l,
Cuba and the Christian
By JOHN J. ECKHART
to survive. This should nei-
ther surprise us, nor shock
us. It has been the tool of the
despot throughout history.
"Senor Gironella's essays on
China indicate a less degree of
involvement, but no less are
they sealed with integrity, and
above all, that shining Giro-
nella talent. He writes of Mug's
rise to power, and the circum-
stances that made it possible
for the multi-millions of China
to be enslaved in the dialectic
of Marx and Lenin.
Much of the author's time is
taken with history, easily dem-
onstrable and more detailed in
other works. But no matter
what this Spaniard writes, it is
worth the reading. His is the
viewpoint of a man, not a
judge, looking out from his own
consciousness, beholding the
acts of other men, and then
transcribing the effect of those
acts on the totality of history.
He does this very well.
"CHRISTIANITY AND REVO-
LUTION," by Leslie Dewart,
Herder and Herder 320 pp.,
$s.s0
N the other hand you
would take a long and full
day's march to read a book to
match this attempt. It is quite
possible that this book will be
the new norm in biased pedan-
try.
I would not believe it pos-
sible to cloak such an out-
rageous apologetic in the for-
mal, very formal gown of the
academy. But it is to the
credit of the author's lack of
writing talent that he fails in
the attempt.
When is a duck not a duck?
If it walks like a duck, quacks
like a duck, looks like a duck,
and sticks with other ducks,
then by most rules of etiological
reasoning, the thing is a dock.
Dr. Fidel Castro has pro-
claimed himself a Marxist-
Leninist Communist (formally
implying materialistic atheism),
Castro has imposed the des-
patio rule of the "dictatorship
of the proletariat" upon the
Cubans, he gives over his ear
to the advice of "Che" Guevar-
ra and Raul Castro, two
avowed Marxists, and he per-
secutes the Church as does the
Communist, but in all of this,
he is not really and truly, I
mean way down deep in here,
he is not a Communist.
This is what our learned as-
sociate professor from St. Mi-
chael's College would have us
believe. Dorothy Day, the old
battler from the Catholic Work-
er movement, has been stoutly
maintaining this same patent
mvopia since the Cuban revolt.
To say it is the United States
fault, and to some degree this
is true, or to argue that it is
the Church's fault, cannot im-
pugn to those institutions the
completeness that is Castro
the Communist.
And it is this constant child-
ish barking at the U.S. that
tends to bore, rather than illu-
minate.
• . . "it is possible to con-
clude that American diplomacy
brainwashed Castro into Com-
munism."
"The sincerity of the Ameri-
can government's words of re-
gret became suspect within 24
hours."
"The pressure was being ap-
plied to Cuba by the United
States, not the other way
about."
"In short the United States
did not intend to negotiate."
(more bad faith)
"The United States, on the
other hand, was not in a posi-
tion to inspire confidence, but
for a different reason."
"The American people, thus,
are least happy of all with
themselves."
And so it goes, all couched
in the most learned of lan-
guage, but failing to obscure
the author's positive posture
of apology. In following this
particular line of evaluation,
Dr. Dewart must delete as
much as possible as concern
Castro's espousal of the
Marxist ideology and its nec-
essary associations.
For this reason we note a
near perfect vacuum as related
to the influence and import of
such persons as Guevarra and
Ftdel's brother, Raul. '
The author's philosophic first
principles are to be accepted, if
accepted, with much care. His
concept of the Mystical Body,
as well as his nersonal ideas
on the "right" of evil (as mani-
fest in the particular of com-
munism) to be expressed, are
charged with libertarian self-
deception.
The truths the author exposes
are readily acceptable. War be-
comes more unthinkable every
day. The Christian witness finds
increasing urgency in expres-
sion. Man, being human, can
err. Faults can be distributed
with some equity.
But his conclusions, based
on misunderstanding the ex-
istential reality of Marxism
(as written by Marx) have
led Dewart into some strange
worlds.
It would be well not to fol-
low.
