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CITIZENSKIP AND THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
Remarks of Governor Farris Bryant to the Air Force ROTC, other
ROTC Units, Students and Guests, the Florida State University, Dock
3. Campbell Stadium, 1 P. 14., January 10. 1963.
To come before you here today is. for me, a special pleasure.
As I travel about Florida, and to other states and other lands I
frequently speak about our growth and of the greatness I believe
lies within our grasp. Almost always I find myself discussing our
state and its people in terms of the statistical gains we have made,
or the tangible bounties that are ours: The abundance of nature,
the rapid rise in industrial employment, the new schools and colleges,
the added links in our highway system -- these are fine examples of
Florida's progress and typical of the growth of our nation. And
yet in a way they are remote from us as individuals and from our
citizenship.
In my office the other day, mention was made of my acceptance
of your invitation to come and discuss with you citizenship in
Florida and in this American Democracy. And somebody said: "Oh,
that'll be an easy one for you, all youll have to do is go out and
wave the flag a bit and preach about patriotism."
well, I could, but should I do so -- come before you and mouth
the time-worn clinches about citizenship and patriotism -- I would
neither servo well my own convictions nor acknowledge the meaning
of the hours you in the ROTC units have devoted to your personal
preparation to meet and, if necessary, to defend the citizenship
that life in a free state of a free nation has thrust upon you.
I glanced at the dictionary as I thought about translating
my thoughts to words, and I noted that a citizen was defined as one
who enjoys the freedom and privileges of the city, town, state, or
nation that he inhabits -- a free man, the dictionary said.
Since my election as your governor I have gained a new insite
into the meaning of citizenship -- a new knowledge of what it means
to be a free man in a free land.
A part of this knowledge has come as I have traveled in other
lands. Your vision of the meaning of freedom becomes more acute
when you ride, as I did, down a wide boulevard in Caracas past the
beautiful campus of a university peopled only by armed soldiers
guarding against a repeat of the Communist-inspired riots which had
closed its classrooms.
Free citizenship takes on a new meaning when you stand, as
I did, by the Berlin wall and talk to 01's from Florida and other
states who have seen a frantic dash for freedom rail in a hail of
bullets and a cry of death.
You cannot return from Guantanamo Bay with other than a
heightened awareness or the responsibilities of citizenship if you
have ridden, as I did, with Marine guards along the high barbed-wire
tapped fence that separates our Naval Base from Cuba's Communist
Rule.
These are forceful examples that Jar the conscience and make
for fitful sleep. There are others though, closer to home, that
serve as well to point up the unique status or the American citizen
and to emphasise the need to defend his rights and privileges from
any attack, be it external or internal.
What citizen of any other nation feels free to pick up his
telephone and call his Governor to personally tell him he's doing
a bad Job -- or a good one.
What citizen of any nation can equal the freedom which is
granted to you to select the course of study of your choice and to
pursue it in public institutions at moderate cost from kindergarten
to graduate school?
And by what means other than by the rights of citizenship
unique to America could such situations develop as we have lately
seen where academic freedom can be publicly debated, and the
actions or official groups challenged or supported without fear or
reprlsal?
As I attended and viewed the football bowl games during the
holidays I felt a special sense of pride in our way or life as I
watched, Just before the opening kickoff, the players kneel at the
sidelines in a moment of prayer. In more than a third or the
world, where there dwell nearly half of all mankind, such a moment
would be impossible. Prayers, and sports for the sake of
sportsmanship, are not allowed.
The privileges of citizenship are, of course, balanced by
the responsibilities which it bears. We must pay taxes, obey laws,
stand ready to defend the nation from aggression and shoulder other
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responsibilities, some of which may be distasteful to us.
As Governor I have seen citizenship at its best and at its
worst. I have received unsolicited checks sent for aid of those
left homeless by tornados and floods. And I have received letters
condemning our government for accepting on our shores the freedom-
seeking refugees from Cuba;
The Communists claim their revolution is sweeping the
globe and will engulf the free world in the years ahead.
They are wrong! The revolution they foster is a godless,
brutal assault on freedom. In America, we have today a revolution
that has been growing through the years and is even now reaching
new heights.
