1960s
1966:
“Dads Club Urges Students to Help”
From the October 29, 1965 edition of “Lion Tales.”
Students of Lincoln High:
As most of you know, the Dads’ Club receives a substantial amount of its money from dues paid by the parents who want to become members. As you also know, all the money the Dads’ Club receives goes to benefit the students in several different ways. Naturally, the more money we have the more we can do. This is where you, the students, can help.
In order to stimulate the membership drive for the school year, the Dads’ Club is offering to pay to each class (that is, Sophomore, Junior and Senior) 20% of all membership dues collected up to and including Dec. 10,1965. The 20% will include all paid memberships from the beginning of this school year, so you will receive a benefit from the money already turned in.
Membership in the Dads’ Club costs $2.00 per parent. If both mother, (yes, mothers are cordially invited to become members) and father join, the dues are $4.00.
Your class Senators have the membership applications. Turn these in to the school bank with your money. This is a real opportunity to build up your class treasury. Just think! Fifty new memberships means $20.00 to your class. -Myron Schussman
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Christmas
January 14, 1966
Dear Editors,
Before Christmas vacation a holiday program was presented at Lincoln. It was an attractive presentation, but not at all appropriate for a public high school which supposedly has no religious affiliation.
At the time of the program the non-Christian student had the unpleasant decision of either attending an assembly clearly advocating a religion in opposition to his beliefs, or remaining alone in his classroom conspicuously declaring his difference in opinion, which he should not be forced to do.
The assembly repeatedly and pointedly emphasized the “true meaning” of Christmas, and made several other highly religious references with a symbolic tableau of the “manger scene” and numerous carols celebrating not the spirit of Christmas, but its religious significance.
In addition to the presentation, Lincoln was liberally decorated with extremely religious mosaics, which, though they were very well done, were not fitting for the public schools. Is it right that Christian holidays are celebrated here, while holidays from other faiths are ignored? Surely such action does not promote inter-faith understanding and tolerance!
It seems to me that the policy at Lincoln in this respect should be reconsidered immediately. In the future I hope that the situation will improve, at least to the degree that such assemblies and decorations are far less religiously oriented, and attendance at such programs is completely optional.
Cary Fraze,
Junior
Vietnam
Dear Editor:
Everything was quiet on Dec. 25. For that day was Christmas, and a 30-hour truce between the United States and Viet Nam had been called. I, personally, was very glad to see such a step taken. With all the articles in the paper, and the broadcasts on radio having to do with the war, one could almost feel a different atmosphere on this morning concerning Viet Nam. But to me, aside from being happy about the break in the crisis, it seemed a little hypocritical that the Communists apparently said “Okay, we’ll stop fighting for a few hours and let them have their so-called Christmas.” It seemed that they (the Communists) just could not wait for the 30 hours to pass, so they could fight again.
What is it that makes men so hungry for power? Is it for power, or is it for what we all assume— insecurity? Perhaps it is a little of both. Until about a year and a half ago, no one had heard of the little country in the corner of the world, Viet Nam. Then all of a sudden the shooting had started, men were killed, the countries were aglow with the fire of warriors, much like this prelude to war;
The drums have sounded,
The armies are all too ready,
The peace talks have ceased,
The United Nations gives way..
And so it had been going for so long a time. And as each of us hears different things such as Pope’s plea for peace, the peace negotiation conferences, and the like, I’m sure we all wonder, will it ever end?
I know the one question in my mind on that quiet day was one that must have been in many other minds all over America; If there can be a truce for Christmas, then why not forever?
Karen Nicolini,
Senior
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Dad’s Club Presents Donkey Cage Game
From the February 9, 1966 edition of “Lion Tales.”
By John Kennedy
Tomorrow night, Lincoln’s Dad’s club will sponsor one of their hilarious Donkey Basketball games. The game will be played in our gym starting at 8pm and will last until the end of the fourth quarter or until the players are “too sore to score.”
The two teams, headed by PE coaches Mr.Woods and Mr. Doak, are being organized and are now going through strenuous drills in preparation for the battle. Any senior interested in playing should contact either Doug Brehm or Tony Bova, captains of the “Senior Donkey Squad.” Sophomores and juniors willing to risk their necks should see Mr.Woods who has chosen to head up the team for the “All-Stars.”
