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CIVILIZATION BESEIGED

The Artists' Role in War

When I was approached to speak here tonight---I accepted readily. I was eager, as a matter of fact, thinking that I would tell you about what I am doing as an artist in time of war and perhaps read one of my short-wave radio scripts broadcast to Japan through the Office of the Coordinator of Information on their daily program Japan versus Japan.
As I thought it over carefully, I changed my mind about this because our concern tonight, the artists' participation in the war, seems of more vital and immediate importance than the particular part I am playing in it now.
Probably I felt the effects of this war more quickly than most people. The change in my status woke me up. The world had changed---and I knew hat one could not go on dreaming, hoping that it would change again.