The World We Want; 56; Roots of Prejudice: What Does the Word 'Africa' Mean to You?

What is America famous for? In Britain I'm afraid this equipment's be asking. In Pakistan America is famous for its generosity. I'm from South Africa and there's America is famous for its fallacy. America through the America. I'm from India and I think in India America is mainly associated with anti-communism. This is the world we want. The television presentation of the New York Railroad Union Forum for high school. Under the direction of Mrs. Helen Hayetwalla.

Welcome to the world we want. Presented by the New York Railroad Union Forum for high school. It features teenagers from all over the earth in unreserved discussion of some of their common problems. This year there are 34 student delegates in as many countries. Each of them was the winner of a nationwide forum competition held in their own countries under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. They were brought to the United States by Pan American World Airways and trans-World Airlines for three months' visit. During this time they'll be temporary members of the family in four different American homes and the four different post-communities. Let me introduce you to four of the 1958 group who are participants in this discussion. First year is John's Road of the United Kingdom. Hello. John, tell us a bit about yourself, will you? Well, I am from one of the outer suburbs of London. I graduated from my high school last autumn.

I'd mixed up children where I planned to go up to Oxford where I am to study politics, philosophy and economic. By the way, my father's a trade union leader. And Rina Thong, from South Africa, what have you been doing in the last few days? We had a wonderful time of the year seeing places as Rockefeller Centre. And of course, for the first time in my life, I've seen snow falling. Glad we could produce that for you. Nala, what is the Nala Ahmad from Pakistan? What have you been doing? I've also had a wonderful time and I've grown up the world's tallest building in five states buildings. There's still the whole of New York in there. Nala, I had a letter from your mother that came just about ten minutes ago. And she complains that she hasn't had a letter from India. Have you been home? I didn't have time. Oh, but you must. I wonder what we're doing here. Here's a K.R. Krishna from India. Krishna, how come we call you Krishna?

And yet, it seems to be your last name since your first initials were K.R. Oh, well, Mrs. Waller, we, myself and I do not have first seen last name, family name, etc. For example, my initials are K and R. The initials K stands for my native village, Komando. Perhaps it's non-existent now. And the initial last stands for my father's name, Mrs. Rahman. And Krishna is my own and the only name. Have you got a nickname? Well, you can coin one if you want to. I'm sure we will before these three months are over. How was it like in your first host tour? What was the first day like? Well, I have an interest in formal friendliness at a small time. You felt that already? Yes. I'm glad you felt that. I'm sure that the first thing that a stranger feels in this one. Well, that makes every American feel good. Now, John, come back to you. You said that America was famous in Britain right now because of the footnick's fiasco. Would you like to explain a little bit more to me by that? I stress to start with that I am expressing the popular misconceptions and not my own opinion here. To start with footnick allows a real joy in the heart of the average visitor I'm afraid.

It symbolizes the humiliation of the United States. And I'm afraid just at the moment, America is pretty unpopular generally in great Britain, John. I don't understand it. What kind of an identity is yours as USA that you feel as if say your blood or her humiliation? Well, to start with, we're not discussing things as they should be, but things as they are. Well, anyway, will you go ahead and tell us frankly why America, I'm sorry, why United Kingdom is pleased with America's humiliation? Well, that's quite a big question. I expect the most of you realise that there is a fairly strong sort of liberal trend throughout the whole of Western Europe which feels that some of America's policies are perhaps dangerous and are adding to the Cold War situation. And for that trend that I said is general throughout Western Europe. Now in Britain, we have even more reason or even more explanation for these prejudices because we quite honestly tend to look upon America as the amusing the immatural offspring of great Britain. And suddenly overnight, you would have come up our empire of gone where we're almost a second-rate power and you are the people who are so close to us.

