Safety Valve

To the Editor:
While I feel that the action of the Gatewood mothers was wrong and that they are carrying this thing much too far, we must consider the other side too. I know the backgrounds of both Harland Hausske and Oleg Kor, whose letters were published in Tuesday’s Daily. Both have lived in the Orient and both know what they are talking about. And both make good points!
While we must practice tolerance, one of the first principles of this country, we must protect America, too. Undoubtedly there are a few Japanese–alien or citizen–who would sell America “up the river” as a few did in the countries conquered so far by the Axis. In order to protect our country, we must guard against these few. Since we cannot be sure which would and which would not be loyal, unfortunately, the loyal must suffer because of the few who are not loyal.
It’s like the old rhyme:
“The rain it falls
Upon the just and unjust head
But mostly on the just, because
The Unjust steals the just’s umbrella.”
This is war. America must be the rain. Let it be gentle, but thorough, rain.
Respectfully
–Marjorie Knapp