The People I Know
The People I Know
Alfred M. Landon- Topeka, Kansas
Broadcasted during the 1950s
I believe in people. Their accomplishments as members of the society created through centuries of courageous trial and heartbreaking errors merit belief in individual thinking and the right to do so.
Mankind has made astonishing progress in a few millennia. It may be that not all of our boasted progress has been of real value.
It may be that we have tried to purchase material well-being at a price too high spiritually. Even so, with all our woes, the civilization of the twentieth century – where it prevails – gives greater opportunity for the Good Life for all the people than did any of the so-called golden ages of the past, when the powerful few regarded the great masses as little better than mere beasts of burden.
I believe social and political progress does not “just happen.” We cannot too greatly honor and revere the great men of history – the great reformers, the great leaders. However, it is a sad fact that there have always been as many false prophets as true prophets, as many powerful self-seeking demagogues as selfless, patriotic statesmen, as many ruthless exploiters as benefactors.
The race has made progress only so far as the people have developed the ability to distinguish the false from the true and the will to follow the truth at whatever cost.
Two thousand years ago, the world had great philosophers, great culture, great and powerful empires. Then came a meek and lowly man of Judea. The learned and the great rejected Him, but “the common people hear Him gladly.” The whole course of human history was changed by their acceptance of His teachings.
I believe in the people – not that they are infinitely wise, but that in the main they instinctively believe in fair play, in decency, in justice.
Necessarily, man must live with others and learn to get along with them – first in the family, then in the clan, the tribe, the nation and ultimately the world.
In the
Alfred M. Landon- Topeka, Kansas
Broadcasted during the 1950s
I believe in people. Their accomplishments as members of the society created through centuries of courageous trial and heartbreaking errors merit belief in individual thinking and the right to do so.
Mankind has made astonishing progress in a few millennia. It may be that not all of our boasted progress has been of real value.
It may be that we have tried to purchase material well-being at a price too high spiritually. Even so, with all our woes, the civilization of the twentieth century – where it prevails – gives greater opportunity for the Good Life for all the people than did any of the so-called golden ages of the past, when the powerful few regarded the great masses as little better than mere beasts of burden.
I believe social and political progress does not “just happen.” We cannot too greatly honor and revere the great men of history – the great reformers, the great leaders. However, it is a sad fact that there have always been as many false prophets as true prophets, as many powerful self-seeking demagogues as selfless, patriotic statesmen, as many ruthless exploiters as benefactors.
The race has made progress only so far as the people have developed the ability to distinguish the false from the true and the will to follow the truth at whatever cost.
Two thousand years ago, the world had great philosophers, great culture, great and powerful empires. Then came a meek and lowly man of Judea. The learned and the great rejected Him, but “the common people hear Him gladly.” The whole course of human history was changed by their acceptance of His teachings.
I believe in the people – not that they are infinitely wise, but that in the main they instinctively believe in fair play, in decency, in justice.
Necessarily, man must live with others and learn to get along with them – first in the family, then in the clan, the tribe, the nation and ultimately the world.
In the