World War I monument in downtown Providence. My thoughts staring up in f...

All that stale Wilsonian blather that was false more than a century ago still plays an indispensable role in making the world safe for " OUR democracy " . Will it still succeed in sending LIFE inexperienced young men to their death , sending them home as mental and physical cripples ? If only they had read , so I reflect , Dalton Trumbo's " Johnny Got His Gun " ! Or a few works of Karl Marx ? [The inscriptions on the base of the monument strike a balance between expressing a desire for peace and a feeling of responsibility for protecting democratic ideals. They were suggested oy former Brown University President William H.P. Faunce (Samson 1930:12). The inscription on the southeast face is as follows: [ "By this memorial the City of Providence commemorates the loyal courage and fidelity of all her citizens who served in the World War whose high example still suirmons us to love and serve our country." On the northeast side is inscribed: "So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near is God to man. When duty whispers low, "Thou must* The youth replies, 'I can'." - Emerson.]