Editorial published in The Dundalk Owl October 26 1962

A Dundalk High School colleague George McCabe was the editor of our Dundalk Owl, the school newspaper. 
http://dundalkhs.bcps.org/

To my surprise, I discovered this October 26, 1962 edition of the newspaper among some old items tucked away in a plastic bag.  

Honestly, I have no idea why it was saved. Perhaps my mother kept it or the memories reported were something I couldn't throw away.

Today, I am delighted to have retained the original copy of this youthful journalistic gem.  

George wrote a wonderful challenge to the Dundalk High School students (in Baltimore County, Maryland), regardless of what year we graduated.  

George McCabe, Editor of The Dundalk Owl

Editorial

Are We Responsible?

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."  

Long after President Kennedy's Inaugural Address is forgotten, this quotation will be remembered because of its great significance. It should become our philosophy.

Today many students are under the impression that they have no responsibilities to their country.  Perhaps this is because we have never been made to feel a responsibility.  Perhaps we have been led to believe that as students we can do nothing to aid our nation.

Although we may appear insignificant and incapable of performing any worthy task in our own eyes, we are playing an important role in the life of America. We are tomorrow's citizens. We are the basis of tomorrow's economy.  Tomorrow we will be the backbone of the United States.

In today's classrooms, we are being trained for the part we must play in the future, but what can we do now for our country?

As students, we can put forth our greatest effort in our studies. As a result we can use this knowledge to better our community and our country.  We can learn to critically evaluate the vast amounts of information we are given through media of communication such as radio and television.  

By doing our best in school we can learn to accept responsibility. Learning to be responsible for such things as homework assignments, personal duties to school organizations and extra curricular activities and other work, will prepare us to be responsible citizens after school.

Why should we aid our nation?  The answer is relatively simple.  We must preserve our freedom, for without our freedom, there can be no tomorrow.  Throughout our history, American shave been fighting to preserve this freedom. Now the task has been passed on to us.

This is why we should aid our country, but why would we want to?  The answer to this is drive. In some of us there is an inborn desire to better ourselves and our country.

What the United State is tomorrow rests with us today.  We must expand our energies to see our long range goals are reached.  

Post Script ~  I hope all of responded to this challenge with our contributions to support freedom for all. 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ev27g9zggfjvcd/Dundalk%20Owl%20October%201962%20editorial.pdf?dl=0