You can see this American revolution on this campus. when
the sons and daughters of last generation's laborers can seek out
specialized and advanced education when adults in search of new
knowledge keep the classroom and library lights aglow far into the
night and when the findings of the research laboratories can be
translated into smokeless industry employing thousands of skilled
worke's -- it is then that we know that the American revolution
continues to grow.
We would make a mistake, though, to look on our state and
nation from a purely statistical standpoint. We count our telephones
and televisions, we rate ourselves by the cost of our cars and the
cut of our clothes. Our material progress, which may be duplicated
by other societies, has become a yardstick -- a false yardstick ~-
of Americanism.
The horizons of America are not of concrete or of steel.
They are of the mind, the imagination, and the spirit of the
individual.
At a large banquet not too long ago the master of ceremonies
leaned across to me and said: "I've got to lead the pledge of
allegiance to the Flag. How does it go?"
There are many who can't recite the pledge of allegiance
or sing with assurance the words of the Star Spangled Banner -- who
never think of opening a meeting with a word of prayer. These are
not dangers, but they may be a danger signal for Democracy.
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New terms have come into our language in recent times:
The Ugly American -- The Angry American. I am fearful that today
our Democracy is endangered by The.Timid American, and, that if
something is not done soon, the Timid American will be replaced by
The Frightened American, and if that ever happens the next American
is apt to be the Conquered American!
Charles Edison. a former governor of New Jersey, pointed
up the dangers of our times when he expressed a concern that too
many of us are content to Jump in bed with a quick prayer asking
the good Lord to give our President and a handful of men in
washington the wisdom to save us.
That isn't enough, Mr. Edison said, and added that "if, as
citizens of a democracy, we surrender our power or action to a
small group in Washington, we will be confessing bankruptcy and
borrowing a page from the totalitarian book. If the Lord answered
such a prayer, He might very well say: "I shall be glad to give
the President the help he needs, but Just what are you doing to
help your country in this time of peril?"
Edison, incidentally, made this point 1h years ago, in 19h9,
and today he can be excused a sense of frustration, for his words
have been largely unheeded in the past decade.
Armaments protect our land and people today, but it is the
practice of Democracy through citizenship....at the local level....
at the state level....and as it is reflected in the nation's
capital, that is the real key to our freedom and to the freedom or
the world.
Too often by a desire to sidestep conflict; to avoid
involvement in politics, which has yet to gain the stature it
deserves; or simply because of laziness, we ignore the rights and
are too timid to assume the responsibilities of our citizenship.
And this never seems to lead to catastrophy for there is
always someone else around to meet our responsibilities for us and
to exercise our rights. If we don't support our schools and clear
our slums, Federal programs will be enacted to do it for us. If we
don't devise a plan for equitable apportionment of our Legislature,
the courts will do it for us.
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It won't take many years of disuse for our rights of self
determination to be forever lost. There is a natural tendency for
governmental powers to centralize, a tendency repugnant to those of
us dedicated to the belief that the best government is the
government that is nearest and most responsive to the people.
Thomas Jefferson told us that our best, and indeed our only, defense
against eneroachments on Democracy is to strengthen our state and
local institutions and to make them worthy of the responsibilities
they ought to bear.
This strengthening is not going to come as a result of a few
voices crying the cause of state's rights. It can, and will, come
only as the result of aroused and concerned individuals aggressively
pursuing those acts of citizenship unique to our democratic system.
And what are those acts of citizenship?
First to inform yourself of the world around you. Too many
of us are tied to the work we do; to the neighborhood in which we
live, and to the problems of providing food and shelter for our
families.
Second, make use of your knowledge. I welcome expressions
of opinion from the people of Florida on the problems of our state.
for when they are the result of thoughtful contemplation they
invariably serve to stimulate my own thinking and provide me with
a fresh outlook on the matters before me. I know others who serve
in public office share this feeling. Speak out. and you will be
heard.