"ON CHINA AND CUBA," by
Jose Maria Gironella, Fides
Publishers, 175 pp., $3.50
EVOLUTION is a well
known commodity to Jose :
Gironella, indeed to any Spani-
ard. Gironella fought in the
revolution that ripped his own
Spain, and resulted in the first
defeat of Marxism in the field.
The scars of the Spanish Civil
War have not healed, but in
the case of the author they
have had the effect of injecting
the softer glow of charitable
humanity into his clear objec-
tive vision.
Gironella understands why
men revolt. He understands
why others follow the leaders,
the visionaries, demagogues,
and sometimes frenetic radi-
cals that lead men to over-
throw one order to establish
another, sometimes better,
sometimes worse.
The reader will find few
works that better exemplify,
without cramming a principle
down the literary throat, seeing
sin, evaluating evil, under-
standing sin, rejecting evil, and
during the complete process
never losing sight of the pneu-
matic importance that is the
humanity of the sinner, our
brother.
If he castigates Castro for
having betrayed the revolution,
he never barbs his pen with
poison, or hatred. This by the
way is an ever present phe-
nomena of Gironella, this total
lack of hatred. And it is an
important note in 'the finality
of a "Christian" writer.
But he recognizes hate, and
this is his greatest criticism
of Castro's new Cuba. While
it is sincerely attempting to
eradicate illiteracy, while it
creates at least the effort of
bettering the lot of the peas-
ant, it is still a government
that must hate, and feed hate
Feature Films On Television
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and Adolescents; A.III--Morally Unobjectionable for Adults:
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objectionable parts contained in the original plot may be
deteted in the television Jwston dnd thus the original
Legion rating mat not be entirely rorrect.)
SA'rUROAY, JUNE Y?
S:30 b.m.Wlnh-TV--The Brain from Piaoef Argus .................... qP
4:.10 P.m.--KINt-TV--Jaloov ........................................... A-I
S:30 P.m,--KVOS-TVLonelvheas ..................................... A-Ill
8:]0 P.m.lO'VW-.rV--Melodv Cru/sa ...: ............................... NR
9:00 p.m.KINr4-TV--Lust for Life ...................................... A.II
10:00 P.m.--K'rNT-TV--The Boogie Man WIll Get You .................... A-I
11:110 P.m.--KInO.TVH#rcuI ............................................ A-i
11:00 p.m.--KVnS-TV--H#[/ Be/ow Zero .................................. A-It
11:1; p.m.KTIM.TVThe Revolt f Momle Stayer ...................... B
t1:2.1 p.m.KOMO-TVCrIoDle Creek ..................................... A.I
12:4S e,m.--KVOS-TV--Callforn/a Conquest ................................ A-I
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
2:011 D.m.--KInO-TV--The Little World of Dog Camlflo ................. A-II
2:.1It P.m.--KVnS.TV--Sovoae Munnv ................................... A-1
S:00 P.m.--KIN-TV--The Bnuoy Hunter ............................... A-I
3:no P.m.--KQMO-TV--Fort Dobbs ....................................... A-II
4:30 p.m.--KTNT-TV--Lnod of the Lee Valcooos ......................... NR
4::10 p.m.--KTVW-TV--The Rainmakers .................................. NR
6:P,0 p.m.--KvnS.TV--$lreo of oddod .................................... B
7:rl0 p.m.--KTVW-'rv--Seven Days on Lvo ............................. A-I
7:1 ILm.--KTNT-TV--CentnnIoi Summer .............................. A-II
9:110 I).m.--KTVW-TV--r)vn to Their Lost Yacht ....................... NR
11:1; n.m.--KOMO-TV--Rlockbnnrd ,hmal ............................... Iq
11"15 P.m.--KIRO-TV--The Light That Foiled .............................. n
MONOAY, JUNE
9:g0 o.m.--KOMO-TV--Youna aod Dangerous ............................ A.il
2:00 ).m.--KT NT.'rV--Toilsio ............................................ B
:l:0 ).m.--I<IN-TV--The Vanqulsh ................................... A-ll
5:.10 ).m.--KVOS-TV--Borefoot tollmno ................................. A-I
7:.10 ).m.--KINt;-TV--WrecK of the Mary Oeole ........................ A-i
IN:.10 Lm.--KTNT-TV--Second Fiddle ...................................... A-I
11:0o D.m.--KVrIK.TV--Cor nerpd ......................................... A-11
11::to o m,--KnAh-TV--I.et's Mnke l.ID ................................... A-il
!:00 o.m.--KTVW-TV--The Truth About Murdor ......................... A-II
TUESOAY, JUNE 30
9:00 o.m.--KOMO-'rv--Cause for Alarm ................................. A-It
:00 n.m.--lTNT-TV--Second Fiddle ..................................... A-I
3:.10 D.m.--KIN¢;-TV--Smugaler's Gold ................................... A-I
:1:.10 p.m.--KVOS-TV--Gun Fury .......................................... A-11
10:.10 p.m.--KTNT-TV--The Black Glove .................................. NR
11:00 p .m.--KVOS-TV--tnvltatlon ......................................... A-I!
