Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About La Grande observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1959-1968 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1959)
o Light of the World 1A j& .itilix( EDITORIAL PAGE LA GRANDE OBSERVER Thursday, December 24,, 1959 "Without or with friend or foe, we print your daily world as it goes" Byron. RILEY ALLEN, publisher Grady PanneU, managing editor George Challis, advei Using director Tom Humes, circulation manager It's A Big Question At Christmas Every year, ulxnit this limp, thi're M)m like a thunderclap out of a clear blue sky into the minds of certain young sters one of the biggest questions of their life. It is nut restricted to any group of people or to any clans of nociety. Why or how it arises like a great ogre to trouble a juvenile mind is almost as -unanswerable as the question of what makes the stars twinkle. If you are a parent, it will get to you sooner or later and you will have to face up to it. It tisuallly comes without warning and catches you totally unprepared but it will have about this wording: "Mom, is there a real Santa Claus?". What can be more disturbing? Thoughts whirl madly. With each passing t year the answer is found in more forceful synonyms and the philosophies of a God fearing people. Though never answered completely or entirely satisfactorily it approaches the truth to say: My dearest, your mind is so young to bear such a heavy burden. Yet you are old enough to begin to develop the things called character and your ideals. a, Santa Claus is an ideal, lie is in fection of what just aUiut every child wants his parents to le at Christmas. He is a spirit a symbol. To Americans he is thought of inseparably with the birth of the Christ Child and the tidings of "Peace on Uarth and (!ood Will toward men" which he brought to earth. To the children of other religious teachings in other lands where Christmas is obsei vod, Santa may be somewhat different but no less real for the difference. He is a constant reminder of our early religious teachings to rekindle the sput tering spark of Christianity. A reminder to share the cup of human kindness with those less fortunate,' perhaps, than our selveVi and to take renewed hope in a world that sometimes seems so hopeless. Ilutis'the symbol of all oui hopes for lasting peace and love of our fellow man. Melieving in Santa Claus is an em bracing of precious ideals, not an escape from reality. Neither is that belief a chasing after rainbows but, rather, a revelation of the things that shaK our lives. It helps to refocus the material things and to bring into proper perspec tive the spiritual side of living. Who is there to" doubt that a generous spirit, such as Santa's had something to do with the prosierity of our nation or our own hearts and consciences and to our freedom to follow the dictation of worship in the church of our choice without fear of reprisal? Perhaps it is also his constant protection that keeps our homes "our castles" and assures us that they will not be invaded by tyrants who know no laws but their own. And that we need have no fear for our person, family or property so long as we keep the rules laid down by society. It is not impossible that the same benevolent spirit makes it possible for our children to pursue the branch of education equipping them for their des tinytheir place in the sun the place they may choose for themselves. Yes, these are but a few of the things our faith in the great Christmas Spirit is wrought of. But to Americans wher ever they are at Christmas time, Santa is ver real. It's An Old Spanish Custom Ike said somewhere on his trip that he had seen a lot of strange things on his various travels, but on this trip he is seeing many sights he has never seen before. Reports from those following the presidential tour help us realize how utterly different other parts of the world are from our own. For example, Spain. In Spain the President was expected to introduce at least temporarily, a new custom breakfast when he confered with the head of state, Vmn. Francisco Franco. The schedule of normal life is such in Spain that breakfast, such as it is, is usually nothing more than coffee and rolls. Rut Ike was to breakfast with Franco at 8 a.m. That is an unheard of hour for most Spaniards to be up and alHiut, much less eating a meal. " Spaniards traditionally have a big lunch early in the afternoon, and seldom have dinner before 8 p.m. Rut Ike is not expected to do in Spain what the Span iards do. At least not in the morning. Rut on his first night in Madrid he was the guest at a banquet starting at the "early"' hour of 9 p.m. REMEMBER WHEN ... 23 years ago, the piano pupils of the Misses Hilda Anth ony and Ida McMeekin here gave a recital. Pupils participating in the program Included William Bailie, Kathryn Kinlay, Christina Hurley, Betty Emmett, llildeiiard Rettig. Harriett Turner. Freder ick Spaeth, Llojd Cady, Elua beth Foley, Wayne Williamson, Robert llogensen. Lillian Knautt, Kathleen Williamson, Patricia llall and Francis Clark. With Christmas due. the white snow mantle hung on, assuring (he entire La Grande area the traditional winter wonderland flavor. ... IS years ago. tribute was paid to Set. Douald Mulolt, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. B. D. Matott. former La Grande residents. He was serving overseas with a unit in New Guinea. He attended Central Grade School and La Grande High before entering the service. Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Rayburn, 1304 W Ave., announced the marriage of their daughter. Grace, to Capt. Waller llinkley. Lancastur, N. H. DREW PEAR5QN SAVS Nationalist) Is? Blared Ra Losing Moroccan Air Bases F.N ROUTE Two men, both with divided objectives and eml lions, sat down opposite eacl other recently in the beautiful emerald tiled throneroom in an lient Rabat. King Mchammed V of Morocco lineal descendant of the I'roph el, is divided between his owr personal friendship for the Unit tu Stale and the strident de lands of his subjects that hi rush American military bases in (o the sea. President Eisenhower was di vided by knowledge that thesi bases have been the most import out in the world for the U.S.A. second to none except that it Thule, Greenland. They havi been a pistol at the Kremlin bead, with B47 bomber crews on night and day alert ready t take off Mosco ward, each with as much explosive power as all the bombs, all the shots deto naled in World War II. These are the bases the White House has referred to when Rus sia was threatened with immedi ate retaliation in case of war. Yet, the president also knows: 1. That the new intercontinent al ballistic missile, which fires 5,000 miles, will make these Moroccan bases obsolete; 2. That his better relations with Khrushchev will permit him to save half -a billion on these bas- if those relations continue. Nevertheless, as a military man, he would like the right to kiep those bases hitherto so vital to American defense. Picturesque Monarch When the king granted me an udience some time ago, he sat n a low golden throne dresser n white flowing robes which left nly his hands and face expos d. He had just ridden to pray rs on a while mule harnessed in ed leather. A golden umbrella vas held over him, as black Mor ccan troops riding on white lorses, with red harnesses and ed fezzes, escorted him to the nosque. It was a picturesque and eautifiil spectacle of an old odd monarch in old world sur fundings, in a country where he most modern. weapons of war vere based for retaliatory al ack. "In the past," the king told ne, "my ancestors had excellent elations with the United States Unfortunately, they were dis upted for a time by certain roblems, but I am happy that ve are closer together again." The king spoke with sinceri y. But the strident voice of rab nationalism has beconw .tronger and stronger in Moroc co. So has the voice of Moroc an democracy. Both voices cry with a single objective oust the U.S. Air Force. Mohammed V is one of th nore moderate rulers of North Africa. Times have changed since his ancestor. Sultan Mou lay Ismail, practiced the technl que of mounting a horse and cut t:ng off a slave's head simultan vously. Mohammed V still keeps tw wives behind veils and under wraps, but his handsome daugh ters swim in bikinis on the beaches near Rabat, with U.S. air- r-i nl young Mohammedans' luttering round them. The king i devoted lather, gentle, pious, vorkj hard at the job of ruling Jorocco which he loves, but not lard at the job of shaving which ii hales. Hejikes 0 drive his own car andCoh occasion bowls vith his cook. Mohammed V has been working it the job of ruling Morocoo in termittently ever since he was 18. Intermittent interruptions were caused by the French, who picked him over an elder brother in the first place because they tigured he would be easier to handle. They were wronV. They vere so wrong that in 1993 they lad to banish Mohammed to Mad igascar, then bring him back when French rule over Morocco vent to pot. When he came back the inde pendence of Morocco was pro claimed. The French are still here, but on sufferance. Their .tatus is less certain that that )f the United States. Many Moroccans have a soft spot in their hearts for the USA, ecause it was Franklin D. Roo ;evelt, meeting with Churckill in .'asablanca la 1943. who Insisted hat Mohammed, then a sultan. be given an audience. And de spite Churchill's frowns, FUR therewith gave Morocco a push toward nationalism. That push has carried t far that Mohammed's own rjariv ih Istiqlal, claim be isn't achieving u.c revolution." They want fas (nr r-f..rm an! the Amerlran Air Force out. The Air Force pumps about $50,000,000 year into the Moroccan economy; directly or indirectly employs 10,000 Moroc- L rsnr-; al--o wins f 10,000,000 of out right economic aid for Morocco. On the whole American troops are u ell-behaved and relations ex cellent. ' n fe - a a a CHRIS FOODS To our many ' friends & patrons Odorless Dry Clsansrs a To all our friends and patrons.. We wish the very best f during the coming yearf BAUI1 HTSUBA1XE AGENCY " TT '"IT ' 1 aVlappy stlolidays . . Pioneer Flouring Mill , I I.-- , .",- yf ej-i" hs - , j l mmj .. t s - 1 Christmas . I . -fiFffli"! - 'a Mill- liiflH Ii 1' V;1 ! , ' - and customers h From Tha La Gracds Dixirki Stall Ralph Beck . Clarence Calder Geo. Courtney Axel Dahlsirora Malin Doles Robt. Evans Tom Faulkner C. E. Harrison Marjorie Leddy Chas. Marshall Rice McHaley . Elmer Miller Oscar Miller Kelly Moore Merven Morlensen ' A. B. Olson Frank Rohan David Skeen - Wm. Snodgrass Jackie Taylor Shirlie Todd Grant Tucker Helen Worral NOW IN ITS 63RD YEAR SwsnMiaHiiataoiiwwtaiawMiai MBKEafS SWISS' Best Wishes For the Holiday Season! CALIFORNIA-PACIFIC UTILITIES COMPANY -j ....U:l.l.'M'.'ldJ:l.lIIJ,I.U a s- 'r