The games in past years have proved great fun for everyone and area must for those who have never seen the live donkey-student combination. Last year, for example, the hard-hitting faculty were matched against the mighty seniors in a hilarious match of wits.
This year, it is the hoof-hearted seniors against the mangy juniors and sophomores. Hoping to come out victoriously, the seniors have turned to big league tactics- something new!
Students and parents are urged to buy tickets for this outstanding event even if they cannot attend. The proceeds to go to the Dad’s Club who, in turn, use the money for purchasing athletic awards and providing scholarships. Get your tickets in the bank today or at the door tomorrow night. Ticket prices are 75c If purchased in the Bank and $1.00 if purchased at the door.
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WHAT SHOULD THE U.S DO ABOUT VIETNAM?
February 25, 1966
BY DAVE CLARK
The Lincoln High School student has some curiously dissenting opinions about American participation and peace-making efforts in Vietnam, a recent Journalism 1 class poll revealed.
A most startling find was that male students, for instance, are generally in favor of increasing forces and bombing raids in Vietnam, even though they are then faced with a greater chance of being drafted.
By almost 3-1 margin, the males favored the present united states policy in Vietnam. of the four means offered in the poll to reach a peace settlement, almost 44 percent favored increasing our forces and commitment (i.e. bombing raids.)
The female response was extremely close in all areas of 96 girls interviewed, 51 were opposed to US. policy while 47 favored it. This same “split-thinking” appeared in the proposed areas of reaching peace. Majority opinion was divided between “staying and keep trying” and “calling inthe United Nations to make a decision for a complete outlook:
Males: (105 interviewed)
● Are you in favor of the present U.S policy in Vietnam?
Yes-74% No- 26%
● What should be done to end the war? Stay in and keeping trying-18%;pull out
completely -9%; increase forces and bombing raids-44%?; submit to U.N for a decision –
23%; and undecided-6%.
Females: (96 interviewed)
● Are you in favor of the present U.S. policy in Vietnam?
Yes-47% No-53%
● What should be done to end the war – Stay in and keep trying – 26% ; pull out
completely-18% ; increase forces and bombing raids-14% ; submit to U.N. for a
decision-25% ; and undecided-17%.
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“Varsity Water Polo 1967”
Dedication of the water polo team form 1967
This year the Lincoln Aquamen finished the season with an eight win, six loss record. Their STAL record was six wins, three losses, good enough for a second place finish. Rich Cain, the second leading STAL scorer with 30 goals, was the only Lion on the first team All-League.
However, four Lions made the Second team. Wally Snyder with 12 goals, Bruce Moncrief with 11 goals, Jim Boer with 10 goals, and Gary Travis with 2 goals rounded out the second team selections. Chris Carneghi, the goalie, was the lone Lion to receive an Honorable Mention award. The fact that six Lions were chosen as All-Leaguers was evidence that this was the best Lion Water Polo team in the past several years.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE DRAFT SYSTEM?
BY: APRIL SMITH
January 13, 1967
What do you think of the present draft system?
Eric Strayer, senior: “the draft system as it now exists leaves much to be desired. There is little chance for the conscientious objector other than jail. The draft system should also be much more discriminating in making draft exemptions, or be abandoned entirely.” John Sugar, junior: “I feel that the draft should include a choice between the armed forces or some other form of service such as the Peace Corps. This way, those who would rather serve peacefully would have a chance to do so.”
Donna Hopper, senior: “A new system is needed. More available information about the draft system would be a step in the right direction. I also feel that a clearer definition of those who are eligible and a fairer method of selection is needed.”
Steffi Atigh, junior: “I think there should be certain revisions, especially in the case of the homosexual. If the homosexuals pay taxes and belong to the American society they should also serve in the armed services.”
Chris Carneghi, junior: “I feel that a country with as many military commitments as the United States definitely needs a draft. I also feel that our present system leaves too many chances of exemption for those who do not deserve them.”Miss Determan, social studies teacher: “I think that they should decrease the number of exemptions.”