11:.10 p.m.--KOMn-TV--Yau Know What' Sailors Al@ ...................... B
1:00 o.m.--KTVW-TV--OIInd Alibi ............................ , ........... A-I
WEONESDAV, JULY I
9:00 o.m.--I(OMt')-TV--The $olrol Staircase ............................. A*il
2:00 D.m.--I<TNT-TV--The alack Glove .................................. NR
3:.10 p.m.--KIN-TV--Jumo Into Hell ................................... A-il
S:.10 p.m.--KVOS.TV--Sohmarlne D-1 ..................................... A-I
10:00 p.m.--KTVW-TV--MosIc for Madamo ................................ A-I
10:.10 p.m.--KTNT.TV--Shock ............................................ A-il
11:00 n.m.--KVO$-TV--Unrertain Glory .............. . ...... . ............... B
11:30 p.m.--KMfl-TVCrixis ............................................. A-II
11:4s p.m.--KTVW-TV--Flohflo¢I Grloo ................ . ........... . .....
1:00 o.m.--KTVW-TV--Don't Turn 'era Lose ............................. A-tl
THURSDAY, JULY 2
9:00 fl.m.--KnMO-TV--Slnce You Went Away (Port I) . ................. A.I
2:Nt o.m.--KTNT.TVShock ............................................ A-If
:1:0 o,m.--KVO;-TWC rossfl re ....................................... NR
.1:.1e p.m.--KIN.TV--The LonQ Gray Line (Port I) ..................... A-I
"/:0 I.m.--KTNT-TV--Tho Purole Heart ................................. A.It
I€): .m.--KTNT.TV--The Lost Continent ............................... A-I
1:.10 p.m--KTVW-TV--Mr. Dam:lie Kicks Off ............................. A-I
11:mt 0.m.KVOS-TV--HIs Butter's Sister .................................. A-I
11:30 p.m.KOMO-TV--Damn Yankees .................................. A-Ill
tg,s o.m.--k'vOS-TV--Murder My Sweet ................................. A-II
I:00 o.m.--KTVW-TV--Mummy's Boys .................................... A-I
FRInAY, JULY 1
9' o.m.--KOMO-TV--Slnce You Went Away (Port II) ................. A-I
').nO o.m.--KTNT-TV--Love Under Fire .......................... A-I
.n o.m.--KINP,-TV--The Long Gray Line (Port II) .................... A-I
;.') n.m.--Yvr)f;-TV--Cr[aDle Creak ............................... A-I
n m.k'lr*.TVThe Oqerate Search .... ..........,.......... .... B
e -, n.m.TVW.TVHunchbock of Notre Dome .................. , .... A-II
• ^ -' nm.--VTNTTV'rhe ImmnrtoI Sergeant ............................ B
.... " ,.m.Y.Vng-TVAII the Kiog's Men ................................. n
"'-q n.,n.--K'rw'-TV--BIo Game ......................................... A-I
-,-n n.m.--KnaaO.TV--Lone Star .......... , .................. . ......... A4
"'^ n m.KTtW-TVDaooerous Corner ,.............. ..... ......,., NR
I'00 n.m.--KVOS-TV--Stronger Io the Night ............................. NR
"ntis Review It Sponsored by
Ch,l;c G;f*s l Church Goods, Inc.