And third. encourage the support of others: of businesses
and of civic groups; for their interest in and involvement with
government can have a profound effect in creating both quality
government and quality citizenship. I am proud that in the past
two years we have brought more citizens and more businesses and
more community groups into a working partnership with state govern-
ment than at any time in our history. With each new contact. with
the new impetus given our efforts by added support and fresh
thoughts, our horizons broaden and Florida's future brightens.
As we enter into this new year America's progress in the
world struggle for freedom seams brighter than at any time in recent
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years -- and our need for understanding more demanding than ever
before.
We are aware that our freedom is threatened by Communism.
Most Americans know that Khrushchev has said he will bury us and
that the tide of history runs against us.
But too few know he! he plans to bury us. We know that
Communism is evil. but we don't know Egg or 351 it is evil.
We know we fight a Cold War. But few are aware of the many
fronts on which that battle is waged the economic struggle, the
propaganda skirmishes, and the race to win the support of new and
uncommitted nations.
We think of the people of Russia and the satellite nations as
oppressed, in virtual bondage. be forgot that there are many who
are as happy as we, and who are as fearful of the ascendancy of
capitalism, or Americanism, as we are of the rise of Communism.
we know of world-wide Couuunism, and yet we hear different
goals described by Khruschev, by Mao Tee-tong, and by Tito. Are
they all the same? What if the Chinese Communists become dominant
in the Communist world? Will Comunism change?
I do not believe we can, as good citizens, disavow a
responsibility for knowledge of Cold Var facts. If anything, we
have a responsibility not only to be informed ourselves, but to
inform others.
It was in that spirit that I last summer called a Governor's
Conference on Cold War Education, at which a number of nationally
known speakers outlined their views on Cocununism and its threat
to democracy and freedom. Attendance far exceeded our expectations,
and since its conclusion I have received a steady flow of letters
urging a continuation ofcur efforts to present factual information
of a sort essential for each citizen who is to form his own
evaluation of the many issues and actions which are a part of the
international maneuvering which has become the order of the modern
day.
In response to these urgings, and because of my belief that
Cold War Education has a very real role in America today as a
mental civil defense as essential as the knowledge of where to go
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and what to do should the Cold War suddenly turn hot, we are
beginning a new and continuing program of Cold War Education for
Florida. It is a program that will deal with the basics of the
Soviet challenge to our way of life. It will be partisan on the
side of freedom, but it will not be political in nature, for
Communism poses an equal threat to Democrat and Republican, liberal
and conservative.
Neither I nor my associates claim to be experts on Cold War
issues. Working closely with us in this effort will be the well
known Institute for American strategy, which carries on its roster
some of the best known names in America's battle against totalitarian
domination of the world. In coOperation with the Institute, and
with the aid of a number of well-informed Floridians, we will seek
out and bring to Florida the finest minds of the nation to discuss
for our benefit the issues of the day and to give us guidance as
we work toward giving the issue of Coulnunism versus freedom a form
and substance that will lend itself to widespread distribution and
understanding.
As our program develops we will seek substantial support ~-
both in dollars and in personal effort from business groups and
concerned civic organizations throughout the state. No special
appropriatnons will be sought to carry forth this work, for we
believe that with the help and backing of Florida's citizens we can
blaze a trail that will strengthen Florida, and stand as a pattern
for others to follow.
we approach this new effort with enthusiasm and dedication,
for we have here an opportunity to exercise our prerogatives of
citizenship in freedom's cause. President Kennedy told the Congress
last year that "while no nation has ever faced such a challenge, no
nation has ever been so ready to seize the burden and glory of
freedom." Our national readiness is keyed directly to the
individual citizen -- to his response to the challenge of Communism
and to the opportunities of a free society. I am convinced that for
Florida to prosper, for America to be firm, and for freedom to
flourish, we must all review the meaning of our citizenship and
make a conscious effort to better utilise both its rights and its
responsibilities.
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Citizenship in the free world 1: more and more an enrollment
in a select group. It carries with it a proud heritage and a
record of progress which, with God's help, we shall use, not for a
tombstone, but for a ooneratone.