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New Generation Swings in Valley Or `How To Hang Loose…Ethically’
February 10, 1967
The happenings described below are manifestations of an emerging new way of living in American society which is called “the hang loose ethic.”
At a place in Scott’s Valley called “The Barn” dances are held in a smoked filled hayloft. The bottom floor serves as a reception room and is decorated with old fashioned lights and furniture.
People, mostly teenagers, mingle in this place between Santa Cruz and San Jose between the hours of 8 P.M. and 2 A.M. For two dollars a head they hear live music played by such hippy groups as ”The Flowers,” “The Mothers of Invention,” “The New Delhi River Band,” and ”Country Joe and The Fish.”
These groups don’t kid around when they play. They give out a sound that drives you right up into the clouds.
This is what these people like. The words are blurted out by a sweat covered body that moves and grooves to the beat of his tambourine.
You listen to his words… you think and learn from this man’s words…you are moved by the music and live by it only until his song ends…you become a blank picture frame with no brain, no feelings, no wants.
As the music starts again your body starts to feel the pulsating beat. You hear the sounds and you laugh with the thrill of it all. You get up from where you are sitting. Now you’re up dancing with nobody but yourself. And the lights flash around you, and your mind screams with excitement.
Your body now is inhaling more smoke than it ever has before from the cigarette you clutch desperately in your hand. It is making you dizzy, but it feels so good to have your body numb with excitement. Walking feels like you are floating, and its hard to steer yourself through the crowded place.Your body now is inhaling more smoke than it ever has before from the cigarette you clutch desperately in your hand. It is making you dizzy, but it feels so good to have your body numb with excitement. Walking feels like you are floating, and its hard to steer yourself through the crowded place.
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What Is Happening?
March 17, 1967
There is no doubt about it. Drug usage is here, now, and we are all affected by it or not. But the main danger in drug usage is not the drug itself. It is the Hush-Hush attitude that centers around it which is creating mass panic for everyone – from hippies to school administrators.
Of increasing danger is the increasing use of drugs by ignorant people. Even Timothy Leary, originator of the “Tune in, turn on, drop out” idea, gives warning that one beware of what one is doing, that one “take care” in handling the stuff.
Medical knowledge is scant in this area, especially concerning LSD. We don’t know if its usage is either helpful or harmful. There is no conclusive evidence, only theory. How many will gamble their physical and mental health on theory?
On the other hand, there are those who would condemn all of these drugs as bad, and their users as unstable, cowardly beatniks. This attitude is just as dangerous as it leaves no room for non-conformity, creativity, or dissent. What IS a beatnik anyway?
Drugs are here–there is no point in denying it. It is the responsibility of all of us to find out as much as possible about them, for ignorance is always dangerous.
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Staff Criticized; Support Viet Nam!
May 19, 1967
Dissatisfaction
Dear Editors:
As I finish my last year here at Lincoln, I find myself completely dissatisfied with the staff of
LION TALES and the student leaders this school has been able to produce.
LION TALES has been a periodical published to meet the demands and whims of the “in” crowd here at Lincoln. There has been as a result, very little, if any, concern for equal representation in YOUR publication. Every article printed has been written to feed the egos of the LION TALES staff and its friends. When will LION TALES hear other people on campus?
Student affairs have also mainly been concerned with the opinions of the “in” crowd. For example, as the Loney-Lee amendment to the constitution is put on the ballot for its final fate, I have yet to see anyone ask a below-average or Mexican-American, whom it directly involves, for his views on the amendment. To me, this represents a complete omission of a type of people at Lincoln on the part of LION TALES and student leaders. John Garcia (Senior)
Dear John: We truly regret that you feel that LION TALES has concerned itself only with the “in” crowd. We have tried to represent all campus groups in our reporting, and we feel that we have come a long way in that respect. We do realize, however, that there is much room for improvement.