ReligIous gOOdS for the home, church and s0hool.
A pleasant shopping atmosphere wlth O select
variety of roliglous gifts•
607 Union St., Seattle I MUfual 2-3929
'Repent for Sins or Perish'
By Most Reverend Fulton J. Sheen
RESIDENT Cleveland once received a
letter from a 13-year-old child
which read: "Dear President, I am in a
dreadful state of mind and I thought I would
write and tell you about it. Two years ago, I
used two postage stamps that had already been
used. Enclosed please find three stamps. Now,
my dear President, will you please forgive me."
This young girl gave more than she had
stolen, as did Zacharias, who promised Our
Lord he would return four fold what he had
stolen as a tax collector. But reparation for
sins goes beyond sins of theft. Being forgiven
a sin is not the same as making up for it. If I
steal your watch you will forgive me, but you
will also say: "Give me back my watch."
When you confess adultery, marriage outside
the Church, alcoholism, big weddings and
nothing for the poor, cutting corners in busi-
ness, do you think a mouthful of Hal. Mary's
whispered in a minute satisfies the Divine
Warning: "Repent or you shall all likewise
perish?" Your confessor would help you more
if he told you to give $50 to the Holy Father
through his Society for the Propagation of the
Faith. It would impress upon you the gravity
of your offense and give you the added joy of
helping spread the Faith after endangering
your own.
Get into the habit of helping the poor in
reparation for each serious sin you commit. The
road to alcoholism could be stopped by a 10
dollar tax on every second cocktail--and what it
would do for the lepers! Or put a reparation
box in your room, and at the end of the month
send your penance-sacrifices to the Holy Father
through his Society for the Propagation of the
Faith. Then, when the time comes to make out
your will, give not to those who already have
much, but to those who have nothing. If you
want more information on how to leave your
money to the Holy Father for the poor of the
world write to us at: 366 5th Ave., New York,
N.Y. 10001.
GOD LOVE YOU to a Sister of St. Francis
for $10 "Sister received the enclosed as a gift
for her diamond jubilee. 'Humphl' she said,
'and what should I do with it? But there is
Bishop Sheen. He has a whole bookful of re-
quests; send it to him.' " . . . to Mrs. D.A.R.
for $8.75 "I promised to send 10 per cent of
what I made from part-time work to the mis-
sions." . . . to Anonymous for $2 "My baby
sister died. I hope this money will help to save
some other baby."
We are not only asking for your sacrifices,
but for your prayers, too. Send your request and
an offering of $2 for the Worldmission Rosary,
and we will send you these multicolored beads
blessed by Bishop Sheen. Each time you say
the Worldmission Rosary you will remember to
put aside a daily sacrifice for the Holy Father.
Cut out this column, pin your sacrifices to
t and mail it to Most Rev. Fulton J. Sheen,
National Director. of the Society for the Propa-
gation of the Faith, S6S - Sth Ave., New York,
N.Y. 10001, or your Archdiocesan Director,
Rev. Stephen Szeman, 907 Terry Ave., Seattle
98104.
Revamp Needed in S. E. Asia
(Continued From Page 1)
Lodge's letter of resignation
released by President Johnson
was dated Friday, and was
worded in a most friendly tone.
Earlier surmises that he was
dissatisfied with Administration
policies in South Vteinam or
that he would soon relinquish
his position for reasons of
health seem to have been with-
out foundation.
The delay in making his de-
cision public is probably at-
tributable to the time re-
quired to name his successor,
which would seem to indicate
that even the President had
no prior knowledge of Lodge's
intentions.
Gem Maxwell D. Taylor,
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, has been named the new
envoy to South Vietnam, to-
gether with U. Alexis Joh n-
son as deputy ambassador, a
newly-created post.
