Record of a Friendship

(Ben Green) #1

now. I fear it will be a boy for I'd rather have a daughter. My work is
my son.
Spending the days painting doors, making walls, etc. and feel I never
want to see schools or think about education again. My life is one long
GIVE and it is a joy to me to do something that requires no thought.
Laying bricks I find most soothing. The sad fact is that people tire me
much more now than they did. And 133 local teachers want to come in
October to see S'hill ... come at one time!
I think the international situation depresses us all. Science has
invented the atom bomb, but science of living can't control it, and I
have the nasty fear that the fools who control it may blast us all to hell
before education can control the world. But I want to visit you before
that happens. My main hope now is that Russia and China and everyone
will discover how to make the bomb, and then each will be scared to use
it. A poor hope indeed, but what is the alternative? The politicians have
all the power. No statesmanship visible, no hopeful outlook (why did
Roosevelt die?); all squabbling for things that should be dead-security,
empire, power, oil, trade. The war against Communism has still to be
fought, and it is so difficult to know what to think and do. I'd hate to
live in Russia, but if the alternative is living under oil kings and empire
builders, what can one do? For the alternative isn't your Arbeitsdemo­
kratie [work democracy] or liberalism. It is entweder oder [either or];
when the time comes I have to ask myself the question: Do I fight for
what Stalin wants or for what capitalism wants? I don't like either, but
what then? How easy it is for the simple ones in life who can take a
side wholly.
I am looking forward to seeing Barakan again to get all the news. I
wish you would make the trip to Europe yourself to see what mess they
are making in Scandinavia, and of course to see us here.


Orgonon
Rangeley , Maine


My dear Neill:



  • I •


September 4, 1946

This letter is to tell you about Barakan. You were right in
saying that he is a very intelligent and capable fellow with a scientific
future in front of him. I think he can be trusted with work with
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