As far as activities of the Constitution Revision Committee are concerned, it is not part of our policy to single-out students or classify them in various groups, whether these be based on ethnic background, intelligence, or eye-color. People today face too many social stereotypes as it is. We can only urge you to continue voicing your opinions in public, as you did at the last Senate meeting. The Editors
STOP BICKERING
Dear Editors:
“Our primary mission is still to protect American lives, even if they are damn fools!” These are the words of fictional character named Lt. Collins. Lt. Collins was a commanding officer of a river
(That is all we got from the Vietnam folder archive)
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Tuong Speaks Out: On Life, History of Vietnam
November 22, 1967
By KAY THRIFT
“In 1954 there was a great migration of 2 million people from North Vietnam to South Vietnam.This action proved the Vietnamese hatred of Communism,” said Tuong Cat Nguyen, Lincoln’s foreign exchange student.
Tuong was four years old when this movement began. Tuong, who was originally born in Hanoi in North Vietnam, moved with his family to Saigon where they now reside.
Tuong lives in a two-story cement-brick house and sleeps on a reed mat which is much cooler for the hot Saigon nights. Tuong is the oldest, having three younger sisters and one younger brother. His father works for the government in foreign affairs and is now in Malaysia.
“We (South Vietnamese) are against Communism. We are fighting to gain freedom. The Vietnamese people are very grateful for United States help,” said Tuong.
Nearly 4,000 years ago, stated Tuong, the ancestors of the Vietnamese settled in Vietnam. In their history they have proven themselves a strong, courageous race. The Vietnamese are very proud of their long history and believe some day they will become a very powerful nation.
“To become powerful our nation needs well educated people. Our school system is much like yours, but it is much harder. An exam is given after elementary school which decides whether you may proceed on top public high school or go to a private school. I attended a private school,” concluded Tuong.
Tuong attended a school of 14,000 students. There are many more students in a class than in American schools and the classes are either all boys are all girls. Only in the senior year do you have co-educational classes.
Music is Tuong’s great love. He enjoys nearly all kinds of music, but folk is his favorite. Tuong plays the guitar, mandolin, and banjo, but is very modest about his skills.
Soccer is Vietnam’s national sport, but Tuong likes baseball and football. At the first football game he attended against Campbell, Tuong was yelling and screaming like a regular pro.
Tuong’s message to students: You are very friendly here, and I would like to meet more of you. If you see me during lunch feel free to speak to me because I want to make friends very much.”
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Refugee Speaks to History Class
March 1, 1968
During the sixth period on Wednesday, February 21st, Princess Catherine Caradja, a refugee from Romania, spoke to several history classes on democracy and freedom.
The energetic woman, a young 75, who lived through the Nazi occupation and the communist takeover of her country, tried to explain how precious our freedom is and how important it is to hold on to it.
The princess was born in Romania in 1893. In 1914 she married Prince Caradja. Shortly after, World War I started. In 1916, half of Romania fell to the German, and the princess and her children fled to the free side. They returned in 1918 after the armistice.
Then again in 1941 the Germans invaded her country. Russia promised the Romanians government help if they would join them. Fearing communism, they refused. From then on, Romania began to supply Germany with grain and oil. As a result, the Allies began to bomb the countryside and oil refineries of Romania.
At this time, Princess Caradja was helping Allied pilots who crashed on her land. She was also running an orphanage.
In 1945, to prove their good faith to the Allies, the Romanian army fought for and gained their freedom from Germany. The country was free for “three glorious days,” according to the princess, and then the Communists invaded and took over.
All her land and possessions were taken away, and she knew she could not live under Communism. “I lived through two world wars, and 81 of your bombings, which, by the way, were quite thorough,” she said. “ I would much rather live through the terror of them again then to experience that soul searing captivity under the Reds,”
Because she was then 60 years of age, the princess figured she hadn’t much to lose, so she tried to escape from behind the Iron Curtain. She made five unsuccessful attempts. Then she heard of an underground group with a plan as yet untested that would only guarantee a one in ten chance of making it. The princess decided to risk it.
She knew she could take nothing with her. So she decided to store up things in her mind to share with the people of the free world. The princess attended four “Sittings of Enlightenment” for high thinking Communists and learned in part their plans for a complete world takeover.
She attempted to escape in 1952. When asked to describe her method of escape, Princess Caradja said she couldn’t because people were still using it. “Besides,” she said, “what do you have to escape from here?”