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CIT13ENSHIP.. ..D -R A--E--EM RC yclak -1 1oen -1ri 1r"i ot .: i oc fe t e
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Fte t -imi i 't"=:s m e en !:-r~~ tm ,a
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rrapen:libilities am: of WMeh .-rJy M dig asteru1 to us. As :lo-gern-r I Mvo 'ieen e it-'enshir: at '13 t-eat 1r2 at its erst .E havre received unsellettrri chees:.a seret err aid el the:e left heru-110 03 t'/ tornidrs rarl fl-leds j.nd T haw: cceelveri letterrl enndrining ou-' r;overrr:tret Cr near.girs r.n rur eherev '.he f:'eederl-fiGCi'hl:l'ef'J -:0-11 070"1 rul2Si Tlie Curamilst a cl:!.le their revelutlert 13 armeCina it-e I nN31-,:1 teill artplf the frec 1:orld ir. the years at:ead. They ties 1-rrnard "~he revoluti."C. they foster is a gotilros brut .1 imult on freedr'::1. In A::inriet we have toda:: 1 revr10tie:n thrt IG-.3 ter.:rt rrowinr throur-h the years and is eved rtDK rombing re l.nicht: Neu can ne this :.r;erican revoluti-.a r-n this c'Jigiur'. 1-lhers th,,c:and cln: htorri r.2 ] at grnoratier.l a 3al:crers :::irt :Wi ce rr a.:-.1 t:ori an-3 givraiced edue;M r.n -5:hen armits in search ol' new r.c 10:1-:;; i.et p the elnerree!:s eit'] l itrar-j lidit:1 rgio:: for 1:1t e the a t -.I sher the C imlic.:3 of the t'enar 1:,trratories cart te tran:-1:-M..i i rit ecri:n ele indiot-:y e-irlrying thr.usan:Is e 2 :-idiled a T'la -:: -it in tLen thit we '.txt: t|1ra Ube Amerin.n rovr:lutin e Et in ,er t -. -._-cria .e U-Uld :13100 a raiGT:'G:r-, tilear;h, t'l 1ol: r.11 e-Jr E.t 'atr '.ra n:itir11 i":-c.7: ,. prely m.tistical staridpair.t. ~: -e cruct. rur icir.:phr:nr ::-rd televi -; I -:ra, we rate o'iraelveys by the cost. OF Clar ears avl the att af car a]othe.. Our storid cre.-ress, valet r.y te duraleato:3 t:: c.ther -,acictie---, h-i-j tecc;".2 :: 7.rd2'.iek -a fr.la _:".!'dn lek -er Ar.ie rle:ale, a Th9 defiMrtS CO A.-tOriCa are 7101. Mr IMcGrCt( Dp pl ate.el, I ~;y af'e oi' UM I-,ir.'ly TI1rir31"iMt.'.Ofi, Brid thrEf'l t Of the 3 i-flivid-.:"1. [-,t :. 1..arg.e L-WK[l:et Get %-30 1Grif:ii:-r' I he rt.-.r-1.Er Of ("Or'rat.11i.l.e leare'i :107'-03 t-i ITE end n:ild: "t ve g01; tr 1r..vl the plet!!:r' of 91r. ': 0.)+: t a t':le jaar:. Era :b-:c." l'. J'e There are rr.n.ry she : rir.' t eccit e the plc%'' 00 a]lrgi.nee or 31:/: -.O E moraner. the 'e:Gr:10 < the Diar Sturtlerl Ganner -'.:ha 111'70 e tk 1-':a AC C [.--;rir:r a r!Oct inrwith a werd er pra-/er, 'N '.:::= e-'-.: Ca2t d--n/-r:r':'. -';d i figy r-:g; i:e: ;i .-.i:iriger Oligral 201' -.C..'---'Cr-!0:
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.i. !!au tor"1n have com icito wir lartsuage in regerit tir1E5: Ilie IIr~ly A13Crind11 -Th8 ,'ir13['y rill'iOuiCari, 1 3:11 fDC:rf31 that 000:1 GUr Ocil":--eraCy "lC! !!!10171[030 I:.y 7110 Ti:'tid Anlericin, and, that li something 1r.ot d'sne Geon, the Tidel Arraricar will to repi-iced by The Prii !itcrir=d Ameri0m, and if that evr.2 happens the ne'xt rtiKricait la OTit to be the Conquered A:1ericani Chrel es idlE en, i 00 !'1:100 Qvenre of :Jet! J cre og poi nted 0].1 tha -lallgPG of OltP tirieE I.:hell he ExprE''}$ed i.1 COricGr!1 til(It tric .rtrig of us 5.re content to ,jit-.ip in bed 9:ith a gulch prefer ,.al:lr.g. the! 9:od Lced t.o Cive our 7-resident :ind 5 hvidyttl cf men 1:1 shirton the uladei. to save us, r-'hst isni t engh, i--:r. Edison Balda ed added that "If, 43 e i t:li'.ear. GC :.1 derriec t'iley, we :'arander our po'.