Gem Earle G. Wheeler was
appointed to succeed Taylor as
Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman.
Naming of U. Alexis John-
son, Undersecretary of S1ate
for Political Affairs, as second-
in-command at Saigon has im-
portant significance.
Johnson has had wide ex-
perience while U. S. ambassa-
dor to Czechoslovakia, engag-
ing in futile discussions at 65
meetinp.s with Wang Ping-nan,
Red China's ambassador to Po-
land. The two held periodic
closed sessions in Warsaw over
several years regarding release
of U. S. prisoners in Red
China. Later, Johnson was am-
bassador to Thailand.
It would seem that the dual
appointment has been made
in order to permit Taylor to
devote his major efforts to
military affairs while Johnson
will be in e h a r g e of diplo-
matic matters.
All in all, appointment of this
team appears to be a good
choice.
Armed Escalation
The new appointments are
significant for another reason.
Every official statement of
Administration s p o k e s m e n
seems to indicate that there
will be an escalation of mili-
tary offensive against the Viet
Cong guerrillas.
London and Paris have been
requested to pass on the word
to Red China that the U. S.
means business and that Pe-
king should be warned to keep
its hands off Southeast Asia.
Similar warning has been di-
%
rected to North Vietnam.
At the same time President
Johnson at his press conference
Tuesday made it clear that the
U. S. does not want a "wider
war."
'I have said before that
there is danger in Southeast
Asia," he declared. "It is a
danger brought on by the ter-
rorism and aggression so
clearly, if secretively, direct-
ed from Hanoi."
Had he been willing to spell
out the whole story he might
have added that Hanoi is
backed and supplied by both
Red China and the Soviet Un-
ion.
The President enunciated four
basic principles of our policy
in Southeast Asia, not only in
South Vietnam. They are:
• "America keeps her word.
• "The issue is the future of
Southeast Asia as a whole.
• "Our purpose is peace.
• "This is not just a jungle
war, but a struggle for free-
dom on every front of hu-
man activity."
Apparently, in the face of a
Iosing campaign there and
mounting criticism of Admini-
stration policy in this country,
the President has decided that
a complete revamping of the
U. S. program in Southeast
Asia is long overdue.
It would seem that the Ad-
ministration has made tip its
mind to pursue a definite pol-
icy.
Conference Fells
In his remarks to the press
President Johnson stressed the
point that U. S. action in
Southeast Asia is the result of
"those who are breaking the
peace of Laos" and refuse to
live up to the Geneva agree-
ments. "We specifically sup-
port full compliance with the
Geneva Accords of 1962," he
said.
That the Communists have
gotten the message of a re-
vived U. S. policy and pre-
sumably a determination to
implement it was shown this
week in several ways.
For one thing, Poland decid-
ed to send back its representa-
tive on the International Con-
trol Commission in Lags to
Vientiane. He was recalled last
month at the height of the
Communist drive into the
Plaine des Jarres, up-
I Legion Of
Decency
First-Run Movies
Showing In Seattle
A---Unslnkable Molly Brown.
eVlva Las Vegas, What A Woy to
Gol
Other Movies
Currently Showing
A-I--It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad
World, Murder At the Gallop, Bridge
On the River Kwal, Follow That Dream,
P.T. I0, MerrlWs Marauders, Misad-
ventures Of Merlin Jones, Brass Bot-
tle, Wild And the Wonderful, Lllle Of
the Field, Rock-A-Bye Baby.
A-2--The Chalk Garden, Thrill Of It
All, Fight Little island, Brief Encoun-
ter, Kid Gailahod, Charode, Young Doc-
tors, Surf Party.
parently to force the West to
capitulate and agree to another
full-scale Geneva conference on
Southeast Asia.
Now that the U .S. has taken
a firm stand and dispatched its
planes to make reconnaissance
flights, backed up by armed
aircraft, in order to find out
what is going on since the com-
mission was deactivated as a
result of the Polish delegate's
absence, the Reds seem to have
second thoughts.
It is probable, however,
that Poland will continue to
frustrate every effort of the
commission to function, as it
has been doing all along.
