Glaring Contradiction Research Articles

Imperialism and Spiritual Freedom: An African View

The establishment of Christian missions in Africa has been an act of spiritual aggression; they operated on the principle that everything African and indigenous is contrary, while everything European and foreign is acceptable, to the Will of God. The glaring contradiction between the religious theory and the economic political practices of Christians has made Africans distrust the Christian church, and it is losing ground through its own fault. Missionaries of civilization to teach medical and industrial techniques and to help Africans improve their international status not only would accomplish the professed Christian ideal for Africa but, by raising the African in white estimation, would improve the position of the American Negro.

Parole: Principles and Practice

If one were to attempt to learn something concerning the parole of prisoners from sources available in an American library, he could not fail to be struck by a glaring contradiction. Parole, the text-books on Criminology would tell him, is one of America's greatest contributions to penological science. Parole, he would learn from the popular magazines and the sensational press, is a means by which sentimental reformers and corrupt politicians connive to release crooks from the punishment which they have earned. The curious thing is that both these statements are, in a measure, true. The criminologist and the journalist are discussing two different things. The criminologist is talking about the principle of parole as an ideal method of releasing prisoners. Good parole, it is true, is the best method of release that has yet been devised. The popular journalist, on the other hand, is, talking about the present administration of parole and that administration is, by and large, nothing to boast about. This simple distinction between the parole principle, on the one hand, and present parole practice, on the other, is a necessary preliminary to any adequate understanding of the question of parole. An intelligent man who understands what parole aims to do cannot very well oppose it in principle. The recent criticism of parole has been due, in the main, simply to a lack of understanding. Journalists, men in the street, even judges on the bench have been inclined to place parole in the category of executive clemency. They seem to think that its purpose is to shorten terms of imprisonment, to hasten the hour of release. They feel that the proponents of parole are actuated by a sentimental regard for the comfort of the criminal. This is a mistaken view. It is not the purpose of parole to lessen punishment, to make things easier for the offender. Parole is not leniency. On the contrary, it is to be commended because it is at once the most severe and the safest method by which prisoners may be released.

"HYGEIA" AND "PHYSICAL CULTURE"

To the Editor: —Some months ago I undertook the treatment of a man, aged 26, suffering from many physical complaints and morbid fears dependent on excessive masturbation, from which he was laboriously but futilely attempting to cure himself with the aid of Bernarr Macfadden's widely advertised book, Manhood and Marriage. He brought me this strange mixture of fact and fallacy, of which any page chosen at random will show glaring contradictions, vague generalities in regard to essential facts with minute instructions in regard to unessential details, violent exaggerations and gross misstatements. Here and there a well known truth serves to deceive the reader as to the falsity of adjacent assertions. Recently, when the November number of Hygeia arrived, it was placed on my waiting-room table, where this patient discovered the article, Exploiting the Health Interest, and called my attention to it. On the next visit he remarked to me that