And psychologically, it's pretty difficult for Britain to take. And for that reason, there is quite a strong sort of psychological results from the right women, Britain, as well as the genital and liberal in less women, as well as in Poland. You ask me that it strings from a sense of defeat? Not exactly the fate I would say, but a resentment that we have been challenged before. Can you tell us something about your remains? Well, that's a big question. Well, in Pakistan, we thought the Americans are very generous people. But actually, we must remember that this I'm reciting is to the aid, the American aid, but we must remember, of course, that America can afford it and they have their own reasons that they don't want the undeveloped countries of the world to go to Russia for help. I think this is quite strongly when the point that Rina was getting out, Rina said in effect that in her country, America was typified by the America for the American sentiment, almost an isolationist feeling.

Now, in Western Europe, apparently, in Pakistan, as well, we feel that America is almost interfering in the internal affairs of our nation. Could you come in? Well, John, I wouldn't say that it's quite a fly to South Africa, perhaps, as I know what you're standing to, a great problem. And, well, I think that each country as America has the right to try to solve his own problem. Well, I'm wondering how far that was merely a sort of defensive attitude on your part. You don't wish to discuss this problem too deeply, and so you play on the national independence line? No, no, really, we can't talk about that later on, but I think that each country, and the people in each country, as they live there, know it best. They have to come to this different situation. We could discuss this all night, but I would love to, but maybe make a program.

As I was saying, that the general trend of opinion in India was to associate America with anti-communism. I would like to qualify this statement a bit. I would rather say anti-communist, complex, but I'd be correct. Let me tell you something about my major America. Briefly, it's a nation born out of factions and dissatisfaction. I think it's a result of religious ferment and moral indignation today. It is the product of a transitional world when new impacts, when the impact of new ideas, was changing the face of the world. And I must say that it's based on a new concept of democracy, based on the dignity of individual freedom. I think it's unique in that this background is diverse, and the culture of heritage is also mixed, I should say. And from this unique background has felt an amazingly worthy blend of New Year's culture.

At one point, I'd like to take you up on straightaway. The impression I had when I came to this country, for bleeding from friends with these years, was of a nation of extreme personal friendliness, but at the same time of great social intolerance. Unless I was coming to that, I should say that I must confess to harboring a few prejudices against America too. I should say that progressive ideas, how to have become mistaken, or I should say, progressive ideas have gradually changed into a brash irreverence for traditions, all traditions. And I should say there is a general craze for novelty, for the New Year's sake of novelty, to the detriment of a mature perspective. And I think the christian excitement lingers on, as obviously evidenced by Hollywood's power comments and rock and roll. Well, Krishna, I don't quite agree with you on that. You know, for even when you want to start, first introduce his Watson, I think the same clamor that he's now rising for against the rock and roll.

I'm sorry, I don't know. I can say, can we seriously put modern American rock and roll on the same level as Strauss? I mean, I admit that some of you have seen me good modern music, but can we count popular American music in that class? Only good, but what I was going to say is that there is always, there's constantly development in this world, and every new sign of development is, well, some people rejoice in it and others don't want it. And I think that's perhaps the same that he's going to happen with rock and roll. And if it is accepted, then it must be a good thing. And it must be in the common taste of all, and if it's not well, then... Well, Naila, what do you think about rock and roll? I don't agree with her there. I mean, what about the horror comics? Everyone reads them, but they serve me on goods.

Well, you know, the statement to Erie's human should give me advice, so we might as well consider that as one human ever, perhaps that will show. Maila, are you going to say something to say about American films? Oh, yes. I must say, from the films we gain an idea, that the Americans think that their religion is the best, and that is that they show a lot of religious intolerance. Now, for example, there are lots of films that come into Pakistan. I don't know how the government of... Well, the USA allows it, because they have to say, bring down their own prestige in our country. Now, you know, this is... Well, I don't know. I suppose they're free. Well, a film in particular is the life and love and adventures of Umakayan, which completely rejects the men. I mean, or the picture of him as a person who loves women and wine and songs, which is completely different from the men. Well, I think, you know, this is a bit of a danger on the part of a new nation being oversensitive.