While waiting for permission to enter the United States, Princess Caradja gave over 160 speeches in France about life behind the Iron Curtain, as well as speaking over England’s BBC.
Finally in December in 1955, she was allowed to come into the U.S. Since then she has spoken in every state and much of Canada. She does not own a home or even a room anywhere, nor is she paid for speaking.
I feel the only way I can be of any service to our lost countries,” she stated, “Is to tell the Freedom,” showing the conditions in the captive nations and so encouraging the still free world to protect and defend that precious freedom.”
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Jr. High School Students Demand Changes; 50 Besiege San Jose High Campus
March 22, 1968
by Valerie Dean
The riots and protests which have plagued college campuses for the last several years moved to Roosevelt Jr. High School earlier this month; Roosevelt students staged their demonstration during school hours and demanded various changes in their administration’s policy, including a revised dress code and open campus.
Nearly 50 students from Roosevelt invaded the San Jose High School campus in hopes of gaining their support. However, no San Jose High students participated in the protest movement.
The demonstration at Roosevelt, as well as other demonstrations throughout the area, have been a source of concern to our administration and to the central offices, for such disturbances not only disrupt classes, but are also often promoted by outside agitators. This is was admitted during a recent riot in which Mission High School students besieged San Francisco State College, demanding admission of more minority group students to the college. At that time, the San Francisco chronicle reported that the students blasted the demonstration as phony and accused a professor of using them for his own political purposes. The students agreed it was the campus radicals who had done most of the rioting.
The “using” of any students, and especially Junior High School students, can be very dangerous , for they are not certain of what they want. All students should be completely aware of the causes they are supporting before they commit themselves to them, and must be willing to accept the consequences of such a commitment.
Dr. G Homer Durham, president of Arizona State University, has stated that civil order is the first basic achievement of the state. The slow and painful struggle to retain order under responsible authority and to achieve civil rights and liberties under that authority has been the glory of the modern democratic state.”
It is true that our school system is not the most democratic system ever created,but it was formed for education, and for the express purpose of practicing one’s freedom. It must be realized that disturbances such as the one at Roosevelt which only involve a small minority of the student body infringe on the right of others.
Riots and demonstrations only succeed in turning the administrations against the students, and in doing so, further limit student freedom.
(Edit, note: See inquiring Reporter, page three, for student views on student protest.)
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Editorial
April 25, 1968
We feel that, for many Lincoln students, the peace symbol has lost some of its meaning. This is exemplified by the symbol burned into the lawn in the front of the school. The very burning was a violent and destructive act. This is not the course of action we would expect to be followed by a person truly interested in finding peace.
To quote a song, “Bring me peace when there’s talk of war, when it’s hard to find.” Gaining peace is especially important to us now, in a time when there is so much hatred and violence all around us, there is the peace symbol in such a way is only a desecration of it and the ideas behind it. -R. B. and B. C.
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Editorial
June 12, 1968
In a special public address announcement last week, Principal Mrs. Meckfessel explained that students who participated in the scheduled peace march to the San Jose State College campus during school hours would be liable for suspension from school.
Mrs. Meckfessel pointed out that the march, to have started at 9 a.m., during school hours, was not being objected to by the administration on political grounds but only on the basis that it would take students out of school when state law insists they be in school.
The march, part of the International Student Strike, was to be held to protest the war in Viet Nam, racial oppression, and the draft.
Students may again be tempted in the coming weeks to protest political and school-oriented issues. We are neither condemning nor condoning these protests. However, we think it only fair to remind the students again of the penalty for cutting classes: parents must be called in for a conference with the deans, and the student is liable to suspended. Is it worth it?
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“Winning Basketball Team in 1968”
Dedication of the 1968 Yearbook
Lincoln Award Winners
The Abraham Lincoln High School Varsity Basketball team experienced an extremely successful season during the 1967-68 campaign. With excellent depth and an outstanding team spirit the Lions won the newly formed Santa Teresa Athletic League championship with an 11-1 record and compiled a 20-4 season record.