The second indication that the
Communists have received the
U. S. message is that the Pol-
ish-proposed plan for a six-
power meeting preliminary to a
14-nation Geneva conference
has not as yet been held.
The Soviet Union Friday
asked for a postponement of a
session which would include
delegates of Britain, the Sov-
iet Union, India, Poland, Ca-
nada, and the rival factions of
Laos.
The U. S. has opposed such
a meeting as well as another
general conference in Geneva.
The third indication of Com-
munist anxiety resulting from
U. S. pronouncements of de-
termination was the report this
week that Moscow warned Pe-
king it would give no military
aid if China became embroiled
in a full-scale war.
That sounds plausible and
follows the usual Soviet pat-
tern. The Soviet Union does
not want to become involved
in a full-scale war for the
simple reason that it cannot
afford to fight such a war.
And besides, why fight when
one can get everything he
wants by peaceful eoexist-
ence?
Of course, the Soviet didn't
mean what they appear to have
said, for they will defend Com-
munism wherever it is, but it
was intended to delude the U.S.
Calendar
SUNDAY, JUNE 28, SIXTH
SUNDAY AFTER PENTE-
COST, MASS: Dominus Forti
tudo- The Lord (Green).
GI., Cr., Pref. of Trin. Mass
for Parish.
MONDAY, JUNE 29, aS. PE-
TER AND PAUL, APOSTLES,
MASS: Nunc scio --"Now I
know (Red). GI., Cr., P r e f.
of Apostles. Mass for Parish.
TUESDAY, JUNE ,10, COM-
MEMORATION OF ST. PAUL,
MASS: Scio -- I know (Red).
G1., 2rid Pr. (under one conclu-
sion) of St. Peter, 3rd for
Pope, Pref. of Apos. Anniv. of
Cot. of our Holy Father. Vot.
Mass of Cor. porto, where
there is some celebration in
honor of the Pope White). GI.,
c of SS. Peter and Paul, no
Cr., Comm. Prof.
WEDNESDAY, JULY l,
MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF
JESUS CHRIST, MASS: Re-
demisti nos -- Thou hast re-
A-3--Operatlon Petticoat, Pillow Talk,
Mall Order Bride, Flight From Ashlya, deemed us (Red). Gl., Cr.,
America America, Love With the Prop-' Pref. of ,,,sUoh"
Cross.
Mass
for
er Stranger, Hud, Don't Give Up the
Ship, Pink Panther, Eyes Of Annie Parish.
Jones. THURSDAY, JULY 2, VISl-
A-4--The Servant, Tom Jones.
UThot Touch Of Mink, Nght Must
Pall, KIssln Cousins, From Russia With
Love, Black Sabbath, Comedy of Ter-
rors, Irma La Douce.
Candemned--Knlfe in the Water.
At Prudential Mutual your savings earn 4°7o
per annum, compounded and paid quarter-
ly. And remember . . . savings deposited at
Prudential Mutual by the lOth of the month
will earn interest from the 1st.
Prudential Mutual Savings Bank
"At the fi'iendly corner of Third and Spring: • Phone MA 2.200
Free parking • Free postage both ways oa mail deposits
Mambo' F.D.I. e
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
8:30 e.m., Look UP and Llvo, KIRO,
Channel 7.
"Not By Faith Alone," Is Part Four
In a nve-par series deallng wlth the
changing role of the Cothollc Church
in Latin America. The Church's pro-
gram In Peru ond the work of the
Maryknoll missionaries in Lima and
Puno Is followed.
6:00 p.m., Challenge, KOMO-TV, Chan-
nel 4.
The lhree panelists again answer
"Quesuons from Viewers." Parflcpot-
ing are Roy. William Treaty, Rabbi
Rophoei Levlne and Dr. Lynn Carson.
7:15 p,m., Sacred H ear I Program,
KTVW-TV, Channel 13.
"Why Be a Saint" is the title of to-
day's talk by Rev. Joseph Chrtstle, S.J.,
from London.
