that the physical struggle is over, there is little need to struggle further with the belief in materiality"? Are we accepting headlines of uprisings, strikes, hunger, disease, international unrest as the normal evidences of a world at peace? Are we to be indifferent to the spiritual needs of the as yet materially-minded world? If we find ourselves answering "Yes" to these questions, then we have accepted a treacherous fallacy in the words, "Now that the war is over." We are crying, "Peace, peace; when there is no peace."

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