I mean, if I'd been over here, I'd have been ridiculed the whole time by him, though it was my accent. You know, everybody imagines you live in car shows and have fun, and so on and so on, and not only that, but some of these sort of old Hollywood movies we see on television, some of these movies. This, I think, appears to be a film in general attitude. Now, it's kind of amusing. It's kind of great to look at this, but I don't think we need to make too much of it. Well, I should say, it's only a case of a freedom abuse, as all freedom is a abuse. What do you think of it, Tina? Well, I've already expressed my opinion on my point of view on music, and I don't know, but what about films, Tina? What American films do you see in South African? Do they do a good job for our country or not? Well, we see most American films that travel around the world, and I haven't had much opportunity of seeing all of them, but as I, as I have heard, it seems to me that it's quite accepted by the people.

And yet, Nile is criticism, as a deep and trenched one, if she says that the films we send to Asia seem to make fun of Islam and the other of Asian religions, with just a few in India. Well, Mrs. Fowler, first I must say that I don't good. I see films talking. Well, I see films once in a year that about, so I cannot presume to be an expert on this question. Well, I don't think it is done with the intention that Nile has seen it, perhaps it's in the other era perhaps. I think it's one of the great dangers of democracy, that they're slow moving, that they tend to move in new directions at once, because they're making a state. We must admit that, it's a surprise we pay for our freedom, but at the same time, I think we must recognize that danger. I mean, the Soviet Union, so I look for propaganda most beautifully through every nation in the world. We get culture, strangers, the best Russian films, those things that you're going to feel, to the people, those things that you're going to feel for the intellectuals. It's a most beautifully coordinated plan.

And I think there's a great danger that the Americans are exceedingly lavish, they splash money around like mad with their information service. I wonder what real value they get out of it, and how much of the impression of America, which one goes, is one of these cheap and flashy films, which are obviously going to be far more popular than a serious film. John, do you need to see the deflates for democracies, or a certain loss of efficacy? Yeah. You say that? I would go as far as to say that. I think we should all be willing to feel that flying. I say we should be willing to pay it, but at the same time, we should admit that that is the price we are paying, and be be working with time to cut it down. I think we should revel it, if we're going to get into trouble. But I don't think any of us here are the support of a rigid system. We also feel the flexibility of democracy. But there was a point, I think, John, almost was going to make, and then he's interrupted with Nile. I said, how does the government, the American government, allow such films to be set abroad? You were about to make the point, I believe, that one could hardly sort of support a system of censorship in the film, which was sent abroad.

But maybe at the same time, the American Information Service could be a bit of a job, co-ordinating some of these films that they would like to be, as long as they are abroad. I mean, where you can't do the negative things by censorship. Perhaps you could take the positive side by officially sponsoring a certain thing that you want to be shown abroad. I just did this to issue this, nor should it still be a different industry. Not directly, not directly. I mean, at the moment, of course, there is a big propaganda machine. If you'd like to call it run by the United States, run by every government, of course. And I'd say that the United States is putting a very great deal of money on this. And it's the most important thing that they should spend a lot of money on it. But I wonder at the moment, how much value they are getting for their money. Let me ask you a following film, excuse me, if interrupting. What other things give form your impressions about America? To us, for example, or Americans that are in your country? Well, I think I should say something about that.

We've had a lot of evidence of American men as in our country. I'll give you a little example. There was a distinguished gathering at a big party. And there's an American lady who asked her something to go to bed. She had a shred of voice. And well, there were lots of guests across the table. And she told him to go to bed. And you know what he did? He repeated about his mother in the same voice in front of all those guests. British. But do you take that to be representative of American way of life? No. You can't generalize like that. But I think that mostly the American children are given too much freedom. Don't you agree? And they don't make use of the freedom. Definitely. Well, I mean, as it will work, you get an insufficient evidence, of course. I do tend to agree with you. I mean, one serious, for example, is absolutely freedom that the American child has. It appears to do nothing very much except drive around with his car. We go out racing.

