TANKS | OR TEDDY BEARS? By DR. ALEX GUEST ITH the Christmas season just past it may seem in- appropriate to discuss toys, but so many new developments have occurred in this area that it seems reasonable to consider them. Toys are an important aspect of the child’s life. He lives in a fantasy world with his play- things and acts out his feelings toward adult society. The emo- tions of aggression, anger, love, and cooperation may all be noticed if one observes a child at play. Much of the learning experience of children is gained at play as together they experi- ence and explore their emo- tions. The toys available to them strongly influence these experi- ences. There has been a disquieting trend in recent years toward mass production of war toys— designed to imitate the destruc- tive powers of real weapons. James Bond spy sets, hand gren- ades, long range cannons are only a few of the products now on the market and heavily ad- vertised during the recent sea- son. Many of the peace groups es- pecially the mother’s group — Women Strike for Peace — have been actively protesting the destructive nature of the toys given during the season celebrat- ing the birth of the “Prince of Peace.” It is refreshing there- fore to see that there is a change being effected in the buying habits of the public. The Wall Street Journal (Dec. 8) reported a resurgence of in- terest in traditional toys. Teddy Bears, dolls, blocks, erector sets were being sold in greater num- bers now than in past years. These are playthings that stimu- late creative and constructive emotions in the children rather than the detructive image of war toys. Manufacturers of these constructive toys are re- porting greatly increased sales reflecting selective buying of toys by parents, Lionel Toys, one of the largest manufacturers, took the oppor- tunity to prominently advertise that nice toys do not kill, des- troy, maim, nor injure. Thus a major industrial concern. has seen that there is sufficient market to promote the sale of constructive, peaceful toys, and publicly attack the growing pro- duction of destructive play- ‘things. This is a commendable action and probably represents recognition of the peace forces in the country. There are also several well- established concerns that spe- cialize in producing constructive toys. Creative Playthings, Inc. for years has made quality blocks and toys that are design- ed to improve the child’s skill and imagination, as well as to be enjoyablé. They reported a “T- wonder how they'll amuse us today?” 100 percent increase in sales this past year. Community Playthings are made by people living on three communes in the eastern United States. These people are pacifists who were. expelled from Nazi Germany for their opposition to war. For 10 years the 700 peo- ple on the three communes have been making toys designed to be constructive, educational, and enjoyable without representing instruments of destruction. Each year their sales grow, as par- ents come to recognize the value of constructive playthings. Thus even though militarism increases almost daily in our lives and the toy-making indus- trialists largely cooperate in the effort to create a war-minded | youth, there are alternatives available to counter this trend. Children can be prepared to be destroyers of life or construc- tors in life. The mold is begun early. It is hoped that the pro- ducers of creative and construc- | i" tive playthings will be encour- aged to. continue and expand and that more citizens will awaken to the dangers of militarism and seek to instill love rather than hatred in their children. of the news. Our dailies, Like you, I hope, Wondering if belatedly. port all J. $ Wallace Pollution of water is evil indeed What of pollution in all that we read? x ores was an alarm not so long ago over possible in- fection in plastic ice cubes from Hong Kong. A cynic- mijht suggest that the outcry came from a rival pro- |} ducer and sometimes, alas, the cynics are right. “ : It’s a pity there isn’t equal commotion over pollution for example, are all owned by big business interests. Just as the slave-owner dailies didn’t tell the truth about chattel slavery, when it comes to wage slavery “our” papers deny, distort, distract, suppress .- + and lie outright when other resources fail them. Few reading these words will remember “Pussyfoot” Johnson, who was labelled by the liquor interests because he exposed law violations. The label, of course, helped to damn him. I remember him because ing way, newspapers handled an identical AP -despatch about him. He was about to a was handed a telegram saying He made his speech before hurrying to her bedside. bition papers printed the despatch intact over the headline: The Show Must Go On. Antis used the headline: Delays Visit to Dying Mother. In one case you got the impression he was a hero. In other cases that he was a heel. I have taught myself to distrust ddress an audience when he headlines and all news handling in the enemy there is one thing I am helpless about when I stick to - them for reading material: suppre ssion. ‘Last summer, thanks to SK., I “owned” his cottage at Camp Naivelt for a fortnight. One day I rushed out to tell my neighbors that I had heard over the radio Pope Paul had condemned the atom bombing of Hiroshima as abo- minable. I looked for a follow-up in the dailies. Not a word. — my hearing had gone haywire, when I got back to Toronto I called up the. Catholic Information Centre. The priest who. answered had heard nothing and showed signs he thought my inquiry was sarcastic in purpose. — Only in the Tribune did I finally get confirmation and that We haven’t yet made The Trib strong enough to re- the important news promptly though already 4 good antidote to the death dailies. And one thing I can jj say: in around 45 years reading it and its predecessors | have never yet detected a deliberate lie. : of the way, the differ- his mother was gravely ill. Prohi- papers. But _—_—< THEATRE ene) The King and | IHE team of Richard Rodg- ers and Oscar Hammer- stein 2nd brought a new dimension to musicals in the United States by adding literate stories to the songs and dances. One of their very best collabora- tions was The King And I, now playing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto. Most readers will undoubtedly have seen the film based on this musical and will remember the strong central theme that con- cerns an English teacher who comes to educate the children of the king of Siam. All of this. takes place in the 19th Centu- ry, when Britannia still ruled the world and rulers. in that part of Asia were autocrats. -The conflicts generated be- tween the strong-willed teacher, who wants to change some of the more flagrant evidences of autocracy, and the proud, equal. ly strong-willed king, make for very good theatre. When you add literate lyrics and tuneful, tasteful music, you have a mu- sical theatre of a very high order. : , One of the highlights of The King And I is a ballet based on Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ as_ seen through Siamese eyes. It is tre- ‘mendously effective not only be- - cause it is‘a most unusual bal- let, beautifully executed, but because it brings an added ele- ‘ment to the story — the battle for the abolition of slavery in the United States. Pees The company of actors, sing- ers, dancers assembled for this January 28, production at the Royal Ales are headed by Darren McGavh as the king and Barbara ir liams as the teacher. The ¢ of them give impressive per’ mances in a company whi combines to provide a m0 pleasurable evening of theatre: For. this viewer there was f fairy tale quality to the evening: The sharp realities of wh : going on now in that part 0 the world kept interfering a the pleasures that were prov! ed on stage. : It is, after all, very difficult ty forget that as you are listen!22 to pleasant songs of love the are the jarring notes of plane dropping napalm bombs al 0 men,. women and children a screaming in pain.