University of Virginia Library

Troubled New Times
Lack Basic Humanity

By Roy Wilkins

The times are troubled and
frightening, not alone because of
the war in Vietnam, or of the
tension in the Middle East or of the
running argument between the Vatican
and sundry priests throughout
the world.

It is, perhaps, because of some
or all of these, plus the student
unrest in every country and of
what, in our own country, are
loosely called the black militants.

Something seems to have gone
out of the relations between men.
There is a cruelty there now, a lack
of regard for basic humanity. This
is the frightening thing. The black
militants, who include in their number
many who do not believe in
violence, suffer unjustifiably from
imposed judgements. There is a
selfishness, too, which has an ominous,
rather than a scheming, air.
It says, "I'm for me and the devil
take you." It says, "Don't get in
my way or I and my pals will beat
you down - even kill you!"

It is this throwing of the basic
rules out the window that is chilling.
No amenities are observed.
Muscle is all. Murder is scarcely an
interruption. One may be killed for
a mere difference of opinion or just
for "kicks."

Some young people go off on
unbelievably savage rampages. They
have substituted fists and knives
and guns for brains and they are
riding high, wide and handsome.
Amnesty instead of punishment.
Adulation instead of contempt.

This holiday season will not be
the same for the family of the
Harlem man who lies in a fresh
grave. He helped a woman whose
purse was being snatched, the purse
was recovered and she went on her
way. But the young toughs surrounded
him, berated him for interfering
and fatally stabbed him.

A school principal for 10 years
in one Brooklyn school received a
threatening note which ended with
a reference to the possible rape of
his dater. Despite vehement,
point-blank denials which seemed
to come too quickly, the story
persists that there was a knife
threat at one of the embattled New
York City schools. And then there
is the widely published report that
a brief case, temporarily abandoned>
in one of the numerous clashes at
San Francisco State College, contained
a loaded revolver and an
electronic device.

A man who has been robbed so
often he can no longer get insurance
on his shop is just waiting for
a buyer of any color, race or
religion. People who ride the New
York City subway trains can expect
hooliganism and insults at any time.
No matter what the neighborhood,
people in big cities restrict their
night activities. Black people are
afraid and stay behind padlocks in
their homes. White people are
afraid in their homes and luxury
penthouses.

And the fears are not alone of
the slum dwellers. A small band of
hoodlums, including some students,
broke up two meetings on the
campus of New York University,
driving the speakers from the platform.
This is their brand of free
speech; don't let the fellow talk.

Unless the trend is checked by a
firm policy that will preserve individual
liberty under law, the jungle
is here. There will be no organized
government and no authority.
Might, indeed, will be right. Any
tactic will be justified, not by the
goal sought, but by the ego, the
muscle and the ignorance of the
seeker.

If solutions fail, the knife will
be in the scabbard and the rifle at
the ready on tomorrow's journey
through the underbrush that was
once a shopping plaza.

(Released by The Register and
Tribune Syndicate, Inc., 1968.)