Faced with a great size disadvantage this season, the Lions were able to overcome their taller opponents time an again with great disciplined play and again with great disciplined play and a fiercely competitive team effort. Lincoln displayed a fantastic offense guided by nine returning lettermen. The highest per-game average in the school history (68.7) was established by the team this season. It was almost impossible to stop the Lincoln attack by holding down one or two performers as the depth and experience it boasted carried it through many difficult moments. The Lions also had one of the best coaches around as shown by Coach Jack Richards being voted Coach of the Year in the Santa Clara Valley.
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Insight
Big Power Exploitation
October 25, 1968
At a time when much attention is being focused on the war in Vietnam, it might be a good idea to turn our minds to a war in which 10,000 members of a small country are dying daily of slaughter and starvation. I am speaking of the conflict between Nigeria and Biafra two countries in Western Africa.
Biafra is fighting to maintain its independence from Nigeria, a much larger and much more powerful country which is being supported by Great Britain and Soviet Russia. The war is an outgrowth of a more basic cultural and religious conflict which exists between two tribes, the Havsas and the Ibos. The Ibos are Christians who live in Biafra and are being slaughtered indiscriminately by the the Moslem Havsas, who resent their presence in the area.
Much of the blame for the war can be placed upon England, which when it grant Nigerian independence, drew up the Nigerian border without much regard for basic cultural conflicts. Yabubu Gowon later gained control of Nigeria by military take-over in 1966 Biafra declared independence under the leadership of Lt. Col. Ojukwu in 1967. There has followed a bloody, one-sided war with the badly-fed Biafrins starving and being killed at the rate of 10,000 per day.
The most significant aspect of the war is the Russian and British support of Nigeria. Both of these major powers are fighting against Biafra in support of Nigerian unity because of their capitalistic interests in the area. Nigeria has a great deal of oil and Biafra is oil-rich. Their struggle for independence endangers the capitol exploitation of the area by major powers.Therefore the major powers want the war ended quickly and this can be accomplished by supporting Nigeria.
England is especially suspect, having 300 million pounds sterling invested in the area. That the British are very anxious to see Biafra starved to death can be seen by the fact that the Commonwealth Relations Office in London offers a $200,000 reward for a man named Hank Warton who has been flying food into Biafra. They also offer $100,000 for destroying one of his flying constellations and $200,000 for hijacking one of his planes to Lagon, the capitol of ‘Nigeria. Attempts to get food to starving Biafrins by such a group at the Red Cross have been militarily stopped by British weapons.
What is the United States’ role in this pattern capitalistic exploitation? We are the“neutral”, that is, we also have a large number of oil interest in the area, so we figure why should we interfere with the slaughter? Out neutrality is as good as solid support of Nigeria. We haven’t even recognized Biafra as an independent country. While we fight a “moral” war in Vietnam, we refuse to get good to the thousands of the starving Biafrins. We sit by and watch major powers fight in support of a military dictatorship and against people fighting for civil – religious freedom.
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Latest Viet Nam Poll Shows No Resentment
December 18, 1968
By Ed Cameron
The results of the latest South Vietnamese Government Public Opinion poll of Vietnamese villagers taken during U.S. bombing are in. These results should be very surprising to all those who had been concerned about the slaughter of innocent villagers in Vietnam. It seems that contrary to radical minority U.S. public opinion, there has been no mass anti-U.S. feeling resulting from the bombing.
The questions asked of the villagers were these:
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WAY AMERICAN
PLANES HAVE BOMBED YOUR VILLAGE?
Yes ………………………………………………….0%
No……………………………………………………24%
No Opinion………………………………………….76%
WHICH DO YOU PREFER, BOMBING, BURNING, OR MACHINE-GUNNING?
Bombing………………………20%
Burning……………………….2%
Machine-Gunning…………….2%
No Opinion……………………76%
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE BOMBING HAS BEEN HANDLED
OR SHALL WE SHOOT YOU NOW?
Satisfied………………………24%
Shoot Now…………………..0%
No Opinion………………….76%
The rather high “no opinion” vote, according to Ngo Diem, Gallup head of the agency, did not reflect lack of interest on the part of the respondents, but merely physical inability to answer because of death, etc.
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