Potential Danger Seen in Events

The 5th Quarter Rallies may on the surface seem wholesome and safe as compared to the recklessness of fast cars and the plenitude of drugs and alcohol. Nevertheless, the gaiety of a church hall holds the potential for another type of powder keg.

While hyped-up students are arm-wrestling and listening to rock music, behind the scenes a gimmick is about to be unfurled. After cheerleaders have finished yelling for their teams, they can now cheer for their God. The only problem with that brand of logic is that the church is tampering with young, pliable minds that easily deduce this activity as being school sponsored.

Assistant Supt. Ed Eveland is right on target when he says that the Wilson High School varsity yell squad and rally club “cannot go out on their own to perform anywhere they feel like performing” while associating with a church-affiliated program. This is as it should be.

Who is to prevent these young individuals from leaving the church in a frenzy and attempting to do some missionary work on their own? Upon encountering some other students or private citizens who may not agree with their ideas, some of these well-meaning pupils could conceivably react in the manner typical of an uncontrolled mob by hazing the non-believers. The last step is violence. And where is there any positive accomplishment? The militant religious holy wars of the Middle East of today and of Medieval Europe began under not much different pretexts.

GERALD P. LUNDERVILLE

Long Beach

Lunderville heads the English-as-a-second language department at Wilson High School.