Swing (Jan-Dec 1945)

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24 Jivint April, 1945 When one travels around the world, even in peacetime, one returns convinced that in the land of Uncle Sam people get more out of life. They laugh more, rush more, and go to more ball games than any other people in all the universe! We also chew more gum — but that might be because we have more gum! To the foreigner an American is probably the greatest enigma of the age. And there is much to be said for his opinion — because we without a doubt display the world's greatest individualistic contradictions in our everyday human behavior. For instance, abroad you can tell an American yards away even if you cannot hear him— or her! Tet at home we are the most highly stand' ardized people imaginable! We discarded titles and traditions and all that rot about ancestry and family trees dating back to Royalty or the Czars, with all their pomp and decorations. Tet, the members of the American Army are today wearing more ribbons and carrying more medals than any of the allied armed forces! Also, where is there a nation more highly organised in men's and women's lodges and associations with their ensuing titles and traditions and the brother' or sisterhood privileges which appeal so much? Is it that we want our traditions up to date, our family of our own choosing, with the past forgotten and only the present and the future important? Or is this all a way out of frustration? We are the greatest individualists in creation. Yet, on many occasions M, *RS. MELITA O'HARA is one of fh» buti•sf women we hove ever met. Sbo's all over ihe country as official travel counsellor of Beta Sigma Phi (national business women's sorority), she appears on innumerable broadcasts, makes personal appearances before innumerable groups, writes for various publications, and besides all that— conducts her own travel agency in Seattle. There's a husband, too — Hugh O'Hara — sandwiched in among all thisi He's overseas now with the Canadian Army. Melita O'Hara is Canadian by birth, speaks several languages, appears in "Who's Who." She's been almost every place on the world map where you could throw a dart and make it stickl That was pre-Hitler, of course. But she still gets around on duty in this country. She was in Kansas City not long ago. We had lunch with her at the Terrace Grill. Results: an article for SWINGI we are willing adherents of mass psychology. We are more spoiled than most nations because of our high standard of living, and ordinarily we demand all and nothing but the best. Tet, we are the greatest travelers in the world, and we will put up with the greatest inconveniences, in countries where facilities are not at par with ours, in order to satisfy our curiosity and that urge to know more. We are the most tal\ative people in the world, and our need for self' expression is vital. Yet, statistics show that Americans pro rata attend more lectures than any other nation. We are then, while being the most voluble, also the best listeners. The United States has for a number of years been the mecca for wandering authors and poets who have developed into speakers of the first order, thanks to American receptivity.