Godless Ethics

Common in Soviet cartoons is a comical little old man, always accompanied by a comical little white bird. The little old man, who has wings, flops awkwardly about, annoying Comrades who sometimes smack him with a fly swatter while the little white bird squawks in terror. The little old man is labeled "God," the little white bird "Holy Ghost" and both are kept constantly in Red cartoons by the zealous efforts of Comrade Emilian Yaroslavsky, Leader of the Society of the Godless. In Moscow last week Godless Yaroslavsky lectured Soviet youths on morals, with particular reference to the question: "Is suicide permissible?"

"Decent conduct" cried the Red Moralist, "has nothing to do with Hell or Heaven! Instead of enforcing decent con-duct by threats of a non-existent Hell or by promises of a non-existent Heaven we must bring up our new generations to con-duct themselves decently because a comrade's own usefulness and the well-being of the nation require it!"

Then a suicide has nothing to fear? He cannot be kept out of Heaven or even sent to Hell for taking his own life? These questions, which trouble few U. S. youths, trouble not a few Russians. Last week Godless Yaroslavsky gave what can fairly be considered the official Soviet answer: "Suicide is not permissible! As a solution of life's problems it is an act of bourgeois cowardice. Being an act of hopelessness, suicide should have no place in the Soviet Union!"

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