We Must Work to Be Fit
For years too many of us Americans have neglected to engage in regular systematic exercise. Our life in a peaceful democracy has been pleasant and our main objective has been to enjoy life. Hedonism must be replaced by a work-duty philosophy.
Few people, except the young men training for varsity teams and the professional athletes preparing for a sport , have made a determined effort to reach and maintain a top physical condition. Many are satisfied to be “tolerably well…”
One of our greatest obstacles to physical fitness has been our desire to secure health with a minimum of effort. We are too prone to seek “short cuts” to health. We read advertisements of “one-shot heath vitamins” and think that we have found the panacea for our self diagnosed ills. We go on freak diets and too frequently do not consult a physician until all else has failed..
The young men of our country are soft!
We have been training our youth for the joys of living in a peaceful democracy. We do not have today the same type of rugged individuals who opened our prairies and conquered our wildernesses.
The men and women who pushed their way westward to the Pacific were strong , virile individuals. Up to a period shortly after the turn of the century, we had people with strong back muscles, stamina and courage.
We are now reaping the benefits of our forefathers’ enterprises in the form of
steam heat, electricity, automobiles, air conditioned houses, inner-spring
mattresses and other comforts of civilized living…We lead the world in
conveniences and labor-saving devices. While this has been very pleasant, these products of the machine age have caused a biological softening of our people…
The majority of the people of the United States, except for a small group of
trained athletes, lack the essential qualities of robustness, strength, physical
and emotional stamina, endurance , and the general ability to use their bodies
skillfully in sustained effort for a long period of time…”
- G.T Stafford, 1942
For years too many of us Americans have neglected to engage in regular systematic exercise. Our life in a peaceful democracy has been pleasant and our main objective has been to enjoy life. Hedonism must be replaced by a work-duty philosophy.
Few people, except the young men training for varsity teams and the professional athletes preparing for a sport , have made a determined effort to reach and maintain a top physical condition. Many are satisfied to be “tolerably well…”
One of our greatest obstacles to physical fitness has been our desire to secure health with a minimum of effort. We are too prone to seek “short cuts” to health. We read advertisements of “one-shot heath vitamins” and think that we have found the panacea for our self diagnosed ills. We go on freak diets and too frequently do not consult a physician until all else has failed..
The young men of our country are soft!
We have been training our youth for the joys of living in a peaceful democracy. We do not have today the same type of rugged individuals who opened our prairies and conquered our wildernesses.
The men and women who pushed their way westward to the Pacific were strong , virile individuals. Up to a period shortly after the turn of the century, we had people with strong back muscles, stamina and courage.
We are now reaping the benefits of our forefathers’ enterprises in the form of
steam heat, electricity, automobiles, air conditioned houses, inner-spring
mattresses and other comforts of civilized living…We lead the world in
conveniences and labor-saving devices. While this has been very pleasant, these products of the machine age have caused a biological softening of our people…
The majority of the people of the United States, except for a small group of
trained athletes, lack the essential qualities of robustness, strength, physical
and emotional stamina, endurance , and the general ability to use their bodies
skillfully in sustained effort for a long period of time…”
- G.T Stafford, 1942