Well, I am rather inclined to think, John. It's a question of difference in the concept of discipline. I mean to say, the American concept of discipline is not so rigid as it was in England in the Victorian era. I am rather inclined to think that this is kind of discipline based on mutual need and understanding. I shouldn't say that American children are disrespectful to the parents. No. I think it's, you might call it a kind of familiarity. I should tell you. Wait a minute, Krishna. Now, how can you be, well, be familiar with your parents. But at the same time, you have to be jolly with respect for them. Exactly. The exact, I mean, say, dollar hinges on what you think is respect. Would you be so insistent on formal demonstrations of respect? Surely not. Now, Mrs. Williams, a woman I respect most deeply. When I first arrived in the States, we were staying in college with her. And I saw her children at 6'7", something of this age, speaking to her as Helen. And I would have liked to quite frankly, it shocked me.

I was used to it. And then I saw that how this family would run after a couple of days. And I saw those children behave as well as any English children would do. And that they knew if they were really told to do that, if they had to do it. Now, this, I think, is excellent. And I respect it very much indeed. But I wonder, I'm just going to say one point. I'm sorry. I wonder how difficult that is. And once you've lost the family specifically, in a less intelligent family, practically, you would very soon lose respect for your world. And let me tell you one thing. My contacts with some of our American families, I have had some interesting experiences too. I was rather surprised when the boys were quite frankly discussing the problem of dating with their mother. I was really surprised. What would you feel if the same thing happened in your country? Well, first of all, we wouldn't dare. Exactly. What would that be in England? Well, I think in that particular respect, we are very often in England.

I mean, in my own family, if I wish to, the staff members would have problems with my parents, I'd feel quite free to do so. But at the same time, I wouldn't want to, unless it would actually be necessary. I think it's important that other child materials, we should be prepared to make his own decisions, to make his own greats, who've got to break working family, gradually. And if, I think it's pretty typical with American kids, they run to their parents. It's not so much for advice, but to notify them about every single thing. They're able to discuss dating all the time with parents and parents and friends. It seems to me that they're not so much leaning on their parents for direct advice, but they are leaning on the family as a unit. Unless you tell you one thing, John, age of adolescence is one of the most critical stages in one's life. I mean, to say, we're expanding maturity doesn't keep pace with the full impact of the new experiences that you manage to grow. I should say, in such cases, it's likely to get confused. It will be extremely invaluable if you go to your parents and ask them for their guidance.

Don't you think that this is a sign of boldness? Are the covers and the healthlessness are dreaming to say? Yes, I'm very sure. Especially when the American children have much more freedom than the English children. I wouldn't call it, well, passing over their parents, I mean, going and telling them everything, I seem to talk to you bold. Well, I don't quite know. I mean, I think it's bold and it's good that they should have the right to approach their parents. They shouldn't feel as I gather you with perhaps a little afraid to approach their parents on problems in that nature. But it is very easy to tend to mean too heavily to discuss absolutely everything with parents, not even to get the information that merely to feel a social compassion, not a physical compassion, to discuss it with the family. I think it's important for a child, I think, materials, to begin gradually to make the brain. Wait a minute. Do you have any other chance? I'm sure we've been trying to get in there. Well, I agree that I don't think that it is a lack of discipline in either way. I think that the American children should be admired for doing so,

and that it shows that they trust their parents to such an extent that they can discuss their, well, that is, of course, a very delicate affair. And that just shows to what extent they trust their parents, that they even want their guidance in such a fair. Well, we've been talking something about the need for social intercourse, isn't it? I should say that it's a human need and a more so for an adolescent. And what other refuge can, what better refuge can there be for an adolescent than, you don't fear it. Well, I think, because we've been talking across purposes, I mean, I agree entirely that it should be there, this last resort, this hardware, this storm should be there, but I think American children tend to lean too heavily on the family. They feel that there's any physical compulsion, but socially, they must discuss this all around to show how free and anti-immigributed by them. I don't know. Excuse me. Before we go further, can you tell us how your image of American family life first? Well, provided that has an intelligent American family,

I feel I have a very great respect for American family life. I feel there is an infirmality which is greatly to be desired, which we are beginning to copy in great ways. But all I'm saying is that I'm afraid that it may easily run to expect unless we're educated families. Well, you were saying that the parent should be a lost resort of a bar on a dozen, but I should think that the parent should be the first to solve. Could I ask you perhaps that you and Naila Krishna come from very traditional societies? Is the pattern of your family relationships changing at all? Well, I shall tell you this much about my own family. I and my father do often engage in discussion and controversial subjects, and I think it's my privilege as an adult to disagree with my father. But I should say that I have a deep and abiding respect for you.