-ler of setter' to CI:all 37oup in ~:nsh'.nr-tort, se will be confession ban'.:ruptc'; artd b::,rr--:'::ig: '= roi--e frorr. the tota] itri:lii t-oni:. -C the irrr3 rinswered Zach :i pra';er, Ue 1:li.:-ht ver-f 1:011 3::.y; "I f:i-ill be Flad to rive the -resident the help he roedr., bijt Jart Mlat are you dirilnc, tr. har-,=mir e-:-ilntry Iri this tine i:d' r.oril?" Fr~=1-;on, ".nc '.dent0 ly 11'.:fra this pr.'.nt 14 years ago, in lclin .n:3 2 -.u-.y he a:r be excused 3 -.er:Ge of Emotatiero for his words h-ite -een 1-trEe-y ura-,ecded in the pant dreade. i'i t''1"-6.:'ient-; J1rriteBT Citr ] 'ir-d _:111 riople today, HUt it in the rac'" 00 Of ~~102-tD21-310-{ throtlgh c.itirA1\Shij'-....at the lcCul 16V---1.... cat the a l ata levr:1. ., .ar!d -o it 15 reflecterl iri thn r.;itioni caplt:ll, to:t 10 the real key to riir freedolli and to the t'rr-:.J:v:a of the world. To er':cn by :: denfre to sidestep co:.Cl ict; try avold iYoll'LT.-!ai ill --IDlitica, tibir-h hg 70% to [.gir the 9t;ttare it deserves: :: r :-l:liply because of la-ir.css, wo iri;nare the vi ;hts aj',d .re t.-:-i 1:irda to MDwte the re:ipcrialtilities of our citieriship, kd this never me:9 to les!.a to catastrer::iy Enr there is ihmy;-: r.0::ie[:e else imolind te neet Cur rmponsibill M es Cot' IUi 2110 to carocar.C olar rt(;];t:=. If 1:e dr:ri' t support .riir reltrola :::n r1 cint' nur :!luss, ~i'ederal program will be emiated to c]c. it for is, J C 1:e don' t Er:ulee r:-. pl-in l'or equltable rapportionrx'nt o!" our Let !rlature, the r;:--urt'= will de it for us.
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It wod t take many years e determinatior to to forever lost governmental powers to contraliz up dedicated to the belief that government that is nearest and n Thomas Jefferson told us that ou against erarcachnents on Democra local institutions and to make t .There is a natural tendency foi e, a tendency repugnant to those t This ~ ~ -1 Ateghnn isntgigtocm -areuto e golee, crinc te case ofstat 'Y .....s .... ,ad ilcm -soly ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .-Ytersl faose n ocre nivdasa~esvl
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adding more demanding than ever ora is th:'est enrad i;-j Commur.isn. ev .ot .. ...... t .tbttet ............he, ad hE has bld wllhr a ........
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.... .. .r... ,bt t i C..r~a ..... .neult ..d ...... t..e ld W1r suddenly turn hot, we are ng program ne Cold War Education Car at will deal with the basics of the of 1106. li utli to partisan en the not be political in nature, for eat to Democrat and Republices, lite lates claim to be experts on Cold Wa h us 16 thir, effort will be the well Strategy, which carries en its rest in America's battle against totalit cooperation with the Institute, and well-informed Ploridians, we will se finest minds of the aetion to discu. C the day and to give us guidance as sue of Communism versus Creedom a Coitself to widespread distribution al
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