Ours is the Future
Page 18
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FROM TIME TO TIME, In the course of a nation's ..history, it is given to a few brief generations of men to determine the fate of their civilization. On their judgment and action depends the future of society for centuries to come. They set the course—tothe nobility of high endeavour or back on the road to barbarism from whence they sprung.
Today, an immense responsibility is ours. We are the custodians of the future. We are at the birth of a new age. But what will we bring forth—an age that will fulfil the high aspirations of mankind, or another era of strife in which the forces of evil may yet triumph ?
The answer may well depend on the efforts of each one of us during the next decade, for unless we all—individually as well as collectively—contribute something towards the solution of the major problems of our times, there can be little hope for our civilization. '
Now, what are these problems that must be solved before man can live as man should, and how can we, as individuals, help to solve them ?
There is the problem of ensuring freedom from want . . of finding continued employment for millions. There is the.problem of discharging the nation's debt . . of maintaining the stability of our currency. There is the problem of fulfilling our pledges to those who look to us for succour —without endangering the interests of those who come after us. These are the problems. How can we, as individual members of our nation, help tosolve them? The answer is manifold. We can help by continuing to set an example to the world for courage, common sense and fundamental decency in peace, just as we did in war.
We can help by thinking clearly and realistically, and by acting upon the decisions born of that clear and realistic thinking, in a calm, unprovocative manner.
We can help by continued saving until the dangers of inflation are past.
We can help by remembering that those who do not agree with us are not necessarily against us—that our beliefs and our ideas are not the only beliefs and ideas that are right, though they may be best for us.
We can help by being as jealous for the.honour and integrity of our beliefs as we are for the honour and integrity of our country.
Finally, and perhaps this is the most important point of all to be reinembered, we can help by applying to all considerations of a national character, that self-same pride and loving interest we take in ensuring the continued welfare of our own families.
The age-long history of our islands is one of danger and difficulty boldly faced. In our hour of need, we have always found the answers to our difficulties deep in our hearts. It is there that we must look for the answers today—for ours is the future and the future is in our hearts.