If he hadn't wanted you to come to America, could you come? Well, that's a hard choice. Anyway, let me feel glad that he's interested. I don't want to cut off, perhaps we'll have another discussion on family relationships. I've been sitting here wondering, seeing the difference between the statements you started out with, and what you're saying now. Well, any of your preconceptions about America have changed about all that you've been here. Well, at first I was also against rock and roll and rubies and everything, and I thought, as some of these delegates do, I thought that it was due to the lack of discipline. But now I begin to think that America is entering a new era, and therefore is entering a new way of living, and with this new way of living, it's come different things that we might not be accustomed to.

But I think the rule of the following might apply yet to difference does not mean worse. And therefore I think that we, as foreign guests, should really respect this American way of living, and try to see in the right flag. Well, I feel this is all about that we haven't yet had time enough. We were staying for one week at Cobra House, and mostly we were confined to all around the rest of your society. And now we have been attending American schools for one day, isn't it? What's up with that? Well, go ahead and make a great deal. So I don't think, in all fairness, we should be expected to answer that question at this stage, but I would be very interested in knowing all professions you have when I say India. Well, that's only fair. We've been asking your impressions of America. How about it? Well, these delegates have had a...

I mean, so I don't expect them to give their opinion from custom knowledge. It'd been to India. No, but that's a quicky. When me says the word India, what do you think of that? The face of a hundred million people defend on India. Cashmere. That's right. Well, I regard India as one of the great hosts for freedom. So the whole is going to share about the great host of peace throughout the world. Krishna, what do you think of when somebody says India? Well, I should start out by saying that perhaps I'm not very modern. Particularly in a phrase. Which is the bridge between the East and the West. The bridge between the East and the West. Now, can we go to Great Britain? What do you think of when John says Great Britain? Exactly to say the opposite of what I think when I hear the word America. Well, what? For America the rule applies. America for the Americans, I think, to Britain it applies the world for Great Britain. Well, I should say that he finds herself in the most galling position of being pushed by Rex Collins to realize the... I mean, to say to realize that her policy of colonialism is outbreak and now it's not it.

How about you now? You're correct. I would say that Britain is a country which has lost its power among the great countries of the world and will never admit it. Well, I don't have any. Let's go South Africa. What do you all think of when Venus says South Africa? Well, let me hit back now and do a bit masters. Well, after the racial policies, I was really excited when you are marching out to step with the rest of the army. It's time to look and work out whether you're out to step with the army or the other steps. Well, what do you think of that? A country which is trying to best to solve the racial segregation. I'm sorry to say this rena. I think it's mockery of democracy. And I think to the world, it means nothing, but to me it means the world. We're going to get on to Pakistan, but would you like to have a later discussion in this series on race relations in South Africa? We do like that rena. I think we had a chance to give our impressions about Pakistan.

No, quickly, Pakistan. What's that then rena? I think we should realize the danger of its communal outlook and the opportunity for information. Rena? Kashmir. Kashmir, Dan, Dan. I am secret of Kashmir. I'm very, again, on insufficient evidence. I regard Kash... I'm sorry. Pakistan's foreign policy has been pretty opportunist myself. What does Pakistan mean to you now? My home is not. I'm sorry. This is a fascinating adventure in preconceptions that will give you our kinds up. I'm sorry. We have to leave you now until next week at this time. This has been the world we want. The program featuring students of 34 countries from all corners of the earth. They are spending three months in the United States to delegate to the 12th annual New York Herald Tribune Forum for high school.

These weekly programs are prepared with the assistance of scholastic magazines and are presented in the public interest by the New York Herald Tribune in cooperation with the Radio Education and Television Center. This has been the world we want.