Pentecost of Calamity

In the wake of the brutalities of World War I, Owen Wister penned a poignant call to action in 1915, urging the United States to abandon its stance of neutrality and join the Allies against Germany. His impassioned plea aimed to hasten the downfall of the German regime, which he characterized as embodying a new Trinity of worship the Super-man, the Super-race, and the Super-state. Wister was among many influential literary figures who rallied for this cause. His words resonate powerfully Perhaps nothing save calamity will teach us what Europe is thankful to have learned again – that some things are worse than war, and that you can pay too high a price for peace; but that you cannot pay too high for the finding and keeping of your own soul. (Summary by David Wales)