South Bend, July [1], 1968
The Non-Proliferation Treaty
The signing of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in Moscow, London, and Washington can be regarded as the most significant step to secure peace that has been undertaken in the last two decades. The threatening danger of a nuclear war has essentially been reduced. The Treaty also defuses to some extent the balance of horror. On the other hand, it strengthens even more so the partition of the world into two power blocs and spheres of influence.
[After many years of negotiations, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the United States signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty on July 1, 1968. The Treaty binds the signatory powers not to pass on nuclear arms materials to other nations. The nuclear powers France and the People’s Republic of China did not join the Treaty. At the same time, America and Russia began talks on the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT). Talks about non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament remained a continuous topic of negotiations for decades to come.]
South Bend, July [Middle], 1968
The Entente between America and Russia
For compelling reasons of common sense and sheer self-preservation, the United States and the Soviet Union are coming closer together in an effort to find pragmatic solutions to problems of world politics despite their undeniable ideological differences. Basically, there is no animosity between the American and Russian peoples. More likely, they see each other with mutual sympathy. An entente cordiale between America and Russia is in the making, which grants diplomatic concessions on both sides, revives cultural exchange, and furthers scientific cooperation.
South Bend, July [Middle], 1968
Searching for an Afro-American Identity
The black minority is presently searching for its identity within the American society. African-Americans are trying to find the lost heritage of their African origin and to draw attention to its contribution to American history. Instead of “colored,” “black,” or “Negro,” the designations “African-American” or “Afro-American” are more and more used in everyday American speech. The black minority in America is at this time involved in the significant historical process of self-realization, from which it will emerge with a personal awareness of its uniqueness. After this difficult period of transition, Afro-Americans will take their place in American society with more self-confidence, individual consciousness, and self-assured appearance.
South Bend, July [End], 1968
How to Spend the Long Summer
Americans often don’t know how to spend the long summer, which begins with Memorial Day Weekend, the end of May, and ends with Labor Day in early September. This is also the time for the long school vacation. Teenagers are usually looking for summer jobs, sign up for summer school, or go to a summer camp. Many adults take drawing or painting lessons. Then they show their mediocre productions in an endless series of amateur art exhibitions. However, the dream for many remains to go on a sightseeing tour of Europe. Americans rarely stay in one place for recreation. Contrary to Europeans, they are not going on a vacation just to relax. It is in any case a totally different way of vacationing. Most families spend their vacation with the children at home in their neighborhood. The standard of living of the middle class in the suburbs is such that there are enough green spaces, sports facilities, and a swimming pool available. As the summer in America can be unpleasantly hot, humid and sultry, one spends many hours of the day in air-conditioned rooms. When they travel, Americans want to see and experience something new. During the summer months, caravans of recreational vehicles of all shapes and sizes move in different directions across the country. Either one goes to the National Parks in the Rocky Mountains, to the beaches on the Atlantic or Pacific, or one visits relatives who usually live far away. Americans love the outdoors, where they can picnic, play any kind of ball games, or enjoy aquatic sports. When the schools begin again after Labor Day, the long summer is over.