Who in Des Plaines, Illinois, goes to sleep hungry? Who goes to sleep knowing that his future has been planned for him? Who goes to sleep knowing that every word he says must conform rigidly to party dogma? No one, that's who.

In other parts of the world, the few rule the ignorant many, and the few like it that way. But in Des Plaines, Illinois, the only ignorance is self‑imposed.

Apathy and disdain rises in an immature and untried youth. Perhaps we have too much freedom and too liberal an educational system. Where else can students mock the flag that represents the greatest democracy of all times? Where else can students jeer and show disrespect for the ideals of their society?

Maybe they think patriotism is simply too cornball for their sophisticated personalities. It's a good thing their fathers didn't think it was corny. Maybe the thought hasn't occured to them as to where they would be if their fathers were above feeling patriotic and were above respect for their government.

People in America can abuse their rights and they do. It seems as if the ones that abuse them the most have never had to fight for them. It would seem that some students live in such an unrealistic world that they cannot appreciate their freedoms, which are so well‑established that they cease to be privileges but become, unthinkingly, accepted fact.

Parents who knew the nagging deficiencies of a depression and the encompassing anxiety of war wish to spare their children of it. (This is a natural desire that comes from parents' love of their children.) Most young people do appreciate their rights, respect them, and realize their fortune given to them as a birthright.

It is sad that some students are so shallow and thoughtless as to accept their great bounty without thought to patriotism.