King's Business - 1967-02

A m e r ic a is a p r o u d , majestic Nation. She stands bold and erect, inspired by a priceless her­ itage of freedom, liberty, and justice. She is rich, prosperous, and generous to a fault. Her peo­ ple live, defend, and even die for the rights of man and the con­ cepts of democracy. Throughout the world, our Nation is a beacon of hope for oppressed people. She has great schools and magnificent churches. Free enterprise and in­ dustry flourish in her thriving cities ; an over-abundance of food is harvested from her fertile, lush farmlands. Within her far-flung boundaries, nearly 200 million citizens live, work, and play, se­ cure in the knowledge that their representative government, based on the rule of law and a balance of power in its judicial, legisla­ tive, and executive branches, will protect and promote their well­ being.

But the scene is not altogether serene. Today our proud Nation wears a yoke o f infamy—a yoke made o f greed, hate, violence, apathy, and lawlessness. Collec­ tively, it is called—CRIME. This c r imi na l i s t i c burden grows heavier from disregard for the rights o f peaceful citizens, sprouting youthful criminality, riots engulfing entire communi­ ties, unfounded and irresponsible charges against police, public apathy, disrespect for law and due process, and undue concern and sympathy for the lawbreak­ er. What has happened to the moral fiber of our people? Re­ cently seven leading citizens of a community testified in court to the excellent reputations of the defendants although they admit­ ted knowing those on trial had engaged in criminal activities for many years. Crime and law and order are natural enemies. In a sense they are inseparable. Their courses lead to an inevitable collision. At times, crime and violence erupt in the streets of our communities and all but overrun our legal bar­ riers, which are becoming porous and weak by abuse and misuse. We see examples every day where the supremacy of law and order is put to test. Enforcement officers are called on to handle ex­

plosive situations—riots, premed­ itated arson, civil disobedience, and wild rampages—that border on insurrection and anarchy. Whole areas of cities rise in smoke, pillage, and destruction. While enforcement officers strive to restore order, they are shot, as­ saulted, and taunted. How is the cause of equal jus­ tice under law served by noisy, defiant mobs yelling slogans, denying the free exercise o f con­ stitutional rights of other citi­ zens, and turning whole commu­ nities into nightmarish jungles of looting, rioting, and assault? Can we seriously consider, even for a moment, that this is the precious right our forefathers referred to as a peaceable assembly to peti­ tion the government for a redress of grievances? No fair-minded person mini­ mizes the significance of the right to dissent and to petition for re­ dress of grievances. These are es­ sential elements o f a free people. On the other hand, rioting, loot­ ing, burning, and killing—delib­ erate crimes — are out rages spawned under the banner of* civil disobedience, a dangerous philosophy based on shallow rea­ soning. Too many well-meaning but misguided Americans not only support the doctrine of law­ breaking for a worthy end but also oppose penalties for violat­ ors. This is a difficult theory to fit into a system o f government which says the law applies to all, or it applies to none. There is another aspect of this problem which bears watching. In some communities, police have been admonished by civic authori­ ties not to arrest thugs, rioters,

J. EDGAR HOOVER

writes about

Ame r i ca ’s

Decl ining Moral Standards of Decency

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THE KING'S BUSINESS

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