FHdoy, June 26, I%4
THE PROGRESS--5
How to Live with
Invalid Relative
By John J. Kune, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology. University o Notre Dame
How does one live with an invalid? My mother, father,
younger sister, and myself live with an older sister, now almost 30,
who is confined to a bed or a wheelchair as a result o[ an accident
]0 years ago. She will never walk again. But she dominates the
family. Her medical costs are excessive. Everything goes [or her.
1 quit college to help support her; ,ny mother is illtaking care o[
her. I am bitter about it.
OUR SISTER'S illness is much graver psycholog-
ically than physically, and it is certainly g r a v e
physically.
To face a lifetime of confinement to bed or wheelchair as she
has since 20 would be an unnerving experience for anyone. Yet
some do it, and do it almost graciously. Others never learn to
live with a handicap.
You must realize your sister is emotionally ill. Emotional
illness is not contagious in the ordinary meaning of the term,
but broadly speaking it is. Your letter shows you have con-
tracted or are in the process of contracting it. Instead of being
bitter, which will help neither you nor your sister, why not look
at it objectively?
Your sister's accident and subsequent prognosis must have
dealt her and the family a horrible shock. The initial reaction of
all must have been pity; in the case of your sister, for herself;
for the rest of you, for her. This was inevitable but what has
happened since was not.
Regardless of the experience we have, we all try to define
its meaning, We rarely do so alone. Relatives, friends, and oth-
ers are always telling us what an experience means or should
mean. We seldom remain unaffected by it.
When your sister first learned of her plight, she would have
been positively heroic if she didn't feel a twinge of sorrow
about her future. But as weeks, months, and even years, un-
folded, she was forced to face the inevitable and make the best
of it.
She might have never turned into a synthetic Pollyanna who
laughed it all away, but she might have stlffered less self-p!ty, ff
permitted.
ICK PEOPLE, even those mildly ill, are not quite themselves
emotionally. They are apt to be more quick-tempered than
usual, a bit querulous and demanding. For those seriously ill, this
is one of the basic points every nurse and physician must learn.
It must be dealt with kindly,but firmly. If not, the nurse and phy-
sician can never help the patient.
For families with invalids, the same point must be learned.
Perhaps it is best described as a sweet reasonableness. Bifler
medicines must be swallowed despite the patient's pleas. Essen-
tial routines must be adhered to in the face of the invalid',,
tears and objections. Pity has to be replaeed with intelligent
and constructive sympathy. If not, the person becomes a ty-
rant.
As difficult as it may be, the families of invalids must reach
the point where they treat the ill person, IN SO FAR AS POS-
SIBLE, like other members of the family. In the long run, this
may prove as helpful to them as any measure that can be taken.
When the family has achieved a sensible attitude toward an
invalid, the next obvious step is whatever rehabilitation is prac-
tical.
Today all sorts of possibilities exist. In most large cities them
are rehabilitation centers for the handicapped. Consultation
with a physician or a social agency may bring surprising knowl-
edge of what may be done.
But in assuming that physical rehabilitation is impossible,
there are still opportunities for psychological rehabilitation.
There are associations and leagues of shut-ins. Placing an in-
valid in touch with one of these is recommended. It is almost
invariably helpful to learn that there are others worse off than we.
T IS LIKEWISE helpful to learn how others handled their han-
dicaps: American literature is filled with such encouraging
examples. So too are the lives of some saints. Helen Keller and
Franklin Roosevelt leap to mind. More recently there is the
case of Roy Campanella, the great catcher of the Dodgers.
Today there is increased knowledge of how useful haudi-
capped persons can be," and the question of even full time em-
ployment need not be ruled out.
Above all, there is the spiritual aspect of such illness and
suffering which, with divine help, may be borne with a holy forti-
tude. Only God knows to what extent the pain of such individuals,
offered up as penance, may be helping all of us.
"With deeply moved heart have We returned from Our pilgrimage.
We will carry forever in Our memory the impressive and moving cene$
at the holy places which speak with such eloquence oj the li/e oj Christ,
ft.-.
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