From the editorial page of The Mountain Trail, the newspaper of Highlands School, published April 10, 1942. The
editorial is signed “Editor,” so it was likely written by Barak Wright,
editor-in-chief, but the paper had an assistant editor, Herbert Paul.
Today in the present world struggle which envelops the
entire world, the morale of a fighting people is the direct key to victory or
defeat. The conditions and feelings of the people play a principle role in all
major conflicts. One of the enemies most effective weapons, if successfully
administered, is the destruction of its opponent’s morale. The demoralization
of troops or their countrymen at home results in the disintegration of its
organizations and almost certain capitulation. On the other hand, if the armed
forces and the people behind them have a high morale, their ability to fight
longer and with a more concerted effort is lifted to its maximum performance.
In this war which has been raging for over two years, one
can observe the decided influence of morale on the course of the conflict. The
bravest of men at the front and a stout-hearted population, who develop a
distrust in capable military leaders and who are governed by a corrupt
government, cannot long withstand a determined and united enemy, although the
forces be equal in strength. On the reverse side of the picture, however, a
nation possessing a military personnel and the mas of people who have complete
faith in their governmental set-up and military strategists are, to a great
extent, invincible, provided the forces are numerically equal. Such a
combination can herald victories and withstand their reverses with renewed
vigor. Thus, morale is necessary to the very basis of any government. The
primary objective of the ruling power is to gain the confidence and support of
its subjects. Without these two factors which constitute morale any
organization that depends on its members for its authority is invariably
unstable.
No comments:
Post a Comment